Michelle Randolph shows her versatility in two different Taylor Sheridan shows: The period piece 1923 and the modern-day Landman.
C&I: Congratulations on your recent success with no fewer than two Taylor Sheridan series, 1923 and Landman, on Paramount+. But we were a bit worried about your character’s health after she miscarried in the 1923 Season 1 finale. She is going to be back with us in Season 2, right?
Michelle Randolph: Yes, I can promise you — I will be back in Season 2.
C&I: Which character did you find more difficult to play — Elizabeth Strafford in 1923 or Ainsley Norris in Landman?
Michelle: They both had their challenges. I’d say, honestly, they both challenged me in completely different ways. In fact, I don’t think I realized how different the two projects were at first. I mean, obviously, they’re different, but then going in and filming them back-to-back was like I was in two different worlds. So, I’d say that the most challenging part was switching off one side of my brain and going into the other.
Michelle Randolph as Elizabeth Strafford in 1923.
C&I: While filming Landman, did you ever have to go back and shoot scenes because Billy Bob Thornton made you laugh?
Michelle: Oh, multiple times. Like when we did that family dinner scene [in Episode 5]. Oh, my word, Billy improvised something at the end of that, and I fully cracked up. I tried to keep it together and ended up adding some improv myself, so I hopefully would not completely trash the scene. But, yeah, he made me hysterically laugh multiple times. But he also made the whole crew laugh as well, so I couldn't get in trouble for breaking character.
C&I: Taylor Sheridan sent everybody in 1923 to cowboy camp so they’d be ready for their roles. Did you have to do any similar preparation for Landman, like maybe visit oil rigs?
Michelle: I would have been down to do that because I didn’t ride a horse in Season 1 of 1923. So I thought, “Well, maybe they’ll send me to oil camp, even if I don’t touch an oil rig.” But no, I did not get to do that. But I did go down early, so I could really get to know Billy and Ali Larter and Jacob Lofland and [series co-creator] Christian Wallace. And everyone just, like, really bonded.
Billy Bob Thornton as Tommy, Michelle Randolph as Ainsley, and Ali Larter as Angela in Landman.
C&I: Your role in 1923 certainly presented some physical challenges. What was the most difficult thing you had to do as Ainsley in Landman?
Michelle: I think what challenged me the most is [that] Ainsley is this very bold character who says exactly what’s on her mind, and she’s very unfiltered. And I never wanted that to come across as something that made you forget there is a real soul to Ainsley. So, making sure that I added more to her than what maybe some of her dialogue says was really important to me. I want her to grow, and I want her to evolve. And so, finding places to incorporate little moments where you start to see that growth was, I think, what challenged me the most. But it also was the most rewarding thing—finding those little pieces throughout the script.
C&I: Finally, can you tell us a little bit about House Cat, the animal rescue charity you helped establish?
Michelle: Well, I love cats so much. I have three myself, and between my sister and my mom, there are six cats. So, we have big cat households — they’re main characters in our lives. I think I talk about them at least a hundred times a day. But House Cat, I started with one of my best friends. We both love fostering cats, although, actually, two of my cats I kept because I fostered them from when they were two days old. And I just got so attached I couldn’t let them go. We started House Cat as a way to kind of help out local shelters and rescues. And then we kind of expanded. A lot of people that we work with will send us recommendations, and we just try to help as many places as we can. You can learn more about House Cat and ways you can support us at housecatlabel.com.
From our April 2025 issue (coming to newsstands soon!)
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PHOTOGRAPHY: (Illustration) Raúl Arias; (All others) Paramount+