Characters worth remembering abound in the popular neo-Western series “Yellowstone,” starting with actor Kevin Costner’s portrayal as John Dutton, head of the family and harsh owner of the biggest cattle ranch in the country. Along with Costner, the record-breaking Paramount Network series, whose fifth season will debut this fall, has established a name for a number of other actors, including Kelly Reilly as Beth’s bad-girl daughter, Rip Wheeler as her ranch-hand love interest, and Luke Grimes and Wes Bentley as John’s diametrically opposed sons, Kayce and Jamie.
But Reilly’s feisty portrayal of Beth has easily won her the fan-favorite award when it comes to “Yellowstone” characters, with even Costner choosing her as his favored actor to share scenes with on the wildly popular series. It was a subject he expounded upon during a recent roundtable interview that included Looper at the U.K. launch of Paramount+ — on which all four seasons of “Yellowstone” are now available.
‘A lot of women would like to feel as free as Beth’
When asked to choose his favorite actor or character to perform a scene with on “Yellowstone,” Kevin Costner was reticent at first.
“That would be a hard question for any cast member to answer,” he said. “What I do know is that I enjoy the scenes that have been created when I come into contact with even people who are coming after the land, let alone my own children … I’ve been really comfortable with how I’m written.”
But the Oscar and Emmy winner quickly loosened up and shared how he loved sharing scenes with his on-screen daughter, Beth. “Beth and I somehow created this relationship where we can talk about anything — and sometimes it’s embarrassing as a father where she’s willing to go,” said Costner. “That’s great fun.”
Many women would like to feel as liberated as Beth, he said. I believe that [film and television] have always given us the option to secretly wish we could be someone else. In addition, despite all the things Beth does that we find objectionable, I believe that many women would like having her level of independence.