Ali Larter endured a painful and unexpected challenge while filming Landman Season 2, getting bitten by fire ants during a dramatic scene. The actress shared the story during an appearance on Late Night with Seth Meyers, revealing she powered through the intense moment without breaking character to help the crew capture a crucial sunset shot.
The Rush to Capture an Epic Texas Sunset
The incident occurred during a high-pressure filming day. The crew was working against the clock to film a scene against what Larter described as an “epic Texas sunset”. With the perfect light fading quickly, the atmosphere on set was rushed.
Larter explained the setup: “We had a scene this season where it was like, it’s the end of the day, we have a huge crew, it’s high pressure, and we are rushing to get this shot”. For the scene, Larter was dressed in character as Angela Norris, wearing jean shorts and standing barefoot in a wide open field.
An Unexpected and Painful On-Set Co-Star
As the director called “Action!”, Larter’s focus was on the horses in the scene. However, her attention was quickly pulled away by a sharp, crawling sensation on her feet.
“I’m standing there, and I’m looking at the horses, and all of a sudden I feel something crawling between my toes. And I look down and there are fire ants biting my toes,” Larter told Seth Meyers. Before she could react to the surprise attack, she heard her co-star, Billy Bob Thornton, walking up behind her to begin their scene.
Faced with the choice of stopping the shot or continuing, Larter made a quick decision. She knew the crew had only a narrow window to capture the sunset shot they needed. “I’m like, ‘I just have to live through this.’ So I lean to him, and I go into the scene, and I do the scene with him,” she recalled.
The Director’s Praise and the Painful Aftermath
Larter stayed in character and completed the emotional scene with Thornton. Only when she heard “Cut!” did she get a chance to address what was happening. The episode’s director, Stephen Kay, immediately approached the actors, impressed by Larter’s performance.
Kay complimented her, saying, “Ali, you were so emotional! You were so connected!”. Larter then revealed the true source of her intense emotion: “I’m crying because I was getting bit by fire ants!”. She also admitted she was scared the crew would be upset with her if they lost the valuable shot.
The physical effects of the ant bites were significant. “I had welts on my feet,” Larter said, adding with a laugh, “I mean, this show takes a toll on this bod”. The story highlights the less-glamorous, physically demanding side of filmmaking that actors sometimes face.
Landman Season 2 and the Show’s Growing Success
Landman is a Paramount+ series created by Taylor Sheridan, the mind behind Yellowstone. The show centers on the world of oil riggers in Texas, with Billy Bob Thornton’s character, Tommy Norris, at the center of the drama. Larter plays Angela Norris, Tommy’s wife.
The series has been a major success for Paramount+. Season 3 is already in development, indicating the show’s strong performance. In a recent interview, Larter and her co-star Michelle Randolph, who plays her daughter Ainsley, discussed the show’s dynamic. They described their characters as the “heartbeat of the show,” bringing energy and family drama to the core storyline.
For the second season, the cast expanded to include notable actors like Sam Elliott, Andy Garcia, and Demi Moore. Larter expressed her excitement about working with these screen icons, noting that Elliott’s character brings a new, appreciative perspective to her and Randolph’s roles.
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A Character Facing Challenges On and Off Screen
Larter’s character, Angela, faces her own series of dramatic challenges throughout the second season. Storylines include a heated argument with Thornton’s Tommy and an arrest following an incident with health inspectors at a nursing home. Larter has defended her character’s actions in these plots, emphasizing Angela’s passionate and morally driven nature.
The actress has spoken about the evolution of her role. She entered the series in its first season appearing only via FaceTime, leading some audiences to believe she had a minor guest role. However, Larter and the creators always saw the Norris family as central to the series’ long-term story.
Reflecting on the difference between the first and second seasons, Larter said, “The first season was incredibly challenging in so many ways, and the second season was like an old pair of Wranglers. We built our house”. She praised the collaborative environment and the deep relationships formed among the cast and crew.
The Landman Season 2 finale is now available for streaming on Paramount+. New episodes of the series are typically released weekly on the platform. For viewers in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and other global markets, Paramount+ offers the series through its standard subscription service.
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