Ainsley’s world is changing rapidly as Landman season 1 progresses. Played by Michelle Randolph, who previously worked with co-creator Taylor Sheridan on his hit Yellowstone prequel 1923, Ainsley was introduced in the pilot of the oil industry drama as the daughter of Billy Bob Thornton’s Tommy Norris. Though living with her mom in Aledo, Texas at the start of the show, she’s sent to spend some time with her father in Midland amid some behavioral problems at home connected to the person she’s dating.
As the show has gone on, Landman has seen Ainsley joined by her mother Angela in Midland as she rekindles her relationship with Tommy, while also trying to figure out her future after breaking up with her boyfriend. This has led to Ainsley getting in more trouble by partying with local college students, as well as learning of the dangers her father and her brother, Cooper, face every day from their jobs.
Alongside Randolph and Thornton, the ensemble Landman cast includes Ali Larter as Angela, Jacob Lofland as Cooper, Paulina Chávez, Kayla Wallace, James Jordan, Demi Moore, Jon Hamm, Colm Feore and Mustafa Speaks. Maintaining a 79% “Certified Fresh” approval rating from critics on Rotten Tomatoes after eight episodes aired, while also setting multiple viewership records for Paramount+, the show has continued Sheridan’s win streak in the world of television.
With the show’s first season a little over halfway through, ScreenRant interviewed Michelle Randolph to discuss Landman, what keeps bringing her back to work with Sheridan, her thoughts on the fan division regarding the way Ainsley has been depicted in the show, why Ainsley and Cooper’s friction might actually be the latter’s fault, what’s to come from the rest of her arc this season, and her excitement for 1923 season 2.
Randolph Was “So Grateful” To Get Sheridan’s Invitation To Join The Landman Cast
She Also Reflects On Introducing Audiences To Ainsley At “Such An Extreme”
ScreenRant: I’m really excited to chat with you for Landman, I have just loved this show all the way since the jump through episode 6 which, what a powerful episode. I’d love to start with, though, this is obviously a continuation of your working relationship with Taylor Sheridan after 1883 — or 1923, I’m sorry — how does it feel to be back in the fold with him on this show in comparison to 1923?
Michelle Randolph: Yeah. Well, there’s so many dates, the fact that you got two dates right is impressive to me, because I hear like, “How was working on 1876?” and I’m like, “Where did you get that number? Creative.” [Laughs] No, I’m so grateful to work with Taylor a second time. I just had the greatest experience on season 1 of 1923, and then to do another show with him. He’s a great storyteller, and he writes incredible scripts that are interesting. I’m so happy everyone loves Landman, because it’s a really fun show to work on.
It’s a really fun one to watch, and Ainsley is such an interesting character, in how she’s still finding herself, but is also very emboldened in herself. What is that like, from a performance side, finding that balance between someone who is still trying to figure out her way in the world, while also kind of feeling like she has all the power in the world?
Michelle Randolph: I think that it’s really fun to meet a character at such an extreme, because that’s how we meet Ainsley, and we get a really quick idea of who she is. That’s jarring in a way, but she is so young that there’s so much room for her to grow and to evolve. So, I found that thrilling, too, as an actress, to be able to evolve in a character. I’m just excited to keep seeing how she grows up.
Randolph Leaves Fans’ Division Over Ainsley’s Character Arc To Them
“…I think that’s the thing about art…”
Now, I’ve seen some division from Landman’s viewers about Ainsley, given she’s a 17-year-old and the show depicts her in some pretty adult ways. What are your feelings about some of the division from fans?
Michelle Randolph: You know, I got the script, I developed a character, I filmed it, and we put it out into the world, and that’s where my job kind of ends. It’s not my job to tell people how to interpret my character. But I think that’s the thing about art, is you put it out, and it creates conversation, and that’s exactly what’s happening.
Randolph Doesn’t Know The Exact Nature Of Cooper & Ainsley’s Relationship
She Is Also Quick To Defend Her Character Amid Her & Her Brother’s Squabbles
So, episode 6 is quite an emotional one, as Cooper finds himself in the hospital and everybody has to come to his side. But Ainsley is interesting in that we haven’t really seen much of their dynamic so far, except for being a little pointed. How much do you know about what their dynamic is in the grand scheme of things, not just in episode 6?
Michelle Randolph: I don’t know if there is a huge backstory to it, or if it’s more just this really extreme sibling relationship. They’re such different people, they could not be more opposite. I think Tommy says in a scene that Angela and him are like oil and water, and I think that’s Cooper and Ainsley. I adore Jacob Lofland, so I hope that we get to work together more, and we don’t hate each other in every scene, but we’ll see. [Chuckles]
What do you think is going through Ainsley’s he ad as she’s in the hospital, as she knows her brother was beaten near to death?
Michelle Randolph: I think that it’s just a moment of realizing that the world that she lives in is quite small, and it kind of opens her perspective to see the things that her dad’s dealing with, and that there’s more than just kind of being in her bubble and Aledo with Angela and Victor. I also think that she’s starting to learn more about her brother in that [moment], especially when she sees Ariana, and Ariana is breastfeeding, and she’s like, “Hey, does my brother have a child? Is this his girlfriend? What’s happening?” So, her world is expanding in episode 6.
I’d also love to hear about filming the scene in which she and Cooper talk in his hospital room because, again, there’s still that little sibling squabbling between them.
Michelle Randolph: You know, look, I’m gonna defend Ainsley for a second. Both times that Cooper and her have interacted thus far in the show, he starts it, because he says that she smells like a beach, which is a dig. And so, she comes back at him, and then when he’s like, “What are you doing here?,” instead of being kind, she goes right back at him. So, she is just responding to him. I’m gonna blame it on him, sorry, Jacob. [Laughs]
I could respect that. As an older brother, I’ve certainly had moments like that, where I maybe didn’t act correctly.
Michelle Randolph: He’s the older brother. He should be the one who’s nice. He has more maturity than she does, but clearly not.
I love that interaction that you and Ariana have, because, again, it sort of plays into that humorous nature of this show. I would love to hear about filming that with Paulina, and how you approach that, knowing what the truth of your character is, but knowing that the tone of the scene could also be interpreted in so many different ways by the audience?
Michelle Randolph: Yeah, it’s always interesting when two characters that you don’t think are going to interact get to. I was excited to work with Paulina, and we kind of found this dynamic between us where we’re just sussing each other out and there’s a real, I think, power in both our characters in that scene. That was something I wasn’t necessarily expecting going into filming.
Going From Aledo To Midland Will Be A Big Part Of Ainsley’s Arc Going Forward
It Also Provided Some Interesting Real Filming Challenges For Randolph
Well, that’s where that room for growth on both parts has to come in! So, Jacob hinted that maybe his path might change going forward this season after that. But what can you tell me about how maybe Ainsley’s path might change going forward after this?
Michelle Randolph: Well, she now lives in Midland, which is quite an adjustment, and she was supposed to start school. She’s waiting a week to build the anticipation, and I just think that she’s going to kind of figure out her place in Midland, and get a chance to meet friends and figure out who she is outside of her parents in this new world of hers.
As someone who has family in Texas, I know how a two-and-a-half-hour drive can mean a whole different vibe.
Michelle Randolph: I experienced it, because we shot in Fort Worth, and then we went down to Midland for shooting, and I was like, “Well, this is very different.” [Chuckles] There was a full-on storm. We got down to Midland, and within like an hour of being there, I was in my trailer, and it was rocking from side to side. I couldn’t even open my door, because it was raining so hard and the wind was crazy.
Randolph Hasn’t Heard Any Landman Season 2 Updates (But Is Ready)
“…there is so much potential for her character going forward.”
So, I did also want to ask, have you heard any updates on a potential Landman season 2 yet? Because I know I’d love to see many more seasons of this show.
Michelle Randolph: I hope that we get to do this show as long as possible, because it’s so fun to film.
What would you like to see come from Ainsley in the future, if a season 2 or beyond were to happen?
Michelle Randolph: I want to see her find herself. I want to see her stand up for herself. I want her to have opinions and boundaries and to grow up, and I just think that there is so much potential for her character going forward.
1923 Season 2 Is Going To Be “Really Great” (But Randolph Won’t Address Those John Dutton Theories)
“I may or may not know.”
I’d also love to ask really quickly, because when the junket happened for this, you were filming 1923 season 2. What can you tease about what we can expect from Elizabeth’s journey going into season 2?
Michelle Randolph: It’s gonna be a really great season. Season 2 was incredible, but with two years in between, I was so excited. I just read straight through the scripts, and I think people are going to be very sad that they can’t binge-watch the season, because every episode leaves you on the edge of your seat.
I remember you were also asked at one point whether Elizabeth was John Dutton’s ancestor, and you didn’t know at that time.
Michelle Randolph: I may or may not know. You know, you’ve just got to watch and find out what happens. It’s so much easier to just say I don’t know anything.
No, that’s fair! You don’t want to get in trouble, I don’t want to get you in trouble.
Michelle Randolph: No, I’m terrified. [Chuckles] That’s the No. 1 question I get asked, and I just, I know nothing.
About Landman
Set in the proverbial boomtowns of West Texas, Landman is a modern-day tale of fortune seeking in the world of oil rigs. Based on the notable 11-part podcast “Boomtown,” the series is an upstairs/downstairs story of roughnecks and wildcat billionaires fueling a boom so big, it’s reshaping our climate, our economy and our geopolitics.