“Sheer Terror”: Ali Larter Reveals The Brutal 3-Month Audition Taylor Sheridan Put Her Through For ‘Landman’

Fought for her role.

Landman Season 2 is already almost over. And I can’t be the only one who felt like we were watching the premiere a few weeks ago.

This season has left fans with mixed reviews, as not everyone has loved the slower plotline. However, Billy Bob Thornton gave us all a fair warning that the pace of this season would be much different than the first and would dive deeper into family dynamics and would develop other characters:

“Now that the audience knows all the characters, Taylor was able to really dive into the relationships more. Last season, we had to explain what this business was all about and who the people are.

This season, he was able to really focus in the first few episodes on the family dynamic and the business dynamic. But this one really ramps up as it goes on, and there’s more and more intensity.”

One of the family dynamics that Taylor Sheridan has chosen to focus on this season is the relationship between Ali Larter’s character, Angela Norris, and Michelle Randolph’s character, Ainsley Norris. While their plotlines have not been well-received online, I do think it’s been a nice light edition to the tense moments as Tommy Norris navigates running M-Tex Oil alongside Cami Miller after Monty’s death.

While Angela Norris might be an acquired taste for viewers, Ali Larter knew since the moment that she read about Angela’s character that she wanted that role—but the audition process was not a cake walk for the Legally Blonde alum.

During a recent sit-down with CBS Mornings, Larter opened up that the audition process nearly burnt her out, and she was close to walking away. Going into the segment, it was shared that Larter auditioned for the role three times and was screen-tested against 10 other actors. Larter was ready to answer how much she wanted this role, but was not afraid to admit that thinking about the audition process for this role was giving her slight PTSD.

“Even you just bringing that up gives me sheer terror again. The audition process is incredibly difficult, especially when you feel like you’re right for a role. I connected with this the first time I got the pages of it, and it stretched out over three months.

And then when you go in a room, there’s 20 people there and you deliver. I had to do 19 pages, a long monologue that I got the night before. And you know, I think that process almost burned me out. I was so raw at that point, I almost didn’t care. I was ready to go. I was like, ‘If you don’t want this, then I don’t want you.'” 

All that hard work paid off because I can’t imagine anyone else in the role other than Ali Larter.

Later in the conversation it was brought up that the chemistry between her and Billy Bob Thornton was slightly surprising. Ali Larter attributed their on-camera chemistry to Billy Bob Thornton’s dedication to the role and willingness to help anyone on set.

“It’s so interesting, you never know where chemistry is going to come from, and I think that you know he commits and spends so much time on the set. He’s incredibly present and giving as an actor. So, when you’re number one on the call sheet, you really set the tone for how it’s going to run on set, and we both work in a similar way that we love what we do.

And we also feel really grateful to be a part of something where the writing is that special, so we do the work… When you have that level of respect, that’s where the chemistry comes from.”

The two might be the embodiment of opposites attract; they sure do know how to play unconventional lovers well. Maybe their character’s unusual love for each other helps play into the chemistry; it looks a little irregular to some, but very natural to others.

Based on the teaser for this season finale, it looks like Angela isn’t happy that her husband was fired, so it will be interesting to hear her thoughts on Cami’s decision.

Check out the entire interview while you’re here:

The post “Sheer Terror”: Ali Larter Reveals The Brutal 3-Month Audition Taylor Sheridan Put Her Through For ‘Landman’ first appeared on Whiskey Riff.