Summary
JD Vance’s sister, Lindsay Ratliff, plays a key part in the Netflix filmHillbilly Elegy,and her post-movie fate is revealed in the film’s epilogue. Played by Haley Bennett,Lindsay is shown as a support for JD as they struggle to deal with their mother’s substance abuse.Hillbilly Elegyalso affected Vance’s mother, his main foil in the film, depicted by Amy Adams. The book and movieHillbilly Elegyare based on JD Vance’s true storyand real Appalachian family experience, with some exaggerations.
Hillbilly Elegyhas been controversialin its depiction of Appalachia and the working class.Many felt this depiction was harmful and unfair, though several of the film’s subjects, including Lindsay, had other opinions.In July 2024,Hillbilly Elegysaw a surge in viewershipafter Vance was announced as Donald Trump’s vice-presidential candidate. Despite controversial reviews of the film,Hillbilly Elegyimpacted the lives of Vance’s community and family, including his sister Lindsay, who went on to have a quiet life after the film’s release.
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Lindsay Ratliff Is Married With Three Children
Lindsay Has Her Own Family In The Film
As revealed in the film’s epilogue,Lindsay and her husband, Kevin, live in Middletown, Ohio. Ratliff graduated from Miami University in 2017 with a bachelor’s in social work. While JD still lived with his grandparents, Lindsay, who is five years older than her brother, began starting a family. Together, Lindsay and Kevin have three children, and motherhood becomes part of Lindsay’s character in the film. As of 2024, Lindsay and Kevin are still married. A picture of the family is featured at the end of the film.
Lindsay Ratliff Supported J.D. Vance After Hillbilly Elegy’s Release
Lindsay Feels Protective Over Her Younger Brother
Despite the negative critiques about his Appalachian depictions, Lindsay stood by her brother. In a 2020Dayton Daily Newsarticle following the premiere, Lindsay is quoted as saying, “JD has a part of my soul that nobody will ever have and I’ll protect him until the day I die. Whenever things were falling apart, my first thought was always him.”Lindsay also went on to defend her brother’s use of the often insulting term “hillbilly,”saying, “What the title of the book means is that he’s telling the story of his people. His hillbillies were Mamaw and Papaw.”
Though JD’s life has become much more public over the years, Lindsay still manages to keep a relatively low profile.
Although the two siblings had a troubled upbringing, as depicted in the film, they grew very close, often relying on each other for support. Though JD’s life has become much more public over the years, Lindsay still manages to keep a relatively low profile.Little public information is available about her and her family.No matter how audiences perceive the story or its lasting effects on Appalachia,Hillbilly Elegyremains the autobiographical truth of Lindsay and JD Vance’s family struggles.
Glenn Close was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role for her portrayal of Mamaw
Hillbilly Elegy
Cast
Directed by Ron Howard for release on Netflix, Hillbilly Elegy is a Drama film released in 2020 and stars Amy Adams and Glenn Close. The plot is based on author J.D. Vance’s memoir of the same name and follows a family as they attempt to deal with their mother’s unstable lifestyle.
