5 Things About the Actress Playing Amanda Knox – Hollywood Life

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Grace Van Patten, who broke out in Hulu’s Tell Me Lies, has stepped into one of her most high-profile roles yet. She stars as Amanda Knox—the exoneree and author wrongfully convicted of murdering her roommate Meredith Kercher in Italy in 2007—in Hulu’s The Twisted Tale of Amanda Knox.

Below, learn all about Grace, as Hollywood Life rounded up five facts about her acting career and background.

Grace Has Maintained a Long-Running Relationship With Hulu

Grace took on her breakout television role as Lucy Albright in Hulu’s Tell Me Lies, opposite Jackson White’s Stephen DeMarco. The series explores their toxic, on-and-off relationship over the course of eight years, beginning when they first meet at Baird University. Cast in the lead when the show was announced in August 2021, Grace brought Carola Lovering’s 2018 bestselling novel to life, with actress Emma Roberts serving as a producer. The performance cemented Grace as one of Hulu’s brightest rising stars.

Before Tell Me Lies, Grace also appeared in another high-profile Hulu project, the star-studded miniseries Nine Perfect Strangers, alongside Nicole Kidman, Melissa McCarthy, Regina Hall, and Michael Shannon. She played Zoe Marconi, a young woman grieving the loss of her twin brother while attending a 10-day wellness retreat with her parents.

Before Tell Me Lies, Grace also appeared in another high-profile Hulu project, the star-studded miniseries Nine Perfect Strangers, alongside Nicole Kidman, Melissa McCarthy, Regina Hall, and Michael Shannon. She played Zoe Marconi, a young woman grieving the loss of her twin brother while attending a 10-day wellness retreat with her parents.

Reflecting on the experience of filming in Australia, Grace told Elle in September 2021, “It’s the most beautiful place I have ever been to. It felt very real, being thrown into that environment. We had a kickoff dinner with the whole cast, and everyone was so great — there’s no shortage of humor [in that group], and it always helped.”

Grace’s First Role Was in ‘The Sopranos’

Grace was only 8 years old when she appeared in two episodes of The Sopranos, marking her first on-screen role. She got the job thanks to her dad Timothy Van Patten, who directed both episodes. Grace played Ally Pontecorvo, the daughter of gangster Eugene Pontecorvo (Robert Funaro).

Grace Leads Hulu’s ‘The Twisted Tale of Amanda Knox’

This is perhaps one of Grace’s most difficult roles. Playing the real-life Amanda included filming violent and harrowing scenes from the author’s interrogations, trial and imprisonment in Italy.

“I was able to go to those places because of how deeply open Amanda was and how deeply vulnerable she was with me,” Van Patten told The New York Times in August 2025.

Grace Was Romantically Linked to Nat Wolff

Grace started dating The Naked Brothers Band star Nat Wolff sometime in 2017. The pair were seen vacationing in Ischia, Italy in July 2019. The following summer, Nat posted a sweet Instagram tribute to Grace in honor of their anniversary. The post featured a photo of the couple kissing in the pool. It’s unclear if Grace and Nat are still together.

Grace Comes From a Famous Family

Grace has several family members with ties to Hollywood. Her dad Tim Van Patten is a famous director who worked on hit shows like The Sopranos, Boardwalk Empire, Sex and the City, and Game of Thrones. Her uncle was actor and comedian Dick Van Patten, who died in 2015. Grace’s aunt is film and stage actress Joyce Van Patten, 88. Grace also has two famous cousins: actress Talia Balsam, 63, and former pro tennis player Vincent Van Patten, 64.