Even in Yellowstone Season 5’s penultimate episode, Taylor Sheridan’s hit Western drama found new, unexpected ways to make viewers’ jaws drop.
Instead of raising the death toll (we’re still recovering from losing John Dutton, Sarah Atwood, and Colby Mayfield!), Season 5, Episode 13, “Give The World Away,” introduced another exciting new guest star, Sadie, a fresh, albeit familiar face.
Yellowstone‘s new character is not only the girlfriend of Sheridan’s Travis, but she’s played by model, actor, and IRL horse girl Bella Hadid. Yes, really! BELLA HADID IS ON YELLOWSTONE. This is not a drill. Taylor Sheridan took the “Should we tell everyone? Should we throw a party? Should we invite Bella Hadid?” meme literally.
Wondering what the heck Bella Hadid is doing on Yellowstone? What role the 28-year-old’s character played in Season 5’s penultimate episode? Or want to learn more about Hadid’s real-life love of horses? We’ve got you covered.
Here’s everything to know about Yellowstone‘s latest high-profile guest star, Bella Hadid. (That will never get old.)
Yellowstone Casts Bella Hadid As Sadie, Girlfriend To Taylor Sheridan’s Travis
Yellowstone Season 5, Episode 13 kicks off with Beth (Kelly Reilly), Rip (Cole Hauser), and the Dutton ranch hands prepping for a big fire sale-esque auction at the ranch. Though they know whatever money they make won’t be enough to save their home and business, they’re hopeful that the profits could buy them more time to come up with a better plan. Everything’s going smoothly until Beth learns that Travis plans to sell their big money horses at a showing down in Texas later that evening. “I trust that slick motherfucker as far as I can throw him,” she tells Rip. Next thing we know, she’s on her way to the Lone Star State to supervise, despite Rip’s warnings that her and Travis’ personalities might not exactly mesh.
Beth flies to Texas and rolls up to the main house at Bosque Ranch, only to be greeted at the door by Bella Hadid — er, Sadie.
After Sadie asks if Beth is the masseuse they’re expecting, Beth blows right past her and walks into the house to find Travis in a heated game of strip poker. (Yes, Taylor Sheridan wrote all these scenes for himself before Yellowstone Season 5 ends — just keep that in mind.) As Sadie takes a seat beside him, Beth sternly reminds him that he’s supposed to be showing her horses. When Travis realizes the buyers are waiting in the parking lot of his arena, he races outside leaving Beth and Sadie alone for a moment.
“You seem like a moderately intelligent young woman. How can you work for this fuck,” Beth asks Sadie. “I would never work for a horse trainer. Travis is my boyfriend,” Sadie replies, prompting Beth to take back her “intelligent” compliment.
As Travis shows off Beth’s horses to prospective buyers, she and Sadie get even more time to bond. When Beth presses Sadie as to how she could be dating such an arrogant, condescending, misogynistic man, Sadie asks if she’s ever seen him ride before, and Yellowstone once again gives Sheridan the chance to show his horseback skills. (Again, straight from the mind of Sheridan! Obsessed.)
While some viewers who aren’t as acquainted with Hadid’s acting or real-life love of horses may have trouble wrapping their head around the casting, Hadid brings an unexpectedly endearing presence to Yellowstone, has excellent on-screen chemistry with Reilly, and helps offset Travis’ big personality in shared scenes. Anyone who’s seen Hadid on Ramy knows she has some serious range behind the camera, and in Yellowstone, her guest role feels effortless, in large part because of her real-life equestrian passion.
For those who don’t know, Hadid grew up riding horses, and per W Magazine, she’s recently become “a full-time Texas resident and horse enthusiast.” She’s dating professional cowboy/trainer/rider Adan Banuelos (after meeting him at a horse show), and she not only competes in horse cutting competitions, but she regularly uses her platform to raise awareness of equestrian sports, equine therapy, and more cowgirl realities. Hadid also recently took part in a celebrity cutting competition in Fort Worth, Texas alongside Sheridan and Yellowstone‘s Ian Bohen several days before her big Yellowstone episode premiered.
Later in Season 5, Episode 13, Sadie accompanies Travis to the auction at the Dutton Ranch where Hadid gets to show off some of her own equestrian skills. If you want to see more, check out Hadid’s Instagram page, where she regularly posts updates on horses, competitions, and cowgirl life.