In short
Awards Chatter interview with Allie Larter about her career and her role as Angela Norris on Taylor Sheridan’s Paramount Plus drama Landman, plus how she got the part and why she moved her family to Idaho during COVID.
Guest backgrounds
Allie Larter is a 50-year-old actress with a 30-year career. She’s known for House on Haunted Hill, Final Destination (two films), Resident Evil (three films), Varsity Blues, Legally Blonde, Heroes (multiple characters), and Obsessed (with Beyoncé). She also discussed early modeling/acting work beginning after a 1996 Philadelphia Phillies commercial and a 1996 Esquire cover stunt under the name “Allegra Coleman.”
Key claims
Modeling/Esquire cover “got her in the door” to auditions; she sought multi-dimensional roles and left Hollywood briefly to have children and refocus in New York. She says the industry “punishes women for becoming mothers,” requiring her to “fight my way back.” She credits Landman’s first season for giving her full episode material and Sheridan’s writing for abrupt tonal turns.
Notable examples
The Esquire hoax; Legally Blonde’s jail/reputation stakes; Resident Evil box-office success (>$1B total); Obsessed’s “hearing different dialogue” approach; Landman’s three-month audition process and being cast while living in Idaho.
Written by AI. May contain mistakes. Listen to the episode to check what was said.
Chapters
Tap a time to open that second in VOEarly Life and Discovery
0:06 to 0:43
Ali shares her upbringing in New Jersey and how she was discovered at a young age.
“Set inside the bubble of Silicon Valley, the series features a powerhouse cast led by Billy Magnuson, Sarah Goldberg, and Zach Galifianakis.”
Early Life and Discovery
2:19 to 3:35
Ali shares her upbringing in New Jersey and how she was discovered at a young age.
“Allie, thank you so much for coming and doing the podcast.”
Transition to Acting
3:35 to 5:00
Discussing Ali's transition from modeling to acting and early experiences.
“And none of this, like my parents have nothing to do with this industry.”
Navigating the Industry
5:00 to 6:39
Ali talks about the challenges young women face in the entertainment industry.
“You've said that, you know, as I think would be the ideal scenario, but probably often isn't the case.”
International Experiences
6:39 to 8:45
Ali describes her experiences traveling for modeling and acting work.
“I was like just kind of really on my own.”
The Allegra Coleman Hoax
8:45 to 11:24
Ali explains the Allegra Coleman hoax and its impact on her career.
“How old were you when you came out to LA?”
Breakthrough Roles
11:24 to 14:03
Ali reflects on her breakthrough roles in 'Dawson's Creek' and 'Varsity Blues'.
“And I, you know, that was the time where, you know, you're going on six pilot auditions a day.”
Reflections on Career and Loss
14:03 to 16:41
Ali discusses her memories of James Van Der Beek and the impact of industry pressures.
“And so and because, you know, you just don't judge your characters ever.”
Navigating Early Roles in Hollywood
16:41 to 18:50
Ali shares her experiences in early roles in horror films and the challenges of career direction.
“And so it just kept launching me to the next one.”
The Impact of 'Legally Blonde'
18:50 to 20:58
A deep dive into the significance of 'Legally Blonde' and Ali's characterization.
“It was just like so that to me made me laugh.”
Show all 26 chapters
The Shift to Theatre and Self-Discovery
20:58 to 23:15
Ali talks about her move to New York, the importance of theater, and self-discovery.
“Like I was just doing a lot of different acting classes and I spent a lot of time walking the streets and trying to figure out who I was, what I wanted to say, what kind of artist I wanted to be.”
Return to LA and Heroes
23:15 to 25:21
Ali discusses her return to LA, her role in 'Heroes', and navigating the industry.
“It's like you can then feel pride in yourself at the end of the day.”
Female Empowerment in Action Films
25:21 to 28:00
Ali reflects on her roles in the 'Resident Evil' franchise and the significance of female-led films.
“You know, people, you know, take that scoop of the Kool-Aid and you lose the creative vision of what something should be.”
Reflecting on Career Opportunities
28:00 to 29:05
Ali discusses the unpredictability of her acting career and the importance of opportunities.
“Like that could lead to something that's totally different.”
Working with Beyoncé in Obsessed
29:05 to 29:50
Ali shares her experience of facing off against Beyoncé in the film 'Obsessed'.
“You're playing kind of a femme fatale and you get into a fight with, of all people, Beyonce.”
Challenges of Balancing Motherhood and Career
29:50 to 31:04
Ali explains the challenges women face in the industry after becoming mothers.
“So you could believe that she really looks like she's crazy.”
Deciding to Leave L.A. During COVID
31:04 to 36:15
Ali reflects on her family's decision to leave L.A. for a more grounded life during the pandemic.
“people understand what you mean by that like just forget about you well I think that, well, especially with your first child, you're looked upon differently after you become a mother.”
Auditioning for a Taylor Sheridan Project
36:15 to 40:18
Ali details her audition journey for a Taylor Sheridan project and the intense preparation involved.
“Like my best friends are raising their kids here.”
The Impact of Getting the Role
40:18 to 42:00
Ali discusses the significance of landing her role and its impact on her career.
“and you can't handle it, you're not meant to be part of his world.”
Working with Talented People
42:00 to 44:32
Ali Larter shares her excitement about collaborating with an Oscar-winning actor and the talented cast of 'Landman'.
“And I was just so excited because I knew it was going to change my life.”
Character Development and Story Arcs
44:32 to 48:06
Larter discusses the complexities of her character Angela, the show's tone, and the development process across seasons.
“what is coming next, what's coming before, and how I can stay true to what I want my character to do.”
Misconceptions about Taylor Sheridan
48:06 to 50:57
Larter addresses misunderstandings about Taylor Sheridan's writing and the representation of women in his works.
“He writes shows that are set in the heartland.”
Creating Chemistry with Co-Stars
50:57 to 55:14
Ali Larter reveals how she builds chemistry with co-stars like Billy Bob Thornton through honesty and shared experiences.
“And we came from like a really honest place.”
The Intimacy of Key Scenes
55:14 to 56:00
Larter describes the emotional depth of intimate scenes and the importance of quiet moments in storytelling.
“I mean, this is more like the theater stuff that you had wanted to do, right?”
Exploring Key Scenes in 'Landman'
56:00 to 1:00:00
Ali Larter discusses her favorite intimate scenes in 'Landman' and their emotional impact.
“And I just wondered if you can bring us into that scene because if there was nothing else, that's going to be a scene that will be looked back at.”
Reflections on Career and Industry Changes
1:00:00 to 1:02:06
Larter reflects on her career evolution, industry perceptions, and future projects post-'Landman'.
“Last question is it has now been 30 years since we met Allegra.”
Transcript
Automatic transcript. May contain errors.0:00This episode of Awards Chatter is brought to you by AMC and AMC Plus, presenting The Audacity, the all-new drama from Emmy Award winner Jonathan Glatzer. Set inside the bubble of Silicon Valley, the series features a powerhouse cast led by Billy Magnuson, Sarah Goldberg, and Zach Galifianakis. Praised as irresistible by The Wall Street Journal, the darkly comedic drama looks at what happens when the architect shaping tomorrow can barely manage their lives today. For your Emmy consideration in all categories, episodes available to screen at amcfyc.com.
0:42Hi, everyone, and thank you for tuning in to the 650th episode of the Hollywood Reporters Awards Chatter Podcast. I'm the host, Scott Feinberg, and my guest today is a talented and versatile actress who has been in the business for 30 years. She was a scream queen in House on Haunted Hill, two Final Destination films, and three Resident Evil films. She was stunning in Varsity Blues, hilarious in Legally Blonde, played multiple characters on Heroes, and even went toe-to-toe with Beyoncé in Obsessed. But she has never been better than she is on Taylor Sheridan's smash hit Paramount Plus drama series Landman, playing Angela Norris, the volatile, free-spirited, and irresistible ex - and probably future wife of Billy Bob Thornton's Tommy, and mother of Jacob Laughlin and Michelle Randolph's Cooper and Ainsley.
1:31Earlier this year for the second season of the show, she and her castmates received a Best Ensemble in a Drama Series Actor Award nomination, and she is now in serious contention for her first Emmy nomination, Allie Larder. Over the course of a conversation at the LA offices of The Hollywood Reporter, the 50-year-old and I discussed how modeling led her to acting via a game-changing 1996 Esquire cover, the frustration she has had over the years of trying to find multi-dimensional parts, particularly after briefly stepping away from the business to have her two children, how, against all odds, Landman came along shortly after she and her family relocated from LA to Idaho, and why it has been a dream come true, plus much more.
2:18And so without further ado, let's go to that conversation.
2:28Allie, thank you so much for coming and doing the podcast. Really appreciate it. Scott, thank you so much for having me. I'm excited to be here. Thank you. Well, on this one, we truly go back to the beginning. So can you share where you were born and raised and what your folks did for a living? Of course. So I'm from Cherry Hill, New Jersey. It's about 10 minutes from Philly. like a very kind of idyllic suburban life we walked to the elementary school we rode our bikes to the swim club it was just like a really kind of quiet suburban typical childhood and my dad worked for a trucking company and he would drive an hour and a half each way to work because he really wanted the foundation of raising my sister and I in the same house and we were there, I mean I left earlier but they were there and raised us in the same little home on Procroft Road.
3:17Wow. Now, you mentioned leaving early, and that was the result of kind of a, it sounds like, just like freak, fateful thing when you were 12. What happened? So, you know, I was discovered with a Philadelphia Phillies commercial, and that led to me doing like catalog work in Philadelphia. And none of this, like my parents have nothing to do with this industry. You know, like my mom was a stay-at-home mom. She worked one day a week as a nurse. And it was just this random thing when someone came up to me, and it totally changed the entire trajectory of my life. But you were 12? Like, what were you up to?
3:55Yeah, like turning 13. I mean, right there. We were just in Philadelphia. You know, it's like we'd go see my grandma and have snapper soup. You know, it's like, you know, you're going to Strawbridge and Clothier. And so that was – we were so close to it. That was our city. And I did it, and it was like, after I did that commercial, it kind of like opened up this world of just excitement and possibility. And then, you know, I was doing the catalog work, and then I started to go, I got up to four teens in New York. And that's when it really kind of shifted for me that, you know, I had been to New York just a couple times, you know.
4:28I think I saw that like roller skating, like at play once, you know, Starlight Express. But, you know, I was not in this world where my parents were taking me to a ton of theater or movie buffs. But when I started to get the chance to do commercials and then some of the other modeling gigs, I was exposed to this incredibly creative group that it was like something that I couldn't give up. It was what I thought about. It was where I wanted to be. And so then it was just like, how can you hold me back when I was just like, I felt like a horse held back at the gigs. I was just ready for life, ready for more, ready for adventures.
5:05And it kind of all launched from there. You've said that, you know, as I think would be the ideal scenario, but probably often isn't the case. Like at that young of an age in that field, it was good that your mom was very attentive. I'm sure you encountered some strange. They're definitely, you know, it's like, it's just, it's a really difficult, inappropriate industry for people that are, you know, that are young, like for young women. It's just, it's truly you're preyed upon. And I was very lucky to have such a strong foundation and that my mom was there with me. And then you kind of, you know, I was 16 and then I was kind of off my own and staying up there in the summers.
5:44And I think, you know, it's funny. My parents raised me like with always just like this little bit of guilt that I had to be like this kind of, you know, hardworking, good person. But they also gave me this intuitive, like this trust in my intuition to kind of know when things were going awry. And I think that that has protected me my entire life is to know that if something feels really off, it's time to move on. Yeah. And I've always done that. That's right. But the business, yeah, it's definitely a pretty seedy side. Well, and in that pre, you know, Me Too and all that. It was the 90s. I mean, and so it's like, you know, there is like the glamorous other side of it.
6:25It's just like, you know, you're up there with a ton of kids. You're running around the city. You're going to Club USA. You're going to Sweet 16. You're just on your own. And I can't imagine my daughter doing it or my kids doing it. But I actually, like, I have my eye on my kids. Like, they can't get away from me. I've got their number. My parents didn't have my number. I was like just kind of really on my own. Wow. Well, so it sounds like at 17 is when you started doing more international stuff. Yeah. And I guess at that point, not always with your mom or whoever. No, no. Yeah. Was that kind of fun, a good thing?
7:04I know that eventually I think it led you to Milan, which was pretty important for the other trajectory of your life. But just talk about, you know, kind of going off abroad. Yeah. What was interesting, so I started in acting classes when I was really young, like 13. That was when, like, right after I got the commercial. But I was with all these older guys, and they were my scene partners, and it really, that made me uncomfortable. So that was like, I was like, I don't want to do this. This isn't what, you know, I think it's made out to be. So I continued doing, like, commercials and modeling, and I had the opportunity to start kind of traveling.
7:37And that's when I went off to Japan by myself and Milan. I deferred for one year, went to college for a semester. I got into NYU. I was planning on doing this kind of journey. My parents were like crying. They wanted you to be in school? Oh, of course. And they wanted me to go to NYU. And they really, you know, my dad is a very safe man. He's very, he likes things very stable. And again, like once, like this next chance to kind of go into like these amazing cities and taste the food and meet all these different people in different cultures, it just kept my train moving along and it was those experiences like my roommate was Amy Smart and she is an actress also kind of had the similar kind of she was from Topanga I was from Jersey complete opposites um but just were we just had a bond from the second that we met and so I went back home after that trip and I was like all right let's give LA a shot and because I didn't want to to school.
8:34Like I was like, I did not want to go to school at that point. I wanted to continue working. Um, and I wanted to understand what the craft of acting was. And that's when things fully shifted in my life. How old were you when you came out to LA? Eight, like 19, 19. Yeah. And at that point, how long was it before I'm going to bring up a person? We don't, let's not get into her yet. Yeah. Allegra Coleman. But before that was there, when you get out to LA, what was the game plan? It was all Swift. I mean, I had like, you know, I got out there, I was living in a terrible, terrible apartment in Venice.
9:10I had like, you know, a Chevrolet, like, you know, Chevette kind of situation, like, you know, like an old beater. And I was driving around to Go Seas and just like paying my rent, you know, it was such a different time in this industry where it's like there was commercials, there was those gigs. And then, you know, you there's, I mean, I was in the land of Hollywood where all the actors are. And that's when I started the Howard Vine Studio. And that was the first class being in that environment with other actors, scene partners, understanding it and like, you know, Uta Hagen and like really starting to drop into what this was.
9:44And then also, you know, my peer group, you know, being so inspired by the people that were doing incredible work at that time. So that was that was really that was the next big shift for me. Okay, so we get to a little ahead of November 1996, because that's when, in that month, people get Esquire magazine, and on the cover is a person, apparently with the name Allegra Coleman, who is breaking up Puentin Tarantino and Mira Sorvino's relationship. She's getting in, I think, getting cast in a Woody Allen movie. It's this next big thing. Who actually was Allegra Coleman, and how did this come about?
10:22So it came about from the photographer who had worked with me on a different job and knew my personality. And he was like, oh, they're going to buy this. And so they hired me for the job. But they as Esquire, which had themselves said, we want to get some newcomer. They wanted to play a hoax. OK. I mean, that's what it was. OK. And I think the biggest joke was that people believed it because nobody actually read the long form article. Like, if you actually read it, You know, you would know that it was a joke, but people are skimming and just going, oh, my God, who is this? How did she get on the cover of this?
10:56Who is this? And then it starts. And that was like the door that opened that got me to my manager. Because people are calling in and they're saying, like, how do we reach Allegra? Yes, yes. Or who is this? What is this? And so the conversation started. And I think that, you know, any young actor in this business knows the hardest part is just getting in the door. That's not true. the hardest part is sustaining a long career. But getting in the door is the first step. And that was my moment. And I, you know, that was the time where, you know, you're going on six pilot auditions a day. You know, you get the pages that I'm for, you're driving by your agency, you're grabbing the material, you know, I mean, it was just, it was kind of a hot mess back then.
11:37Well, so as a result of this kind of stunt, I mean, did you ever imagine that it would have the effect it did? I mean, it's a big deal to be on the cover of a magazine, but you weren't under your own name there was no I don't know if you even had full representation no no I didn't it all started because of that um no it's just I don't know I guess that magazine and when that when that happened it was just it all was happening in live time yeah right and I didn't have these plans for the future I was surviving day to day like I was paying the rent I was going to class I was still really young, you know, and just knew like each day I wanted to keep on going.
12:18But there was no plan of what was going to happen a month from then. It's kind of amazing because if they did that today, 30 years later, they would probably just do it with an AI model. It wouldn't even be a real person. You're right. And we wouldn't have had the pleasure of your contributions. But all right. So this is, again, November 96. And by 1998-ish, you're on some pretty big things. Yeah, it happened really fast. Like a couple episodes of Dawson's Creek. And then I think the first movie that, I don't know if it's the first one that you shot, but I think the first one people really saw was Varsity Blues.
12:53It was. Okay, so first of all, can you, I remember, and anyone who was a contemporary remembers, we're like, this is a pretty memorable new person on the scene. Can you share for anyone who doesn't recall, like, what was your first scene in your first movie? And how did you feel about the assignment? It was, I think at this point, kind of a legendary scene for some people. But, you know, it was interesting about that. So I loved that role. And I've talked about this before. I always find that when I read something and, you know, a lot of times, you know, we know this. Certain characters are underwritten or they cliche or they come across one way.
13:33I've always been able to find them and dig into them and elevate the material and that was like my first experience of going okay so she's got to put on this whipped cream bikini and like go into this world but for me that was like her trying to get out of Texas. It was a young, stupid mistake. And then the way it ends is almost kind of sweet. So it's like you were able to see just deeper layers into this character. And so I never saw it as like it was going to be that moment. I thought of it as like you understand this woman and she does that because she's trying to have a better life. No, totally.
14:10And so and because, you know, you just don't judge your characters ever. And just to remind people, so the idea, I guess, is that if she can seduce the quarterback, she can get out of this small town. That's right. Which is still probably happening. Yeah, I'm sure. Quite often. Well, so interestingly, though, the first notable TV couple episodes of Dawson's Creek, then this is Varsity Blues. Yes. All with James Van Der Beek, who we sadly just lost. Did you any, you know, just in light of that, any any kind of particular memories of that? Well, I mean, look, he was always incredibly professional.
14:48He was unbelievably talented. And I think that he had such a pivot in his life from this industry and was able to, you know, have these incredibly beautiful children and this wonderful marriage and find, I think, some happiness outside of this industry. and I think that if you allow this industry to define you and define your happiness and your worth it's just it's just never going to work out you know you can't allow that and I think that you know for me I'm devastated you know by his loss but also going I'm so happy that he was able to I think find some some peace and joy in his life yeah well coming out of that uh and in the same year I think in fact 1999 was the first of quite a few movies of that period when you were sort of the way people now kind of categorize is like a scream queen there were some horror movies there's House of Haunted Hill that year there's shortly after that the final destination into the next year 2000 how does it work at that stage of a career where again you're now just getting on the map on the radar of the public with yeah varsity blues now you You're in a couple of movies that are seen by a lot of people.
15:59But maybe my sense is it's not exactly what you wanted to be doing. But how do you navigate? In some ways, like you said, almost the hardest part, getting in the door. But then I'm sure it's hard to also kind of communicate what you want to be doing. Yeah. I'm able to look back at those movies and love them now. Yeah. I think when I was in the midst of it, it was harder for me because I wanted to be this like really gritty, raw indie actress. Like that's what I wanted and is almost closer to who I am and like the Jersey side of myself. But, you know, I was I fought for these roles. I got these roles and they had tremendous success.
16:41Yeah. And so it just kept launching me to the next one. Again, there wasn't like this plan. I didn't have this, you know, you never know where you're going to be in five to ten years. but I kept doing those movies and Legally Blonde was a huge one because it was the first time I got to do really do comedy and then Final Destination came and I actually loved that story but they actually cut out the ending because it was like Clear ended up having a baby and I thought it was just bigger than just being a sci-fi movie um and then that got cut out because the audiences didn't want to have a baby you know but like that was kind of for me what the movie was about was that it would keep going.
17:16And so, you know, I was really just a very inexperienced actor at that point in my life. And so I would see my work and be really hard on myself. And that's when I moved to New York and I left. I left. I definitely want to dive into that period because I've read you talk about it and it was clearly necessary and important. But so it's interesting because I Legally Blonde was released after those others that I mentioned. But was it was shot before even the final? It was all in there. It was all in back and forth. It's all right there. Okay. Well, so to, again, just remind folks, Legally Blonde now celebrating its 25th anniversary.
17:50Hard to believe. I know. Brooke Taylor Windham, fitness instructor on trial for murdering her husband who can't give an alibi because it would require her to admit that she was getting liposuction. I just rewatched the clip where you say, quote, I'd rather go to jail than lose my reputation. Absolutely. And who ends up represented by Reese Witherspoon's Elle Woods. So, giant hit. I didn't remember. It was Robert Luketic's debut. Yes. And I understand that you were originally going in there for a different part. Yeah, it was just one of the sorority sisters because me and Reese are the same age.
18:24So, they thought I was too young. You know, back then, even when I did, like, Drive Me Crazy, I was like, I don't want the other role. I want this role, you know. And I just thought that it was hysterical. I thought it was hysterical, but it was always, for me, about the jail scene. Yes. You know, and understanding like that this woman was never going to let like lose her empire and lose her reputation. And that to me is where the comedy came from was how high stakes it was for her. Yes. It was just like so that to me made me laugh. And that's why I want to do that. And that's what I wanted to get across, you know, in that movie with playing her was just, you know, that was like a live or die moment for her.
19:03And as you say, I guess the first time you'd really been able to perform comedy and show that side of your – Yeah. I mean I did like a couple little like Chicago Suns and Suddenly Susan. Like that was kind of like where – you know, that kind of thing. But comedy for me has always come from character. Always. Like you're never going to – I'm never going to be the actress you hire to just like deliver a line and hit a beat. You know, and when things become really broad, I'm just not interested. It's just not my taste. But things that make me laugh are things that are authentic to a person. And when you heighten those stakes and put them in certain environments, that's to me where the funny comes from.
19:37Same year as Legally Blonde is a kind of cameo as a jewel thief in Jane's style Bobstrike back. And also I know that you're saying and I think that it was in 2002 that you kind of and I guess having been in New York, you were there for 9-11. And so this is a meanwhile, your life's staying off, your career's staying off. But what was it that, or no, you wouldn't have been in New York quite yet. I was doing the Vagina Monologues during 9-11. Oh, you were? I was there. In New York? Yeah. The reason that you were even in the midst of all this doing the Vagina Monologues, which you had talked about as being like a really important.
20:16Well, I thought it was going to be able to be a pivot for my life and my career. To be doing more theater. It's just starting to kind of dig in a little bit deeper into the work of it. Okay. And understanding it more and getting to kind of stretch myself. and that's what I was really interested in. And it seems like you were also just debating because now at this point, you're somebody that's probably being recognized more and all of that, but is this what you want to do with the rest of your life, right? That was kind of - Definitely. And understanding that I was part of a machine that felt out of control and that decisions were being made for me and I was doing things that didn't completely align authentically to me.
20:53Like it's always that word that comes back to, it just instinctually didn't feel great to me. And so I moved back to New York and I just got into lots of classes. Like I was just doing a lot of different acting classes and I spent a lot of time walking the streets and trying to figure out who I was, what I wanted to say, what kind of artist I wanted to be. Do I want to be an artist? And I think that was for me when I really just figured out who I was as a young woman. Because you didn't have the college years. You didn't have the. I didn't have the college years. And I think that with the success that came really early in my career, you know, that was a time where in Hollywood we were making a lot of teen, very commercial movies that people loved.
21:33You know, I mean, I look back and I'm like, oh, my gosh, I'm so blessed that I get to be in so many of these iconic movies that people adore. But then there's the other side of it that you've got to have you have to feed the artist in you and also somehow kind of navigate this industry that can that can really break you down. And so the fact that that chapter in New York ended and you came back to LA, was that because you had concluded that this was what you wanted to do or was a specific – I know there was an opportunity, big opportunity that came along. Yeah. Was that – was the fact that you were even receiving it and open to it because you decided, all right, I am all in on this or did that kind of interrupt the deliberation?
22:19liberation it was 100 % a decision at that point to go and I was 28 I think and I was just like this is what I want with my life New York didn't like the independent film scene there was over you know it wasn't happening there was like no none of that hedge fund money was like giving it to the indies anymore and I just realized I was like if this is what I want to do I've got to go fight for it. And I also felt like I had created a base of how I wanted to tell stories as an actor. And I was ready to be able to put myself back in it in a way that I could feel pride that I had put in the time. Because it felt too much like luck to me too in the beginning.
23:02And that doesn't sit well with me. You know, I'm someone who really, really believes in a hard day's work. I just am, you know. So it's like you put in the work, you put in the work, and then, you know, you can, like it or don't like it, it doesn't matter. It's like you can then feel pride in yourself at the end of the day. And so the project that I was alluding to, I guess, was the reason to move back because you landed? It happened so fast, though. So you moved back to L.A. My life has been like somehow I'm in the place and something happens each time I'm there. It's been extraordinary in that way.
23:39No, I moved back, I think, in November-ish. And then I was, I met my husband and I had the callback for Heroes. And my mom was in town and I was so sick. And my mom drove me to the callback. And I remember being outside and talking to Dave Semel and going in. And, you know, you're standing there with eight other girls and it's always the same bullshit. And, you know, and I just was like, I just kind of knew it was me. because I wanted to play this woman, again, who's like an internet stripper, but she's taking care of her son, and I loved her. I loved her. I loved her for that, and then also, I mean, I just think the pilot was written so beautifully by Tim Crang.
24:22Did you know at the time of the pilot that she would go on to have all these other personalities and all that? No, no. So they were, okay. Because just for listeners, I mean, yes, the single mom who's stripping online to support her son, But then I guess we would say she has split personality or whatever. But like a lot of these characters, this other side. And in her case, three other personalities. I can't even talk about that. That just goes went off the rails. I'm just going to give you the first season, which is something that I'm proud of. And was nominated for the Best Drama Series Emmy.
24:58That's a big deal. It was really great. And it's like, you know, with that, I was like digging into Youngian Theory. I was going into the shadow side. I was like trying to figure out how to play these two sides of, you know, this person, you know. And so that was, you know, getting to really dig in on a network TV show. It was an incredible cast. And I thought it was a really special first season. And then sadly, what often happens in Hollywood is that writers change. You know, people, you know, take that scoop of the Kool-Aid and you lose the creative vision of what something should be. And so I think along the way, it's like as I've had these incredible successes and also things that should have kept going and had success, I've really taken notes and learned and continued to grow and understand how to make different choices.
25:46Well, and in this case and maybe some of these others where, you know, somebody looks at a series and we'll come to, I mean, down the road, for instance, first Heroes was 2006, 2010. Others that were shorter lived, I think there were like a season each of Legends in 2014, Pitch in 2017, The Rookie 2019. And that ate up three years each time of my life. Each time. Because they told you. And it's not within your control, right? If the writing goes off a cliff or whatever. But also, when you get a holding fee for a pilot for a year, you can't do anything else. So, I mean, that was an interesting time when that was happening.
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26:24And, you know, I met my husband and I really just after I did Heroes, it was like, you know what? I just I wanted to have children. I wanted a family. I wanted something that, again, like gave me worth outside of this industry because it was just like breaking me. It was this industry breaks my heart all the time. And so that was a time where I was like, oh, my gosh, like I met this incredible man and we're going to have a beautiful family. And then, you know, during that time, though, these shows would come up and you think you're going to be working because they were both amazing shows. Pitch was amazing.
26:57Legends was great. But that's just not the way our industry has ever been set up. What we cannot overlook is that also in that period, I guess overlapping partly with Heroes, were some very big hit movies that you were part of, which were also kind of trailblazing in a way because there were female action movies. And those are the Resident Evil movies, Extinction in 2007, Afterlife in 2010, and Final Chapter in 2016, you and Mila Jovovich. And I understand, like, you know, these are not going to win Oscars, but they were very popular and, as we say, kind of groundbreaking. Well, I think that what I'm able to feel at my age is understanding, like, how much joy there is to allow people to go to the movies and escape their own life.
27:45And that everything doesn't need to be an Oscar-winning movie. There's something about giving sheer entertainment that is incredible. So those three, first of all, made over a billion dollars in the box office. Mila was always incredible to me as was Paul took me all over the world you know I was down in South Africa when Vivian was seven months old Mila had her baby we were shooting nights my son we put in Afrikan school down there the whole thing was wild but I was always so grateful for the opportunities because again like longevity in a career is you just there's no guarantees and that just kept coming back and I love getting to play Claire Redfield and I love getting to do the stunts.
28:27So that's just a joy. Kind of just keeps your face and name. Yeah. You don't know who's watching anything. Like that could lead to something that's totally different. Yeah. And don't forget like actors have to pay the bills. Yeah, of course. Of course. People forget this all the time. You know, it's just like you can't just go three years without working. It's true. You know, and that was just, it was a great opportunity for me. And I do love that it is Mila and female led. And it's something that I am proud of. I'm proud to be a part of that. I have to mention just one other before we talk about that period that, you know, when this is just before you, I think, had your first child.
29:03Another one that opened at number one at the box office. You're playing kind of a femme fatale and you get into a fight with, of all people, Beyonce. I think you threw a lamp at her or something. And this is Obsessed, the movie 2009. Your character is an office temp who's sort of luring Idris Elba's investment banker away from his wife, who is Beyonce. I mean, I'd get crushed if I didn't at least ask, what's it like going toe-to-toe with Beyonce? Well, it was amazing. So it was during Heroes that I started working with Ivana Chubbuck. And she's been an incredible acting partner for me. And I was shooting.
29:41I started Obsessed during Heroes. Like, that was wild. Wild so I was shooting that during the day shooting obsessed on the weekends. It was so busy But again when an opportunity comes like that you take it It just is a brilliant actor and we had an incredible relationship and had so much fun working together and we kind of got it We knew what we were making With that role specifically it was it's like I had to get into the weeds with that because my you know If you looked at my script it was like what Lisa was saying and then it was what she was thinking So it's like I was like not only knowing what was happening in the scene, I was memorizing and having a completely different dialogue in my head.
30:20So you could believe that she really looks like she's crazy. You know? But like you don't ever play those things. So it's like how do I make this real? And we kind of came up this way that, you know, she truly was just hearing something different. She was hearing him say something different to her. And so that was able to be my through line for that entire movie. Interesting. And that kind of took me through. and yeah and people loved it yeah no I can't even a lot of people want to see that it was actually a harder work than you would think okay so you had your children I believe I read in 2010 and 2015 and you said in a prior interview quote sadly the business does punish women for becoming mothers so I've had to fight my way back every time I got pregnant can you break that down so people understand what you mean by that like just forget about you well I think that, well, especially with your first child, you're looked upon differently after you become a mother.
31:16There's definitely anomalies and exceptions to that rule, but I've always been part of like the mass of it. So there's part of that. There's part of the fact that like I gained a lot of weight with my children, you know? And so nobody believes you're ever going to look good again. So it's time to get that back. And then also a year off in this business is a long time. You know, this business is built for you to be part of a machine that continues to work. And if you ever take your foot off the pedal, you're going to be in trouble. And that has never worked for me. And I've never followed that rule, which means like I have to constantly restart my career.
31:52But having my children and spending the time home with them will always be one of my greatest choices. And that I'm so proud that I did. You know, you never know if you're going to get it back. But my priorities have always been about my family first. And so I think that it's just hard. I think it's hard in this business, you know, unless you're to a certain point in your career where it doesn't matter. Which is very few. Which is very, very few. No, I always will think of myself as a working actor who's had extraordinary triumphs and a lot of dry spells. Well, and then I guess that makes it extra gutsy or daring in a way where, you know, obviously the pandemic kicks everyone's ass.
32:36But then it sounds like you made a decision to not stay in L.A., which doesn't make it necessarily easier for getting opportunities here. But obviously you managed to still do it because we're going to come in a moment to land man. But just what led you to leave L.A. specifically? So it was during COVID. And, you know, we were living down in like the Palisades, Santa Monica area. We thought that we could build a life down there. We had our kids in public school. We were going to walk them to school every morning. We were going to walk to the beach. We were trying to find somehow to raise our children where they would have a grounded environment.
33:12And then when COVID hit, everything shut down and we just felt like things went off the rails. I was a terrible homeschool mother. I just don't have a lot of patience. It's definitely like my worst quality. And it just wasn't working out. And so we had talked about going and just going to a mountain town where things were open because you could be outside skiing. The kids were already online. My daughter was in kindergarten at that point and she would just like shut the laptop down. I think she failed gym. It was just like everything was so stupid for like a five-year-old. and we were just like, we're not doing this.
33:44We're going to look at this as a chance as a family to go away for two months and that was all we had planned. I'd never been to this place in Idaho that I live. My husband wouldn't go to the other ski town I wanted to go to where all my friends were because he's like, no, we're going, this is our time. We may never get this again because there was never a world where we thought we wouldn't live in LA or New York ever in our life because this industry wouldn't have allowed it. He's an actor too. He's an actor also And so we drove into town, and after a couple weeks, you know, we kind of met some people, and then the school was open.
34:19And we put our daughter in kindergarten. Masked, of course. But she was able just to be with other children, and that was something that just opened up our life in a totally different way. Then we went home for the summer. To L.A., you mean? Back to L.A., and we kind of looked at each other, and we're like, is this possible? Like, can we do this? I did like some I did like an indie film I did like a couple indie films during COVID and during that time but like what does this even look like and I think that once we realized that we were going to put like our family first our marriage first and how good I felt not being in the belly of the beast like I've only been in the belly of the beast like I've never lived outside of it and so to be able to start to be in an environment where we have friends that are in so many different industries.
35:11My conversations were different, how people treated me were different. And also artistically, it opened up my eyes to so many different things. And so that was, I think, that was the gutsy pivot of us going, we're going to go for it. We'll rent the house for a year. We're going to go for it and see what happens. And then it also became deeper than that because we fell in love with where we live. We fell in love with raising our kids. And I think that having the maturity of understanding that this is a chapter in our life that we're not giving up um and if one of us has to go back to la we'll go back if we end up having to you know if haze is doing you know a sitcom or whatever we'll all go together how long it's like a flight from yeah two hours but we love that it's a small town and it's not within the industry um we're really raising our kids in the mountains and i think that for us just like the value system that we're able to give them and just we're kind of, you know, you kind of have eyes on the town.
36:09It just, it feels like it gives a different kind of character to our children. Not that, I mean, I have amazing, my godchildren are here. Like my best friends are raising their kids here. The kids are incredible. But for us personally, this was a really great move for our family. There was a lot of tears hiking those mountains of just going, am I making the greatest mistake of my life? Am I giving up everything? And what am I going to do? You know, like what's going to happen? And I guess, though, if you were ever going to do it, this was the time to do it. Because also now more than more than ever, meetings and auditions and things are happening on Zoom, right?
36:45Or not Zoom, something like it. For sure. I mean, a lot of people left during that time. I think that we just decided to stay, you know, and we kind of rolled the dice, you know. Well, okay, so what was going on in your life at the moment when you first hear about a Taylor Sheridan project that you might be a fit for? You know, I've been watching them and loving them and kind of annoyed that I never had an audition for one, to be honest. I was like, how am I going to get into one of these? I feel like I'm this kind of woman. And, you know, I knew him briefly in my early 20s. Literally, though, by the way, because, like, this is sort of the Madison, what you've got and done.
37:21You go relocate to the middle of the— We will do it, you know. and, you know, he was at Howard Fine and he was kind of part of that whole world with Amy Smart but I hadn't talked to him in over a decade and he had had extraordinary success with Wind River and Sicario and, you know, it's funny, like, after people get success, you don't want to reach out even though you want to say, oh my gosh, like, Sicario was brilliant Wind River was brilliant but then you don't want people to think you're calling them because they're having success, you know? It's just like, that's not in me to do that and anyway, this audition came from Papsidera who put me in Final Destination and a bunch of different things.
37:55And I read it. It was four pages. I've talked at length about the arduous audition process. Please, though, if you don't mind, because I think people should understand, listeners should understand, this is not like one or two brief meetings or something that leads to a life-changing part. This is like over how long a period? What was going on? It was over three months. And so it was four pages, and I put them in, and then you wait a couple weeks, and then, you know, I get a call back. and it was eight pages. So then, you know, you kind of dig deeper in and I also started to get more kind of information about this character.
38:31And so then, you know, you're going, oh my God, like what's the next step? And then I think I had to do like, you know, 12 or 13 pages. And then I got in, you know, I got invited to come down and test for the show. It literally laid me out in my bed, like in a paralyzed state. I was not well. Like because the pressure, I've never been a good auditioner. I'm not someone who enjoys doing like stand up being in front of a podium. That's not my thing. I'm a much more intimate actor. I'm someone who likes to talk to one person in the corner. I can do it all. It's just not what I enjoy doing. And I just had to like, you know, have my like, you know, call to faith and be like, girl, you got to just you got to go fight for this.
39:13You got to pull it together. It was 18 pages. I got down there. I, you know, walked into a room. There was 11 other women there, 10 other women and me. Did you know some of them? I knew a couple. And it was just, you know, how do you stay clear enough to do the work when you're in those kind of environments? And not only that, you have to wait. I think I was third. And then you have to wait until everyone's done. And you just sit in this room. And it was just brutal. But I was able to go in. I knew the material backwards. I had worked on it inside and out. He had also given us a page and a half monologue, which I think is in episode three, the night before.
39:54Oh, my God, on top of everything else. Yeah. How much of this is sadistic versus actually like – I don't think it's sadistic at this point. No? I don't. I think that his shows are not easy to film. Yeah. I think that you need to be a pro. You need to be able to handle the pressure and you need to be able to perform. You know, like we sometimes – we are moving fast. We're also – you know, you're working with Oscar winners. and I think that if you're going to fall apart and you can't handle it, you're not meant to be part of his world. So he wants to figure that out early before you're, that's maybe even the idea of the pressure cooker of being home.
40:28And I think that you know, honestly for his time I think he only has a certain amount of time and he's like, I'm going to run all these girls through and I'm going to find the right person for this role and that's the, I think the genius with Taylor, like he casts you and then he lets you go, you know? I mean he really, you know, with the the episodes that he directed with me the first season really, you know, was like pushing me and he really wanted the humor and he wanted this high octane woman. And then once we were there and like I found it, he was out. Well, so how soon after that, the thing with 11 other, it was 11 others or you were the 11th?
41:02I was the 11th. Okay, so there's 11. And then we all went out for drinks, right? Are you serious? Well, of course. I'm a girl's girl. We're down there and we're all doing this. We all knew it was brutal. You know, we're there to support each other. I can't imagine walking into that and trying to intimidate someone or compete with them. I'm not competing with anyone but myself. And if it's their role, they should go get it. That's always how I've seen myself as an actor. It's like we're all so different. There's a quality, an essence, an energy, a look that you bring. I'm not competing with any other woman.
41:34Well, that's awesome. And then how soon after that did you find out you've gotten it? It wasn't that soon. I mean, again, we had just bought a house in Idaho at that point. And I was sitting in the driveway. And it was like halfway built. And I remember looking. I mean, I looked down and I saw him calling my phone. And I was just like, oh, my God. And he's just like, it's yours. He's like, you've had it. You've had it the whole time. But, you know, it's yours. And it was amazing. And I was just so excited because I knew it was going to change my life. I didn't know to this level of it, but I knew I was going to get to work with an Oscar-winning actor who is just such a profound genius, who's raised my game, made me a better actor.
42:20And the whole cast just elevates it. The direction of Stephen Kaye, the writing of Taylor, Robert McLaughlin. I mean, Stephen Kaye, like, it's just, it has raised me again to the next level of an actor. So that has been – that's what – I kind of knew I was going to get to work with incredibly talented people. But having that and then the success of it, you're just like, man, so much gratitude. Well, so the New York Times recently profiled you and they wrote, quote, in Larder's manicured hands, Angela is more than a focal point for the male gaze. She's funny, wild, wounded, and an emotional tornado, in Larder's words, that can flatten a Texas town, close quote.
43:00So obviously when you guys – when you first go to work on this, first of all, how much information did you actually have about who she was? Because, you know, the audience is meeting her via FaceTime. It was a little while before in the kind of sequence of the plot that we learn about the bus that – I had all 10 episodes. So you – at the outset. So that must have been nice. It was extraordinary. Yeah. You know? I mean it was like we had the material. So what was the key? So I knew what was happening. Well, I think that the hardest part with the first season, especially coming out, was that I knew where she was going.
43:38And I think the brilliance of Taylor is that he's going to do that to you. He's going to make you think one thing and then do an abrupt right turn. And so it was being able to layer all those things in because I knew where it was going. And I don't – we didn't know in the second season. That was totally different. We did not have – we had like a couple scripts. That was totally different, and they were coming in each week. But the work we did the first season of laying down who this family was, that was essential. And I think that all of the actors coming in and, you know, the audience also understanding the tone of our show.
44:12Because there's no show like ours. There just simply isn't. We've got drama. We've got comedy. We have action. We have all this, like, symphony that you play on our show. And as an actor, I'm stretched so far because I have to know the tone of what that scene is to make sure it's fitting into the way that Taylor sees the vision of the edit of our show. So it's really, you know, it's like kind of always that fine-tuning of understanding what is coming next, what's coming before, and how I can stay true to what I want my character to do. I just want to kind of underscore what you said about the range of what you're being asked to do because I think that can be overlooked or whatever, that your character and Michelle Randolph's character, your character's daughter, are in some ways, some of the time, there as the comic relief and the give you a breath of air from the heavy stuff.
45:05And I'll remind people about the stuff with the senior citizens. Yes. And sending her off, trying to send her off to college and all of that. But at the same time, there are things like the great last scene of season two, which are still not unfunny and not unsexy, but there's weightier stuff going on there. But I guess one thing I have to ask you about is, did you know Billy Bob before this show? Or how do you develop when so much of the show is going to ride on the shared history and the chemistry? And again, like just to remind people, they were married. She they go through the bust. Yeah. And then she's a terrible alcoholic.
45:53She has two young children. Yeah. And, you know, she did not grow up with means. You know, I mean, this is a West Texas girl, you know, working at a bar. Yeah. And then this happens. And, you know, she ends up marrying a very, very wealthy man to kind of survive and to support her family and her children. and I think that part of coming into, you know, when I had that monologue, I knew all these things that were going to happen to be able to explain who she was and I think that it's like, again, it's the reverse engineer of the story that you think because she's coming back to her true love and realizing that that's not what life is about, you know, and she had done it to survive and then she has, you know, all of this money but it doesn't give her the love and the life that she wants because she's really just a Texas woman who wants to be with her man.
46:43And she wants to raise and try to heal her family. And that's what I always come back to is like the healing of the family and that she's seen enough of the world at this point that is there still something there and is there a chance for them? And she will do anything to get him. And that's why it's so silly when I think, and I guess I should tee it up for you to comment about it, but like people want to sometimes knock Taylor for the way he writes women. First of all, nobody's forcing you, Michelle Randolph, Demi Moore, Kelly Riley, Nicole Kidman, Zoe Saldana, Michelle Pfeiffer. Helen Merritt.
47:17Helen Merritt. It's like I don't think that all of you can have. It's just a false narrative. Right. And also the idea that, OK, so in this case that Angela is a trophy wife as Billy Bob's significant other. Like you're saying, she's walked away from being that. That's exactly right. That's exactly right. And I also feel like, you know, what he does is you just don't see a lot of women in film and television that embrace their sexuality. It just kind of stops at a certain age. And I'm always amazed at how shocked people are by it. And I'm thrilled because it's ridiculous. It's totally ridiculous.
47:58Are there other things about him that you think are misunderstood? Because I think I just was recently in the last month did a piece about like what's going on where so many other shows that are about a complicated family or whatever that don't have the viewership that you guys do get accolades. accolades and you guys to some extent like this year was great you got for I think season two the best ensemble SAG award nomination and there were other things like that but so far and hopefully this changes in a few weeks but not the TV Academy and it's like what is this about and I think one of the things is that there may be this sort of perception of Taylor that he just doesn't you know or ideas about him where people are projecting it onto him because he doesn't really come and hang out on the coast where the business is.
48:51He's based in Texas. He writes shows that are set in the heartland. So people make maybe conclusions about his own politics. So like a long windup. But the question is, as somebody who has known him for a long time and works very closely with him, what do you think the biggest misconceptions are about that? I just think all of that. I just I don't think that you can pin him down, you know, and I think that he's not going to come back into kind of the machine that just wants to break him down and he wants to work. You know, he's an extraordinary hard worker. He's a brilliant talent and he wants to do it his way.
49:26And I think that it's very hard in our industry to do things your own way, you know, when you're part of a machine. I think with our show, what's incredible about it is that we are a true, authentic eye into the world of oil in West Texas and what families are like and complicated, messy families and that, you know, I mean, I think the audiences do, but I want people to see like that's what makes our show so special. You know, I mean, who cares about the other stuff? This is a true look at it. And, you know, all the different actors that have come in to embody these characters are just spectacular, you know, and always starting and ending with Billy.
50:08he's just so phenomenal on this show there's no one who's that funny and that grave and when you watch him especially when I'm annoying him or driving him crazy it is hysterical and then he has like these you know three page monologues about oil he's just incredible and I just think the work is strong and our entire cast and the crew you know we're just we're proud to be making something that we believe in and everyone gives like 110 % for for Landman. I had interrupted you before I gave you the opportunity to share about just did you know Billy before and also what how do you create that create that because I mean he's actors oh well that helps but and and we're actors right I mean that's you have to go there and we've both been doing this for a long time but I think that the difference that you feel is that natural connection and that comes back to Taylor with his casting yeah you know he just has this you know knowing sense of being able to put different people together on paper we are complete opposites we have different energies we have different personalities um but from the time that we met we were both we both came in with complete honesty and i think that when you meet someone in that place you're able to form a bond and a connection that's real and we're friends and it's the same thing with Michelle.
51:30Yeah. Like we were really able to do that. And we came from like a really honest place. And I think that, you know, being able to be down there and, you know, go, we don't want to do a show, you know, on the page, my character, if you actually read like the first 10, she's really caustic and vitriolic with him. It is. And I think originally when Taylor first started writing it, that's what he wanted and saw this as. And I didn't want to play that. I wanted to play a woman with heart. And so usually I'm playing completely against what's on the page. You know, it's, I'm saying one thing and I am thinking and feeling and doing a complete, the complete opposite.
52:08And that with, with Angela and Tommy's relationship, we just didn't want to play that for years and years. And we were like, okay, let's dig into this. And what have they been through? And that they really, you know, the reason I think it's fun to watch is that they're able to say things to each other that they couldn't hear from anybody else. Like they hold a mirror to each other. One scene where he says, quote, you want every meal to be memorable, every moment to be an experience, and every night to be a honeymoon. And I think it's beautiful. And this might be like two minutes after they've almost murdered each other, but she appreciates that he gets her, right?
52:43And that she can pretty much do anything, and he's not going to actually turn his back on her, it seems. And in your scenes together, One of the things Billy Bob said was that you guys, at least I think he's saying this, and I think that it speaks for both of you, but don't break eye contact. Is that a big part of the intensity of their – Well, I think it's also that – I mean, going back to Obsessed, it's the same thing. A lot of times, I think as a fully layered performance, you have other things going on, and I'm able to do that with him. And so we're kind of saying different things. We've got inside jokes.
53:23Like there's like always a lot in the air. And so, again, like it doesn't matter what's on the page for me any longer. Like you can drop Tommy and Angela anywhere and we'll land on our feet. How important is it that Taylor's a former actor? Stephen K., who did six of the ten of season one, directed them, and all ten of season two is a former actor. Like, are the conversations different when that's the case? I just think there's much more trust when it comes from Taylor. Again, like he casts us and he lets us ride. You know, like you're on your way. He wants us to go. Stephen Kay is truly a brilliant director.
54:00And I think that that's what made season two so special because it's really the heart season. We did not know. I had no idea we were going to dig that far into the family. And the fact that we were able to bring in Sam Elliott. And then he was able to really show you the value that Angela brings to her family. So it's like, again, like layers on layers, we're adding on to these people for you to understand the different sides of themselves. And sometimes, you know, you have really freaking hard scenes, you know, that just don't make sense. You're like, I can't, it does not make sense. And he has a way of just walking you in.
54:37Even like the first scene, well, the truffle scene, the dinner scene, season two, episode one, I mean, that's like 14 pages long. It was a beast of a scene. And I was like, how am I going to throw these plates? And like, how am I going to get there? And again, it became about, it's not about her throwing the plates. It's about the game. It's all about the game. So she's playing a game with him. And then it was about, oh my gosh, we're going to sit on the floor and we're going to say these lines. But what we're really saying to each other is, who are we if we don't have this game? And is this sustainable?
55:08So we're really getting into like, I don't know. That's the kind of stuff we're thinking about when we're doing these scenes. When you have a 14, you said 14 pages? Oh my gosh. I mean, this is more like the theater stuff that you had wanted to do, right? You're totally right. It is like a little play each time we get out there. I mean, honest to God. Season two ends. First of all, I thought it was so great that at the FYC thing at the TV Academy that you guys did, people got to see that season two finale on a big screen where it looks as great as any movie. And it is so well done on every level.
55:43But then it ends with one of the best scenes of the whole show so far. where it's you and Billy Bob out there as the sun is going down with him kind of saying terrible things could happen to them in the future, but at least they've won for today. And you've won every day, basically. And I just wondered if you can bring us into that scene because if there was nothing else, that's going to be a scene that will be looked back at. I rarely get to do that, and those are what I live for. I mean, that's the kind of work that I love to do. The really quiet, intimate moments that, again, we're thinking about different things.
56:22There's a lot going on in the world, but it's incredibly quiet. We had one take, you know, the sun's going down. I'm out there looking at the horses, you know, action. He's walking up behind me. And, you know, first of all, the dialogue in that scene was so beautiful. and you got to understand like how she wants him to see the world and how much he has and how like this beautiful love story you know and because she wants that for him and then you know it's going to be a train wreck like the next minute but when you have that kind of you know grounded love it's so sweet and you know these incredible texts and you know sunsets and it's just so beautiful and you can just feel it in the air and I hope I get to do more of those scenes.
57:11You know, like those are definitely my favorite. Even the whole finale, you know, there's a bunch of moments in there on the plane. You know, when I find out at the restaurant that he was fired, like there's just different stuff in there that we were able to kind of, again, there's one thing that's written, but like especially on the plane, it didn't feel right for my character to be excited that he was going to start this company. And it was hot. The air conditioning had broken the plane. There's 20 of us jammed on there and it just didn't work. It was just not working and we had to shake it off for a second and we had to just switch up the scene because it didn't feel right for Angela to be excited because it made her nervous and cautious because where is this going to lead Tommy?
57:54Is he going to go back in the bottle? What's going to happen to their family? This is her role. She wants to be the wild, fun, crazy one. What's going to happen with this? And so once we kind of cracked that, the scene just came to life. And in a way, even though the thing that is so touching, another thing that's so touching in the finale that he's going into business with all the family. I mean, I guess the two ladies are, I think you'd said you would have liked to have been more. I can't believe we were there. It was horrible. It's nice that he'll be working with the father and the son and all this.
58:30But I guess that the stakes are also increased if something goes wrong with when you're in business with everybody, you accept your wife and daughter. But last two things, if I can, from your conversations with Taylor and I guess, Stephen, do you know things right now that the audience doesn't know about her past or their future? Like, do you know or are you sitting there waiting to find out like the rest of us? I mean, I know as much as I have built up the past. I know my story. I know some of the stuff that he has. I've talked to Taylor, who's given me a couple ideas of things he wants to dig into next year.
59:10But we're not there yet. Like, I don't have any scripts yet. So who knows? I mean, I think that, you know, if you watch Taylor's shows, he doesn't ever go that far away from the story that he's telling. Right. And we know what works and we know, you know, the chemistry that works with different people and the storylines. And I think that we'll just kind of dig deeper into that because, like, the first season was oil and the second season was family. And I think that the next season will be both of that and maybe kind of digging into some, you know. Because, you know, what I loved about the finale is because I want to watch Tommy in Crisis.
59:45Like, that's my favorite thing to watch. So hopefully it's kind of more of that. And we're like they just needed I think I think he needed to solidify the family in season to show who we are together. And then now we can go back out and expand the world again. Last question is it has now been 30 years since we met Allegra. And I wonder if you can just sort of, you know, we've gone through the whole journey in the last hour. What do you make of where it's all at at this moment? And also, are you finding already that because of Landman, people in the business are thinking about you differently, looking at you differently, giving you already, you know, approaching you about other things that maybe weren't happening before Landman?
1:00:33Absolutely. Yeah. I mean, yeah. I mean, you know this business. You're either on fire or you're dead in the water. You know, there's really not that much of a middle ground. And it's really exciting, I think, that people within the industry have been so complimentary towards me and just really happy for me. You know, like kind of, you know, they knew it was in there, you know, but you just needed the right writer and the right role. And then it was like I got this chance and I was able to rise to the occasion and put in the hard work, which is what I always begin with. And it's exciting to be 50 years old and to have it all kind of opened up to me again.
1:01:10I'm not jumping in. I turned down a couple movies. I'm really excited about the work I get to do in the show, and I'm still growing from it. I want that raw ending. You know what I want, but I'm not going to take something that doesn't feel like it's going to be the creative experience that I want to have because I don't need to right now. And with the other bigger movies, yeah, it's all happening. And then also digging in more to producing because I have a show that I want to make. So that's, I think the doors are just opened again. And it's exciting to be my age and just have a different perspective on my life and have, be able to like love this business and love the journey, but also be really grateful for my peaks and valleys, you know, and not allow it to define my worth.
1:01:56Like I am okay with it. I am okay without it, but it's, it's a hell of a lot more fun when it's happening. Well, congratulations. Thank you for all the great entertainment and thanks for doing this. Thank you, your sweetheart. Thanks for listening to Awards Chatter. We really appreciate it and would really appreciate you taking just a minute more to subscribe to the podcast and to leave us a rating and review on your podcast app and to follow us on Twitter and Instagram where our handle is at Awards Chatter. On those platforms, we announce upcoming guests and provide details about special live recordings of the podcast that you can attend.
1:02:33Until next time, thanks again for tuning in.
1:02:39Ali Larter:Legally, we can't say drinking Storm makes you smarter and more focused. But with zero sugar, 200 milligrams of caffeine, and immunity support, you're smarter and more focused for drinking Storm. Storm. Good energy in, good energy out. Energy for life.
From the publisher
The stunning and versatile actress reflects on how modeling led her to acting via a 1996 magazine cover; the challenge of finding multi-dimensional parts even as she rose to prominence in horror (two 'Final Destination' and three 'Resident Evil' films), comedy ('Legally Blonde') and superhero ('Heroes') projects; and why the part of Angela Norris opposite Billy Bob Thornton in Taylor Sheridan's dramedy series is a dream come true.
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