Generally speaking, Kelly Reilly does not resemble Beth Dutton in many ways. To begin with, she hails from Britain, not Montana. Furthermore, she certainly lacks the aggressive behaviors exhibited by her character in Yellowstone. Additionally, unlike Beth, the actress is not a tobacco user, among various other differences. Nevertheless, there are aspects of this memorable character that the actress can connect with, and she recently disclosed an interesting one.
As the concluding episodes of Yellowstone aired last year and rumors of a Rip and Beth spinoff began to spread, Kelly Reilly engaged in a conversation with Good Housekeeping about portraying her character and the experience of working on the contemporary Western. This included her contemplating the years she has portrayed the Dutton sister and the similarities she shares with her. While the commonalities are minimal, when inquired about Beth’s style representative of the American West, Reilly expressed her admiration for it and the deeper meaning that accompanies it, stating:
I’m not the antithesis [of Beth], but I certainly think for me, it’s more about a feeling than accessorizing. The spirit of the West — the idea of a land that was fought for, and we’re trying to protect and steward — I think that’s something everyone can understand. There’s something about the romance of the West, the danger of the West, the beauty and magnificence of this part of America. As someone from South London, it truly takes my breath away.
While I highly doubt Reilly would resort to pummeling Jamie to safeguard the ranch, her perspective regarding the significance of the territory you vie for and the ownership thereof seems aligned with Beth’s views. She also appreciates the romance and peril of the West, a sentiment her character shares as well, evident in her profound appreciation and challenge to her father’s mission of preserving everything.
Directly addressing fashion, I can affirm that Reilly has a penchant for patterns, similar to Beth. During my interview with the cast of Yellowstone for Season 5B, I donned a cheetah print skirt, which the actress praised upon my arrival. I then mentioned that I wore it inspired by her character, and she replied that they both indeed have a shared love for bold patterns. During that dialogue, both she and Cole Hauser remarked on the stunning beauty of Montana and their enjoyment of being there.
This admiration translates into fashion as well, as Reilly elaborated on how she values the American West style both practically and philosophically:
I do possess a cowboy hat, but I don’t typically wear cowboy boots — unless I’m on a horse. It has to have a practical aspect for me. It’s about the feeling, the strength in that spirit, the dignity and pride of this part of the world that I truly find beautiful.
In summary, I believe this is a delightful and significant characteristic that Kelly Reilly shares with Beth, and I look forward to witnessing more of it in her forthcoming Yellowstone series. It’s evident that she holds a profound respect for the fashion and philosophy of the American West, and I am confident that this will be more prominently displayed when she next portrays Beth Dutton.
As of now, to revisit Reilly’s performance as her memorable character – who differs from her in numerous ways – you can stream Yellowstone with a Peacock subscription.