Betsy Brandt is opening up about her latest project. In an interview with ET’s Nischelle Turner, the Breaking Bad former student addresses speculation that his new film, The Bad Orphanis based the real life story in Natália Graça.
As narrated in The curious case of Natalia GraceThe so-called orphan adoption scandal surrounded Natalia, a woman accused of pretending to be a 6 year old orphan by his ex-parents, Michael Barnett and Kristine Barnett. The Barnetts also allege that Natalia tried to harm them and their biological children.
Natalia, who has a form of dwarfism called spondyloepiphyseal, denied the accusations and made accusations of abuse and abandonment of their own, both of which the Barnetts denied.
Meanwhile, the synopsis of The Bad Orphan says: “Loving parents Jessica and Karl are elated when they adopt a troubled 8-year-old orphan named Gabby. However, as Gabby’s disturbing behavior worsens, Jessica becomes increasingly worried that she is now a threat to the family. “
Amid the apparent similarities between the real-life story and the Lifetime movie, Brandt told ET, “There are some things that happen that you don’t want to go through in your life, you don’t want anyone you care about to go through. .”
“I remember when this story came out and I thought, ‘Oh my God,’” she said of the Natalia Grace saga. “For me, the interesting thing about the true story is that here’s this couple, you think you’re in a situation and it turns out you’re in something there.”
“Lifetime just took that (premise) and ran with it,” Brandt added. “Yes, it’s (about) a couple who adopted a girl they thought was young – turns out (with them asking, ‘Is she? Isn’t she?’ – but then it’s a fictional story. It’s a different story .
The film’s story is something that Brandt, who plays the child’s adoptive mother, had a major input into as the project’s producer.
“It kind of gave me more license to actually have a say in how we do this. I think that’s part of your job as an actor,” she said. “…It’s a team sport. It’s all hands on deck. It’s the people who spend the most time there that really set that tone, and that really allowed me to do that.”
The project’s secret ingredient, Brandt believes, is her young co-star, Chloe Chapman, who plays Gabby, the adopted orphan.
“I don’t even want to imagine doing this without her. I adore her,” Brandt said of the 17-year-old actress. “…She’s also really good…She’s so smart. She’s really wonderful. She quickly became a colleague.”
Despite the film’s gripping plot, Brandt promised viewers that it’s an entertaining watch.
“I feel crazy saying this, (but) it’s so fun. It’s not funny, I mean there are some funny moments in it, but I’ll find anything funny. . “…I like being in that line, like, how far can we go? It still has to be believable. It has to live in this world. The ending, I don’t want to give anything away, but you’re like *screams*… Yeah perfect for summer.”
The Bad Orphan premieres June 22 on Lifetime.
RELATED CONTENT: