Kelly Reilly, famous for her portrayal of Beth in Yellowstone, has raised a few red flags about her character’s direction & the show’s storytelling!

Even a broken clock is right twice a day, but that won’t help you find your lost keys! Kelly Reilly, known for her fiery portrayal of Beth Dutton in Yellowstone, has seen her worst fears play out—and it is at this time that Taylor Sheridan needs to shoulder the blame.

In a 2022 interview, Reilly, who’s no stranger to playing intense and complex roles, voiced her concerns that Sheridan’s creative decisions might have steered Beth’s character into unpredictable territory.

The British actress made it clear that if audiences only see Beth’s negative traits, then she, as an actress, has “not done [her] job properly.” In other words, she’s hoping viewers will look past Beth’s rough edges and see the rich, complex character beneath.

Yellowstone: Kelly Reilly’s Reality vs. Beth Dutton

As Yellowstone gallops into its highly anticipated fifth season, part 2, this November, fans have found Kelly Reilly’s portrayal of Beth Dutton so spot-on that some might even mistake the actress for the character herself.

Indeed, the character, armed with a no-nonsense attitude and zinger-laden speeches, has become a force of nature. Yet, as fiery as Beth is, Reilly insisted she is nothing like her character. In fact, she joked that her own life is as far removed from Beth’s world as one could get (via LA Times).

My life could not be more removed from the world of Beth, but people really do think I’m her. In a coffee shop, they’ll say, ‘Hi, Beth.’ I’ve been acting since I was 17 years old, and I’ve never had a character that has been this strong in flavor and gotten such a passionate response. It’s horrifying and exciting, depending on the day.

The actress, 47, attributed the magnetic pull of Beth’s character to Taylor Sheridan, the executive producer and principal writer of Yellowstone. Reilly lauded his knack for crafting complex female characters with all the flair and drama. She explained:

Taylor writes women with great love, but with great complexity. They are unapologetic. Men are never written as strong male characters. They’re just themselves. It was that attitude and energy that Taylor wrote in Beth and all of her toxic fabulousness.

Sheridan’s approach to creating unapologetic and complex characters has infused Beth with a raw energy that has intrigued audiences.

Kelly Reilly’s Challenge of Playing a Fiery Character

Kelly Reilly confessed that bringing Beth Dutton to life has been no walk in the park. For instance, the show’s depiction of Beth’s volatile nature and her troubled past, including her fear of horses, has been a tough pill to swallow.

The actress conceded that the challenge wasn’t just to portray Beth’s fiery, rough edges but to make her relatable enough for the audience to get behind (via LA Times):

It was a quality that did not come easy for me. How do you play a woman like that and also get people on her side? If you just hate or disregard her, I have not done my job properly.

In other words, the actress has set the bar high for herself as an actress; if the audience only sees Beth as a negative character, Reilly feels she hasn’t fully succeeded in her portrayal.

So, while Taylor Sheridan’s pen might be mightier, Reilly wanted to make sure Beth Dutton isn’t just another high-drama character who’s misunderstood. In short, she’s not asking for a rewrite of the script but perhaps a bit more attention to the fine print of her character’s story.