New drama miniseries A Friend of the Family is shedding light on the intimate details of a horrific true crime case. Tracy E. Gilchrist of Advocate Today recently sat down with actor Lio Tipton to discuss how they tackled such a vulnerable role.

A Friend of the Family follows the true story of the Brobergs, a Mormon family whose young daughter Jan was kidnapped multiple times and groomed in the 1970s by a charismatic, obsessive family "friend." Tipton plays Gail Berchtold, wife of Jan's kidnapper.

It was a difficult role to undertake, Tipton shared, and an even more harrowing story to watch unfold.

"I think that the heartbreaking part of it is that it sounds so out of this world, and yet it is quite grounded in its reality," they said. "Feeling the weight of this story as it unfolds...you don't want to believe it, but it's true."

Despite Gail's inaction during Jan's kidnapping, Tipton was able to sympathize with the religious housewife, as they believe Gail was also a victim of her husband's grooming.

"Surface level, it was difficult for me to understand, and to allow myself to submit," Tipton shared. "I was free to not have to feel like I was under his control, which is how grooming works, you feel like you're still in control."

They continued: "And for Gail, the humanity I really had to find is that this is not a woman who is trying to be manipulative or not. This is not a woman who's trying to hide under the rug this horrific thing. This is a woman who thinks, in that day and age, especially being the Mormon community at that time, protecting her family was the most important thing."

A Friend of the Family releases exclusively on Peacock October 6. For now, catch Tipton's full interview below.