Actress Jill Wagner, who stars in Taylor Sheridan's Paramount+ series “Lioness,” has described the director's unique approach to filmmaking, which often involves challenging and spontaneous demands on his cast. Wagner recounted an instance where Sheridan asked her to relearn a scene using her non-dominant hand mere minutes before filming.
Wagner, 47, told People that Sheridan, 56, frequently pushes his actors to “run into fire” on set. She recalled a scene where she and co-star Laysla De Oliveira were having difficulty with camera angles for an entrance into a house. Sheridan's solution was to have Wagner switch her weapon to her left arm, despite her being right-handed.
"I was just like, ‘Hmm … OK. Help me.’ Ultimately, we worked it out, and it’s probably going to be one of my favorite moments," Wagner said.
De Oliveira, 34, echoed Wagner’s sentiment, calling Sheridan's ability to adapt on the spot one of the "coolest things about working with" the creator. She explained that such experiences force actors to be adaptable, noting that after overcoming a difficult challenge, one might feel they “can do anything.”
Wagner also shared with TV Insider that Sheridan has a remarkable ability to incorporate even casual conversations into his scripts. She described how actors might share seemingly insignificant details or have informal conversations with Sheridan, only for those elements to reappear in the narrative later. Sheridan's method, according to Wagner, involves naturally weaving aspects of the actor into the character.
Sheridan, known for his work on “Yellowstone” and its related series, has previously drawn attention for his demanding directing style. Zoe Saldaña, who also stars in “Lioness,” previously told People that working with Sheridan raises the bar, presenting actors with the choice to either meet the challenge or exit the project.
“Lioness” premiered on Paramount+ in 2023. Its third season began streaming last month. Actors Nicole Kidman and Zoe Saldaña also star in the series.