Landman star Kaya Wallace is opening up about some of the surprising preparations she took to play her character Rebecca Falcone.
The 30-year-old actress’ character is a lawyer who is brought in to deal with some legal wrangling for M Tex, the oil company Tommy Norris (Billy Bob Thornton) works for.
Wallace had a few meaty scenes in the first season, including a powerful deposition scene in the fourth episode where she tears into opposing council.
Now that the season has come to a close – and as fans await word on a Season 2 renewal – Wallace is opening up about the character in an interview with US Weekly.
Wallace revealed she took great lengths to prepare for her character, including watching a few famous trials.
The actress admitted to watching the O.J. Simpson murder trial and the Johnny Depp/Amber Heard defamation trial to help get into character.
Landman star Kaya Wallace is opening up about some of the surprising preparations she took to play her character Rebecca Falcone
The 30-year-old actress’ character is a lawyer who is brought in to deal with some legal wrangling for M Tex, the oil company Tommy Norris (Billy Bob Thornton) works for
‘I watched some famous cases [and] celebrity trials,’ Wallace said, adding she also watched FX’s The People Vs. O.J. Simpson, which was ‘super helpful.’
‘I was really interested in the questioning and the manipulation of how litigators get what they need out of the questioning itself,’ she said.
‘I found that to be so fascinating. It’s a whole art on its own,’ she added.
The series was filmed in Fort Worth, Texas, and the actress also sat in on a local trial as part of her perparation.
She also added that the Episode 4 deposition scene was, ‘one of the biggest to tackle’ throughout the season.
‘I remember feeling like I’d run a marathon at the end of the day. It was really wonderful to experience having to build that confidence in her and also in myself,’ she said.
She added her character is, ‘a powerful, strong, smart woman,’ adding that creator Taylor Sheridan reworked the character specifically for her after she auditioned to play Tommy’s daughter Ainsley, which is played by Michelle Randolph.
‘I’m so honored that he saw whatever he saw in me and trusted me, almost in a time where I didn’t trust myself at first,’ she said.
The actress admitted to watching the O.J. Simpson murder trial and the Johnny Depp/ Amber Heard defamation trial to help get into character.
‘I watched some famous cases [and] celebrity trials,’ Wallace said, adding she also watched FX’s The People Vs. O.J. Simpson, which was ‘super helpful’
‘I was really interested in the questioning and the manipulation of how litigators get what they need out of the questioning itself,’ she said
‘I remember feeling like I’d run a marathon at the end of the day. It was really wonderful to experience having to build that confidence in her and also in myself,’ she said
‘I’m so honored that he saw whatever he saw in me and trusted me, almost in a time where 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, while also heaping praise on 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 pro, and so incredibly talented — I took a lot away from him.”
It was revealed in the Season 1 finale that she would continue working with M Tex, asked to help negotiate a $175 million farmout lease, 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 field, so I’m excited to see her navigate [a field] that she doesn’t know a lot about,’ she aid
‘I also want to see who she is at the end of a workday. I’m ready for more. I hope that we get the chance,’ she added of a potential second seaon.