Yellowstone has made Kelly Reilly a household name. Her character Beth Dutton’s courage and confidence shined through her performance, but her one quirk left the actress feeling uncomfortable throughout the show’s five seasons.
Following Yellowstone Season 5 Part B’s divisive ending, both fans and cast members have been reminiscing about its best moments. The episodes released on the heels of the show’s lead actor Kevin Costner and creator Taylor Sheridan’s feud weren’t the easiest to digest. Fans hated Dutton family patriarch John Dutton and his adopted son Jamie Dutton’s (Wes Bentley) fates, a sentiment echoed amongst the critics as well. However, most fans will unanimously agree with Reilly’s candid confession about her character.
Kelly Reilly despised 1 thing about Beth Dutton
Beth Dutton isn’t someone you’d look up to for leading a disciplined life. The character is full of vices we wouldn’t wish to emulate. But her one hazardous habit became the bane of Kelly Reilly‘s existence. The actress who is a non-smoker, endured inhaling smoke for her character’s sake for 6 years and genuinely wished Beth to give it up for good.
In a chat with ET, the 47-year-old confessed,
I hope she gives up smoking one day…She smokes – they’re herbal cigarettes, and I hate smoking them so much. There’s still smoke going in your face and your throat.
Reilly also expressed that Beth’s rampant smoking could claim her life, although we are confident Taylor Sheridan wouldn’t write her iconic character off in such a boring manner, as long as Reilly remained in his good books. (looking at you Kevin Costner!) She continued,
But I want Beth to want to live and smoking, the way she does it, is so extreme and it’s gonna kill her. So, I want her to find a reason to be like ‘I love my life, life is beautiful.’
Despite our and Reilly’s wishful thinking, it seems unlikely that Beth would give up on chain-smoking so easily. She lit up a cigarette even in Yellowstone‘s final moments. But, the whispers of a Beth & Rip spin-off make us hopeful she might want to lead a healthier life in every way possible.
Kelly Reilly didn’t always like Taylor Sheridan’s writing
Yellowstone fans have long disagreed with Sheridan’s controversial writing choices and, Reilly’s revelations, a few years ago echoed a similar sentiment. In a featurette on the show’s Blu-ray and DVD editions (per US Weekly), the Pride & Prejudice star admitted,
There are still things that I read and I didn’t expect, or sometimes I wish for something else for her, but that’s the same as the audience.
Season 5 part B saw the showrunner take some of the biggest leaps yet, not all of which had a smooth landing with fans. From killing off Costner’s beloved character John Dutton to giving the show’s underdog Jamie Dutton an unceremonious ending, Sheridan earned his fair share of haters.
Additionally, many believed that Beth didn’t deserve a happy ending after killing her adopted brother, Jamie. The overdose of Travis (Taylor Sheridan’s show character) scenes didn’t do the show’s final episodes any favor either. But unlike the fans, Reilly knows how to bite her tongue.
She isn’t someone to ruffle feathers and wholly dedicates herself to the storyteller’s vision. In our eyes, the star’s audacious portrayal of Beth is award-worthy, but her repeated snubs at Emmys and Golden Globes proves it’s not a shared sentiment. Awards or no awards, Reilly’s Beth will always be one of television’s most iconic female leads.
All seasons of Yellowstone are currently available to watch on Paramount Network.