What Taylor Sheridan's biggest stars really think about working with the 'Yellowstone' creator
Taylor Sheridan, the prolific TV writer and showrunner behind hits like 'Yellowstone', '1923', 'Landman', and 'Lioness', has cultivated a reputation for his complex characters and compelling storylines. But it's not just audiences who have fallen in love with his work; the actors who grace his sets have also heaped praise on the creator.
Here's a closer look at what some of Sheridan's stars have said about their experiences working with him.
Michael Kelly: 'One of the Greatest Storytellers'
Michael Kelly, who stars in 'Lioness', called Sheridan 'one of the greatest storytellers in history'. He praised his intelligence and creativity, stating, 'There’s nobody who’s doing or has ever done what he’s doing. It’s incredible what he does. And he’s just one of the smartest dudes you’ll ever meet.'
Kelly also expressed his willingness to work with Sheridan again, saying, 'Anything you want me to do, I'll do.' He added, 'I love being in Texas. I love saying your words.'
Zoe Saldaña: 'An Intimidating Cat'
Zoe Saldaña, who has starred in all three seasons of 'Lioness', described Sheridan as 'an intimidating cat' who comes to set ready and serious. She said, 'When he shows he believes in you, you have no other choice but to start believing in yourself again.'
Saldaña also praised Sheridan's collaborative approach, noting that he challenges actors while remaining open to their input. She added, 'He's an incredibly smart person' who puts in a lot of research when writing his scripts.
Billy Bob Thornton: 'Brilliant and Great'
Billy Bob Thornton, who stars in 'Landman', expressed his love for working with Sheridan, calling him 'brilliant' and 'great'. He said, 'I love hanging out with him after hours. He’s such a brilliant guy, great writer, and I love his company.'
Michelle Pfeiffer: 'A Passionate Person'
Michelle Pfeiffer, who starred in 'The Madison', revealed that Sheridan convinced her to take the role by sharing his vision for the character. She said, 'He wanted to know who Stacy was before he started writing. I wanted to know who Stacy is before I committed.'
Pfeiffer also praised Sheridan's passion for acting, stating, 'When you work with him is when you realize how passionate he is about actors and about acting. I think it is his first love when it comes to the arts.'
Harrison Ford: 'Incredible Horseman'
Harrison Ford, who starred in '1923', described Sheridan as an 'incredible horseman' and a 'genuine athlete'. He said, 'He’s an incredible horseman. He’s a genuine athlete, and that’s something you might not expect to find in such a talented writer and intellectual thinker.'
Kevin Costner: 'Special Work'
Kevin Costner, who worked with Sheridan on 'Yellowstone', praised his work ethic and the quality of his projects. He said, 'He's doing special work in a lot of different ways.'
Costner also expressed his openness to future collaborations, stating, 'If he sees me in something that he wants to do, I'll look at it just the way I did 'Yellowstone' and maybe we will end up doing something together.'
Helen Mirren: 'Fabulously Hands-Off'
Helen Mirren, who starred in '1923', described Sheridan as 'fabulously hands-off'. She said, 'He presents the script, and it’s so extraordinary that you don’t want to change a word. You want to do it exactly as it’s written because it’s written with incredible precision but without being labored.'
Brian Geraghty: 'Empathetic and Welcoming'
Brian Geraghty, who stars in '1923', praised Sheridan's empathy and casting ability. He said, 'He told me great stories of his time as an actor, about the process and how he hired some of the younger actors on the show by giving them a break over some really big-name actors.'
Geraghty also noted Sheridan's ability to create a supportive environment, stating, 'When you show up to work, everyone raises the bar. He creates that, and it starts from him, but he also is very welcoming and gives you the tools you need to get there.'
Michelle Randolph: 'One of the Few'
Michelle Randolph, who has appeared in both '1923' and 'Landman', credited Sheridan for his willingness to take chances on actors. She said, 'He made my dreams come true. I tell him that every time I see him. He's like, 'Michelle, stop. I get it.' But he really did give us something.'
Randolph also praised Sheridan's writing, stating, 'No matter how many different situations are going on at once, every character is so uniquely themselves and that’s really hard to do as a writer, especially for the amount of shows that he’s writing for.'
Kurt Russell: 'Best Writing'
Kurt Russell, who stars in 'The Madison', called Sheridan's writing 'his best'. He said, 'I love his writing. I think this is his best writing. I love that this is not 'Yellowstone.' It's not that. It's very standalone, very different.'
Ali Larter: 'Best Working Writer'
Ali Larter, who stars in 'Landman', has developed a close friendship with Sheridan through their collaboration. She said, 'He's brilliant at the way he crafts his stories. I love the characters he creates, because they're dynamic and powerful ... But he also has space to show their vulnerable sides.'
Larter also praised Sheridan's work ethic, stating, 'He's an extraordinarily hard worker. He's a brilliant talent. He wants to do it his way. And I think that it’s very hard in our industry to do things your own way when you’re part of the machine.'
