Billy Bob Thornton has stepped in to firmly defend his Landman co-star Ali Larter amid criticism of her performance in the new series.
Landman is the latest project from Yellowstone creator Taylor Sheridan, co-created with Christian Wallace and inspired by Wallace’s podcast Boomtown. The series follows oil executive Tommy Norris (Thornton) as he navigates the cutthroat world of Texas oil during a modern-day boom.
Larter stars as Tommy’s ex-wife, Angela — a role some critics have labeled “cartoonish” or over-the-top. Thornton, however, flatly rejects that characterization.
In a new interview with Deadline, the 69-year-old actor, who recently earned a Golden Globe nomination for his performance, addressed both the criticism and Sheridan’s complicated relationship with reviewers over the years.
“He’s a powerful guy, and it’s easy to knock him down,” Thornton said of Sheridan. “But he’s had the best reviews he’s ever had for Landman.”
Thornton acknowledged that some reviews took issue with the show’s female characters, particularly Larter’s, but insisted the portrayal is grounded in reality.
“People say Ali’s character is a little cartoonish,” he said. “I was raised in Arkansas and Texas, and women like Ali exist. It’s hard to look that good, but some of them do.”
He went on to describe the culture of the Dallas–Fort Worth area, noting that striking appearances and big personalities aren’t exaggerations, but reflections of real life. “There are women around there who look like models,” he added. “They’re just like elbows and eyebrows every minute.”
Meanwhile, Sheridan’s television universe continues to dominate headlines as Yellowstone approaches its conclusion later this month. The final episodes have been marked by multiple character deaths, including the widely discussed exit of Kevin Costner’s lead character.
Costner, who won an Oscar for Dances With Wolves, later admitted he hadn’t even realized the episode featuring his character’s death had aired. “I didn’t see it,” he said. “I didn’t know it was actually airing last night.”
In a recent episode of Yellowstone, Sheridan himself also appeared onscreen alongside supermodel Bella Hadid, whom he cast as his character’s girlfriend — a moment that sparked its own round of conversation.
As debate continues around Landman, Thornton remains unmoved by the criticism. For him, the show isn’t exaggerating reality — it’s reflecting it, unapologetically.
