Kristen Lee Gutoskie, who plays "Octomom" Natalie Suleman in the new Lifetime movie I Was Octomom: The Natalie Suleman Story, exclusively told E! News what it was like to speak to the mother of 14.
In the trailer for her new biopic, Natalie "Nadya" Suleman tells viewers, “You might think you know Octomom, but you don’t know me.”
And while Kristen Lee Gutoskie remembers seeing the countless headlines about the mom of 14 in the late aughts, she insists she didn’t have preconceived notions when she signed on to play her in I Was Octomom: The Natalie Suleman Story, which premieres on Lifetime March 8.
"Honestly, no," she told E! News' Francesca Amiker in an exclusive interview. "I just remembered, 'Oh yeah, that's the lady who had a bunch of babies.' I just remembered the photos that I'd seen back then, but I actually didn't pay a lot of attention."
Of course, a lot of the world did.
Natalie was catapulted into the public eye in January 2009 when she added to her family of six kids by giving birth to the world's first surviving octuplets, with all of her kids being conceived via in vitro fertilization. Over the years, she and Dr. Michael Kamrava—who transferred 12 embryos to Natalie in 2008 and had his license revoked by the Medical Board of California three years later—faced intense public scrutiny. For Natalie, this included questions over her ability to financially support her family, accusations of her chasing fame and headlines about her 2012 stay at a rehab center.
As she put it in the Lifetime film, “At one point, I was one of the most hated people in America.”
However, Kristen wanted to learn more about the single mom behind the tabloid covers and paparazzi photos.
"When I started to research her and kind of dive into the role, I was like, 'Oh wow, there was a lot going on'—a lot of tabloids, a lot of different things," she told E! News. "It was all news to me. So, it's kind of cool in that way. Like, I knew who she was, but I didn't know all the details. So, I could kind of look at it in almost a hindsight perspective from the point of view of today without having all these preconceived ideas around her.”
To prepare for the role, Kristen watched online videos from Natalie’s past interviews.
“In the prep before, I really only had what I’d seen on TV," shared The Handmaid’s Tale alum, who said she flew to Vancouver to begin filming about a week after being cast. “And so when I was doing the scenes, I had to try and understand what she was going through in a private way. Those were the more challenging scenes.”
Later on in the filming process, she continued, she got to read Natalie’s unpublished manuscript. And while Natalie is an executive producer of I Was Octomom and, according to Kristen, was also “very involved in the writing process” with script author Kelly Fullerton, she wasn’t on set for the movie shoot. So, Kristen wasn’t able to talk to Natalie until recently.
"Afterwards, it was really nice when I actually finally spoke to Natalie," the actress continued. "She was really, really happy with it, and she felt really represented. And she was so sweet. She's like, 'No one else could have played this part.' And I was like, 'Thank you. I was scared.' You never know because you want to meet them, and you're like, 'I hope you like what I did because you're alive. You're a real human breathing air.' So, it was a nerve-racking thing to make sure that she felt happy with what we put up on screen."
The movie comes 16 years after Natalie gave bith to octuplets Noah, Maliyah, Isaiah, Nariyah, Jonah, Makai, Josiah and Jeremiah—with them joining older siblings Elijah, 23; Amerah, 22; Joshua, 21; Aidan, 19, and twins Calyssa and Caleb, 18.
As for the reason she wanted to tell her story now?
"Well, her kids are grown now," Kristen explained. "I got to speak actually really briefly with her eldest son Elijah on the phone, which was so awesome because her kids are important and I really want to make sure that they're happy. And basically, I think when they were so young, she was asked to do shows and have them in, I believe, a reality series. And she was like, ‘No, I don't want that. They can't speak for themselves.’ Now, because they're older, her and her kids can finally speak for themselves and also kind of look back on the experience and present it from a ‘here's why I did what I did, and here's where we are.’”
In fact, Kristen—who welcomed her first child, a son, in June 2023—said she and Natalie were able to connect through their shared experience of being moms.
“She's a human being who is, at the end of the day, a mother and seemingly a really good mother,” she continued. “She has amazing kids—14 kids who are thriving and lovely and smart and beautiful. So yeah, I connected with her. We chatted about a lot of stuff, especially motherhood. I feel like I wouldn't have been able to play this role had I not become a mother recently. I’ve played moms before, and I could understand in my nurturing instincts a way to tap into the role. I don't think you need to be a mother to play a mother. However, something about it really helped me understand her.”
And she hopes viewers are open to understanding a side of Natalie—who also became a grandmother last year— that’s different from the one they read about online.
“Everybody is a whole human, and there's so much more to every person than what is in the headlines,” Kristen said. “Natalie had so many decisions and experiences that are shared in the film that you probably didn't get to see in the in the public eye. So I think, yeah, there's more to everybody than probably shared in the media. And also that we can overcome anything, and that family is such a wonderful thing to push us through.”
I Was Octomom: The Natalie Suleman Story premieres on Lifetime March 8 at 8 p.m. EST, followed by the docuseries Confessions of Octomom March 10.
For now, keep reading to see photos Natalie has shared of her family over the years.
Making Memories
Natalie "Nadya" Suleman celebrated her first grandchild turning six months old with some sweet photos.
"I can’t believe our little angel is already 6 months old!" she wrote on Instagram in March 2025 alongside pictures of the little one, who is the daughter of her son Joshua. "You have been one of the greatest blessings in all of our lives. Your beautiful, sweet smile fills my heart immeasurably. I love you more than words could express. We are all so grateful to watch you grow and thrive every single day!"
Borrowing the words from the children's book Love You Forever, Natalie added, "I’ll love you forever. I’ll like you for always As long as I’m living My grand-baby you’ll be."
Happy Thanksgiving
Natalie thanked her children Noah, Nariyah, Jonah, and Isaiah for their "hard work and dedication in the kitchen" for Thanksgiving 2024.
"Your healthy plant based, whole food, nutrient dense creations are compassionate and delicious!" she wrote on Instagram at the time. "We are all grateful and blessed."
Halloween Fun
The mom of 14 marked Halloween 2024 by sharing a throwback photo of her and some of her kids dressed up in their costumes in 2015.
Becoming a Grandma
In September 2024, Natalie announced that she'd become a grandma.
"Thank you God for blessing my son Joshua and lovely daughter in law with this beautiful gift!" she wrote on Instagram. "We are so grateful she is a new addition to our family! Baby girl you are so very loved and we can’t wait to watch you grow!! 8/30/24."
Surrounded by Love
While her kids smiled for the camera, Mom snuck in a wish on her 49th birthday in July 2024.
"Thank you kids for making my birthday yesterday so special!" she wrote on Instagram. "I love you all."
Compliments to the Chefs
Jonah, Nariyah, Noah and Jeremiah were in charge of the family's vegan feast on Native American Heritage Day in 2023.
"Happy belated Thanksgiving and Happy Native American Heritage Day!" Natalie wrote on Instagram in November 2023. "Thank you to the head chefs Jonah, Nariyah, Noah, and Jeremiah, who worked relentlessly cooking delicious meals for the family. You are loved and appreciated, and deserved those two overflowing plates of your creations! Hope all our kind supporters had a safe and blessed special time with loved ones!"
Girls Night Out
Mom took Amerah and Calyssa out for ramen (vegan, of course) in August 2023.
Birthday Bliss
In lieu of 48 candles, the kids brought balloons for their mom's birthday in July 2023.
Young Queen
Natalie's eldest daughter Amerah celebrated her 21st birthday in July 2023.
Dynamic Duo
The two enjoyed a mother daughter movie night in July 2023.
We've Got Each Other
Natalie marked twins Caleb and Calyssa's sweet 16 with this adorable throwback pic.
"Happy sweet 16th birthday to my, (couldn’t be more polar opposite), twins Caleb and Calyssa!" she wrote on Instagram in October 2022. "Calyssa, you have grown into a kind, loving, compassionate (towards all living things), intelligent, beautiful young lady. Words cannot describe how proud I am to call you my daughter. You are a talented writer and artist, and will achieve any goal you set for yourself, as long as you never give up. I admire your mental strength, determination, and perseverance, and am blessed to be your mom. Caleb, you have grown into a loving, caring, highly intelligent, comedic, quick witted, perceptive, and devoted young man. I am blessed to have you as a son. May God continue to bless you both abundantly. I love you."
First Day of School
In August 2022, Natalie celebrated her octuplets starting eighth grade.
"Be proud of yourselves kids for being kind, respectful, and helpful to all your fellow peers, teachers and staff," she wrote on Instagram alongside their first day of school photo. "You are exceptional role models to the 6th and 7th graders. I love you."
And to any "critics" wondering about why her older kids weren't in the snap, Natalie made it clear "their older siblings did not want me to post a picture on their first day. I respect their choice, so should you."
Beloved Cats
The family loves their fur babies too.
Look What I Made
Showing off a cat and crafts on the couch.
Twinning!
Maliyah and Nariyah were a coordinated sister act.
Fur Baby Bonding
The Sulemans are a cat family, so Maliyah took the opportunity to do some dog-sitting.
Man of the House
Natalie snuck a rare recent pic of eldest son Elijah onto her feed in honor of his 21st birthday in 2022.
Every Day is Mother's Day
Mother's Day is never lonely for Natalie, here celebrating with her octuplets and their big sister Amerah in 2022.
12th Birthday
"Happy 12th birthday to 8 of the most kind, caring, and respectful kids I have ever known," Natalie wrote to her octuplets on Instagram in January 2021. "Your compassion for all living things and the value of humbly serving others is the definition of love. You make my heart full, and have blessed our lives abundantly. I am honored to be your mother."
Brotherly Love
Noah and Jonah got ready to dig in.
14 and Counting
The Suleman octuplets enjoyed baked goods on their 14th birthday.
Throwback Photos
Joshua, sporting the temporary face tat, and big brother Eli were about to take flight in this throwback pic their mom shared.
Loving Siblings
In this throwback photo, Natalie reflected on how "Makai has always been Aidan’s guardian angel, looking out for him from day one."
Santa's Helpers
Getting eight children to line up and smile for a pic sounds like a Christmas miracle to us.
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