Natalie is one of the most important new characters introduced in After Everything, yet many viewers unfamiliar with Hardin’s book backstory were surprised by how central she becomes to the final film. Played by Mimi Keene, Natalie is not just a side character. She is the emotional key to Hardin’s redemption, the living reminder of his darkest choices, and the person he must finally face if he ever wants a real future with Tessa.
Below is a full breakdown of who Natalie is, how she connects to Hardin’s past, and why her presence reshapes the entire narrative of After Everything.
Natalie’s Introduction: The Woman Hardin Wronged Long Before Tessa
In the earlier After films, Hardin’s toxic behavior mostly centered around his relationship with Tessa. But After Everything reveals that his destructive patterns began long before he met her.
Natalie was one of the first people deeply affected by his recklessness, cruelty, and emotional manipulation.
She represents:
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The version of Hardin that existed before Tessa
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The damage he caused when he used people to numb his pain
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The emotional collateral he left behind during his most self-destructive years
Her story expands Hardin’s history beyond romance and into a darker, more complicated personal past.
Hardin and Natalie’s Backstory: A Cruel Bet, A Broken Girl, and Lifelong Consequences
Hardin’s book, which becomes a plot catalyst in the film, exposes the truth:
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He pursued Natalie when she was vulnerable
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He used her for attention and validation
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He humiliated her in front of others
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His actions pushed her to one of the lowest points in her life
While the films soften certain elements from Anna Todd’s novel universe, the core remains the same:
Natalie is someone Hardin deeply hurt, and she became symbolic of the cruelty he once wielded without thinking.
This is not a romantic connection.
It is a wound — one that Hardin inflicted and never took responsibility for.
Why Hardin Must Confront Natalie in After Everything
The film shifts away from the Tessa-centered romance to focus on Hardin’s internal repair. That journey can only begin when he confronts the people he hurt before Tessa.
Natalie becomes the narrative anchor for Hardin’s redemption arc because:
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She forces him to face shame rather than hide behind anger
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She represents who he used to be — the version he fears still lives inside him
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Her pain brings accountability to the forefront of the story
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She shows that some damage cannot be undone, only acknowledged
Hardin’s confrontation with Natalie is the emotional climax of his self-reflection.
Mimi Keene’s Performance: Quiet, Controlled, and Powerful
Mimi Keene brings a grounded realism to Natalie.
Her performance avoids melodrama — instead delivering the kind of quiet devastation that feels more painful than shouting ever could.
She plays Natalie as:
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Resilient but visibly marked by the past
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Uninterested in forgiveness, but focused on closure
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A woman who moved forward, but not without scars
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Someone who refuses to let Hardin rewrite the narrative of their shared history
Her scenes with Hero Fiennes Tiffin elevate the film’s emotional maturity.
Natalie’s Role in Hardin’s Redemption Arc
While Tessa remains the love of Hardin’s life, Natalie is the mirror that reflects the parts of him he wants to forget.
Through facing her, Hardin learns:
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Apologies do not erase harm
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Redemption is earned through change, not words
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His past actions have consequences for other people’s lives
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Healing requires honesty, not romantic shortcuts
It’s not Tessa who forces this breakthrough — it’s Natalie.
This is why the movie shifts away from traditional romance:
Hardin cannot love someone properly until he confronts the damage he caused elsewhere.
Natalie’s Impact on Tessa & Hardin’s Future
Although Tessa is barely in After Everything, Natalie’s presence influences the final chapter of their relationship:
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Hardin becomes capable of being better for Tessa only after facing Natalie
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Tessa understands Hardin more after seeing him confront his past
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Natalie indirectly helps provide the emotional reset needed for a healthier future
She and Hardin do not reconcile in a warm, sentimental way — nor should they.
Their final interaction is shaped by painful truth, mutual understanding, and a sense of closure.
Final Thoughts: Natalie Is the Missing Piece of Hardin’s Past
Mimi Keene’s Natalie is not a new love interest.
She is not a villain.
She is not a plot obstacle.
She is the consequence of Hardin’s former life — the one he spent years avoiding. By addressing the harm he caused her, After Everything finally holds Hardin accountable in a sincere and human way.
Without Natalie, Hardin’s redemption would be incomplete.
With her, the franchise delivers one of its most emotionally grounded storylines.
