For years, Taylor Sheridan has faced criticism for not writing strong female characters. Now, one of Landman’s biggest stars is pushing back hard against that claim.
In a new appearance on The Hollywood Reporter's Awards Chatter podcast, Ali Larter is calling shenanigans on the criticism surrounding the show’s creator, arguing that the success of women across his television empire tells a very different story. The comments arrive as Landman continues building momentum heading into awards season and as fans await production on Season 3.
"It's just a false narrative," Larter said. She pointed to the long list of actresses who have worked with Sheridan, including Demi Moore, Nicole Kidman, Helen Mirren, Michelle Pfeiffer, Zoe Saldaña, and Kelly Reilly.
According to Larter, part of the backlash stems from the fact that Sheridan allows women to be unapologetically sexual on screen. "You just don't see a lot of women in film and television that embrace their sexuality," she said. "I'm always amazed at how shocked people are by it."
Few characters have generated as much conversation on Landman as Angela Norris. Across two seasons, Larter's larger-than-life performance has become a fan favorite, whether she's delivering emotional scenes opposite Billy Bob Thornton or firing off the show's most outrageous one-liners.
The cast also earned an Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series nomination at the Actor Awards earlier this year, while Thornton landed additional awards attention for his portrayal of oil fixer Tommy Norris.
Larter also revealed how much the series changed her career trajectory. After a lengthy audition process that stretched from four pages to an 18-page screen test, she received a call directly from Sheridan informing her she had won the role. "I knew it was going to change my life," she said.
Working alongside Thornton, director Stephen Kay, and the rest of the cast, she added, "raised my game and made me a better actor."
Those comments echo what several Landman stars have been saying for months. Thornton recently defended Sheridan against critics, arguing that the creator deserves greater recognition in the industry.
For its part, Landman is coming off a record-setting second season that helped cement it as Paramount+'s most-watched original series, while Emmy buzz continues to grow around both the show and its cast.
"It's exciting to be 50 years old and to have it all opened up to me again," she said.
