Ali Larter won’t stand for any Taylor Sheridan slander.
It’s safe to say that one of the break out roles of Landman’s first season was Ali Larter as Angela. The series that tackles the dramatic ins-and-outs of the oil industry boasts an impressive cast, with the likes of Billy Bob Thornton and Demi Moore both playing major roles. But one role that really stood out in the first season (and is sure to continue to do so in the second) is Ali Larter’s Angela – who is the love interest of Billy Bob Thornton’s Tommy Norris.
I won’t spoil anything in case you haven’t watched the first season and are still planning on getting to it, but Angela and Tommy have a very non-traditional romantic relationship. Larter recently sat down with People to reflect on her character’s arc in season one, and look ahead to her continued story – and the show as a whole – in season two.
The former Varsity Blues and Legally Blonde star said that she’s been blow away by the response to the show, and commends show creator Taylor Sheridan for recognizing that the oil drama sphere of TV was untapped:
“It’s incredible how Taylor made oil fascinating, and the landscape. You would never know that — this is why he’s such a genius — you would never know on paper that this show would be so riveting or so many people would love it, different generations of people who live in different places. That they find a connection to it, I think, is super fascinating.”
As for the personal progression of Larter’s Angela, she’s proud of the journey that her character went on in Season 1.
Fans of the show know that Angela had quite the character development in the show’s first 10 episodes, and plenty of “spicy scenes” as she called them herself. And Angela didn’t settle by any means… she just had a revelation of what she wanted at this moment in her life:
“You’re watching this woman leave a life behind of luxury, leave a life of comfort behind, because she’s gotten to the age and to the point in her life where she wants to be with the person she loves. And she wants to laugh. Being able to kind of create that arc and weave that into the first season was really interesting and fun to be able to do.”
Though there were some really powerful scenes with Angela in the first season, there were some critics out there that claimed Larter’s character was only present for sexualization. Sure, Angela was often seen wearing swimsuits, or clothing that drew some looks. Ali Larter sees that as no problem whatsoever, and knows that Taylor Sheridan isn’t out to degrade her or women as a whole. Taylor has been labeled a misogynist for a number of shows, including Yellowstone, 1923, and more, but Larter thinks all of the talk is ridiculous.
Saffirmed that she has full faith in Sheridan’s vision:
“Taylor is a provocateur. He loves to write characters that make people respond, that initiate a reaction, a feeling. And I think that what’s incredible about our show, and a lot of the shows that Taylor makes, is that they’re all wildly original and authentic to themselves.”
There’s no doubt that Angela is true to herself in Landman.
Can’t wait to see where season two takes Angela and the rest of the Landman cast when the hit show returns on November 16:
