Who Played Gypsy Rose in The Act
Joey King portrayed Gypsy Rose Blanchard in the Hulu limited series The Act, which premiered in March 2019. The role earned King critical attention for her depiction of a young woman trapped in a fabricated illness by her mother. The series is based on the real 2015 murder of Dale Eugene Blanchard in Springfield, Missouri. Gypsy Rose Blanchard is the daughter of Clauddine "Dee Dee" Blanchard, who was killed by Gypsy and her boyfriend Nicholas Godejohn. The show dramatizes the years of medical abuse and the events leading to the murder. For background on the real case, see the Forbes overview of the case.
The series cast also includes Patricia Arquette as Dee Dee Blanchard, Calum Worthy as Nicholas Godejohn, and AnnaSophia Robb as Lacey Chichester. HBO Max and Hulu have listed The Act among their true crime drama catalog, and the show drew significant viewership during its run. Gypsy Rose Blanchard was sentenced to 10 years in prison in November 2024 for her role in the murder. The case has been covered by major outlets including the New York Times sentencing report.
The Real Gypsy Rose Blanchard Case
Dee Dee Blanchard fabricated her daughter's illnesses, including leukemia and muscular dystrophy, for years. Gypsy Rose Blanchard used a wheelchair and underwent unnecessary medical procedures while living in Springfield, Missouri. In June 2015, Gypsy and Nicholas Godejohn murdered Dee Dee at the home they shared. Gypsy pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in 2018 and was sentenced to 10 years in prison. The case is documented in multiple court records and news reports, including coverage by the SEC filings and legal databases that track related civil and criminal proceedings.
Gypsy Rose Blanchard was released from prison after serving approximately six years, with her sentence reduced for good behavior. She has since spoken publicly about the abuse she endured, including in interviews and social media posts. The case has influenced true crime documentaries, podcasts, and the Hulu series The Act. The Missouri courts handled the primary criminal case, and records are accessible through the Missouri Courts website.
Cast and Production of The Act
The Act was developed by Maggie Cohn and Jackie Clarke for Hulu, with production by FX Productions. The series ran for one season of eight episodes and received multiple award nominations, including a Primetime Emmy for Patricia Arquette. Joey King was cast as Gypsy Rose Blanchard after a competitive audition process, and she prepared for the role by studying court documents and interviews. The show was filmed in multiple Southern U.S. locations to match the Missouri setting. Production details and casting notes are available on the Hulu series page.
Patricia Arquette won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie for her role as Dee Dee Blanchard. The series also stars Calum Worthy, AnnaSoph