Taylor Sheridan, known for his gritty and demanding portrayals of American life in series like "Yellowstone" and "Lioness," sets a clear expectation for actors on his sets: embrace the challenge or leave.
Zoe Saldaña, who stars as CIA operative Joe McNamara in Paramount+'s "Lioness," recently shared her experience working with the prolific writer, director, and producer. She explained that Sheridan's standards are high, leaving actors with a straightforward choice.
"You either accept the challenge and make sure that you don't f--- up... or you quit," Saldaña told People magazine. She added, "And I like being challenged. I really do."
Sheridan's reputation for pushing actors to elevate their performances is well-established. For "Lioness," Saldaña recalled Sheridan personally calling her before the third season to emphasize the need for physical preparation. "He said, 'I definitely want you to build more muscle. I want Joe to be just a machine,'" Saldaña told USA TODAY, noting she hired a private trainer to transform into the character.
Despite his demanding approach, Saldaña also highlighted Sheridan's collaborative spirit and passion for acting. "When you work with him is when you realize how passionate he is about actors and about acting," she said. "He's an incredibly smart person. He's very curious about government affairs, and he seeks out information and education based on that curiosity."
Saldaña finds working with Sheridan's complex scripts to be a rewarding experience. She and co-star Nicole Kidman have developed a routine of seeking out Sheridan to clarify dialogue that may not initially make sense. "We tag team finding out where Taylor is and seeing if he's going to call us back because, when we need him, it's always having to do with the work," Saldaña explained.
Kidman echoed Saldaña's sentiments about the collaborative process, noting that understanding the dense military and intelligence terminology in Sheridan's scripts requires significant preparation. She previously told People that preparing for her role is akin to "suddenly doing a thesis in the CIA," and that she, Michael Kelly, and Morgan Freeman regularly rehearse to master unfamiliar language.
Saldaña has also spoken about how the preparation required for her role, including confronting her dyslexia and anxiety, has been beneficial. She appreciates Sheridan's willingness to listen and meet actors where they are, stating, "When he knows that you care, when he knows where you're coming from, when you know exactly what it is that you want to talk about, he meets you where you're at. He's very collaborative."