Mindy Cohn – Then
Charlotte Rae discovered Mindy when the production for “The Facts of Life” visited an all-female prep school that Mindy was attending. After Charlotte witnessed Mindy’s delightful personality, she convinced the show to create a role specifically for her–and that role became Natalie Green.
At 13 years old, Mindy began playing the role of Natalie. Although some young women would be discouraged by the fact that they are not as thin as society says they should be, Natalie’s character is confident and unphased by her weight. She was happy and enjoyed life to the fullest. This served as a compelling message to viewers about body image and self-confidence.