English actress Kelly Reilly captivated audiences with her brilliant portrayal of the eldest daughter of the Dutton family, Beth Dutton, in the hit series Yellowstone. Known for her intelligence, ambition, sharp wit, and cutting remarks, Reilly’s exceptional performance as Beth has earned her worldwide acclaim and made her television’s favorite femme fatale. However, the road to success as Beth did not come easy to Reily.
One of the challenges encountered by Reily during her portrayal of Beth was when she had to shoot a frightening scene with a wolf pack in the very first season of the show.
Reportedly, Kelly Reilly doubted her ability to portray Beth Dutton’s complex and multifaceted character initially. She expressed her concerns about stepping into Beth’s shoes, describing it as a tremendous undertaking. However, her meticulous note-taking and attention to detail over the years helped her build her character and deliver outstanding performances.
But unfortunately, these notes couldn’t help her tackle the physical dangers that came with it. Filming Yellowstone has presented its own set of challenges for Reilly. For example, in the first season of the show, she had to shoot a scene where she ran into a pack of real wolves. And that too without any safety gear, just with a bottle of whiskey in hand!
However, despite her apprehension, the production crew assured her that there were ‘invisible cords’ to trip the wolves if needed. Reminiscing about the incident, Kelly Reily said,
“The crew said, don’t worry. We’ve got these invisible pieces of cord so if they do run at you, that will trip them.”
Hence, with bravery and determination, Reilly ran toward the wolves, resulting in a memorable and authentic scene. And admitting how her confidence has grown with each season, she opened up about her future plans with Yellowstone
Will Kelly Reily continue to portray Beth Dutton?
Earlier in May, news about Season 5 officially being the last season of Yellowstone made its way to the headlines. In 2021, while talking about her future plans with respect to the show and acting in general, Reilly acknowledged the security that American TV series provide when it comes to offering stability and a consistent work schedule. However, she also made it clear that she wanted to avoid repeating similar roles, including characters like Beth Dutton.
While the 45-year-old actress has already received several scripts for feisty and strong women, she said that she prefers to explore diverse roles and doesn’t know what her next project will be until she reads a script that relates to her.
Reilly got her first break in show business at the age of 17, appearing alongside Helen Mirren in the British TV series Prime Suspect. Inspired by Mirren’s support and advice, Reilly decided to forgo drama school and gain real-life experiences.
Owing to this, she moved to Los Angeles to pursue an acting career and periodically returned to London for stage appearances. In 2004, she received a Laurence Olivier Theatre Award, becoming the youngest actor to receive this honor.
Currently, Yellowstone exclusively premiers on Paramount Network, and can be watched on the network’s official website.