Stephanie Nur on Aaliyah's Shocking Return in 'Lioness' Season 3 Finale

Stephanie Nur, who plays Aaliyah Amrohi in Taylor Sheridan's "Special Ops: Lioness," was as surprised as the audience by her character's pivotal role in the Season 3 finale. Aaliyah was revealed to be the one who ordered the abduction of Joe McNamara, played by Zoe Saldaña.

Nur learned of her character's continued storyline directly from Sheridan. "I got a call from Taylor. It’s so wonderful that he speaks to his actors directly," Nur said in an interview. "When he told me that Aaliyah’s story was going to continue, I think I screamed right into the phone."

The actress noted that Aaliyah is not the same character viewers first met. "Aaliyah was a very sensitive person who wore her heart on her sleeve," Nur explained. "I imagine she felt very angry and betrayed by what happened." After her father and fiancé were killed and Cruz Manuelos (Laysla De Oliveira) fled, Aaliyah was left to process the betrayal from the woman she loved. Nur believes Aaliyah has been in a "suffering place" and her pain must be "incredible."

Nur felt a strong connection to Aaliyah even after Season 1 wrapped, experiencing "dreams as Aaliyah" and feeling the character had never been far away. This deep connection prepared her for the character's darker turn.

The dramatic scene where Aaliyah emerges from her opulent bathtub was filmed in Texas, with the Doha skyline added later through CGI. Nur described the bathtub as being made of pink marble and being very deep.

Nur's return to "Lioness" marks her second collaboration with Taylor Sheridan, having previously appeared in a small but significant scene in "1883."