Landman star Kaya Wallace opens up about some of the surprising preparation she took to play her character Rebecca Falcone.
The 30-year-old actress’ character is a lawyer hired to deal with some legal wrangling for M Tex, the oil company Tommy Norris (Billy Bob Thornton) works for.
Wallace had some meaty scenes in the first season, including a powerful deposition scene in the fourth episode where she tears into the opposing council.
Now that the season has come to a close — and while fans await word on a Season 2 renewal — Wallace is opening up about the character in an interview with US Weekly.
Wallace revealed that she took a long time to prepare for her character, including watching some famous trials.
The actress admitted to watching the OJ Simpson murder trial and the Johnny Depp/Amber Heard defamation trial to help get into character.
Landman star Kaya Wallace opens up about some of the surprising preparations she took to play her character Rebecca Falcone
The 30-year-old actress’ character is a lawyer brought in to deal with some legal wrangling for M Tex, the oil company Tommy Norris (Billy Bob Thornton) works for
“I saw some famous cases (and) celebrity trials,” Wallace said, adding that she also watched FX’s The People Vs. OJ Simpson, who was “super helpful.”
“I was really interested in the interrogation and the manipulation of how litigants get what they need out of the interrogation itself,” she said.
‘I thought it was so fascinating. It is a whole art in itself, she added.
The series was filmed in Fort Worth, Texas, and the actress also attended a local trial as part of her preparation.
She also added that the deposition scene in episode 4 was “one of the biggest to deal with” in the entire season.
“I remember feeling like I was going to run a marathon at the end of the day. It was really wonderful to experience having to build that confidence for her and also for myself,” she said.
She added that her character is “a powerful, strong, smart woman”, adding that creator Taylor Sheridan recast the character specifically for her after she auditioned to play Tommy’s daughter Ainsley, who is played by Michelle Randolph.
“I’m so honored that he saw whatever he saw in me and trusted me, almost at a time when I didn’t trust myself at first,” she said.
“I saw some famous cases (and) celebrity trials,” Wallace said, adding that she also watched FX’s The People Vs. OJ Simpson, who was ‘super helpful’
“I was really interested in the interrogation and the manipulation of how litigants get what they need out of the interrogation itself,” she said
“I remember feeling like I was going to run a marathon at the end of the day. It was really wonderful to experience having to build that confidence for her and also for myself,” she said
“I’m so honored that he saw whatever he saw in me and trusted me, almost at a time when I didn’t trust myself at first,” she said
“We all just feel so lucky to have him at the helm of our ship,” she said, paying tribute to her co-star Billy Bob Thornton.
“It’s really inspiring to watch, and it makes filming a scene so exciting because he’s so in the moment,” Wallace explained.
“He’s such a professional and so incredibly talented – I took a lot from him.”
It was revealed in the season 1 finale that she would continue to work with M Tex, asked to help negotiate a $175 million farm-out deal, despite her inexperience in the oil and gas field.
“As they called out in Episode 9, she’s not an oil and gas person — she’s a litigator with almost zero knowledge in this area, so I’m excited to see her navigate (an area) that she doesn’t know much about,” says she
I also want to see who she is at the end of a work day. I’m ready for more. I hope we get the chance, she added of a potential second season.
