Billy Bob Thornton‘s role as Tommy Norris in Landman introduces viewers to a complex, emotionally charged character navigating the shifting landscape of modern West Texas and his turbulent relationships. Premiering on Paramount+, Landman merges high-stakes oil drama with a layered love story, grounded in Tommy’s dynamic with his ex-wife Angela, portrayed by Ali Larter, in a narrative crafted by Taylor Sheridan.
Portraying Complex Relationships in West Texas
Landman draws its power from the interplay between its characters, particularly Tommy Norris, the right-hand man to oil executive played by Jon Hamm. Larter’s Angela, first seen vacationing with her new husband, soon returns to Texas seeking reconciliation and attempts to restore a broken home with their children, Cooper and Ainsley. The series paints Angela and Tommy’s attempts at rebuilding not merely as romantic, but as deeply fraught and grounded in years of shared history.
Ali Larter, reflecting on her experience, shared,
“This is one of the most layered, complicated roles and shows I’ve ever had a chance to work on,”
—Ali Larter, Actress. She added,
“really has stretched me in every single way.”
—Ali Larter, Actress.
Taylor Sheridan’s Signature Storytelling
The appeal of Landman for Larter was not only the challenge of her character, but also the unique storytelling style of Taylor Sheridan.
“He loves his women to be emotional roller coasters. That to me, as an actress, is so exciting because I’m trying to hold it together for my family and figure out how I’m going to piece this together.”
—Ali Larter, Actress. Larter described her character as,
“I love getting to play this woman who lays it all on the line. She wears everything on her sleeve. It’s really exciting to get to play somebody that powerful.”
—Ali Larter, Actress.
The authenticity and distinctiveness of Sheridan’s writing resonated strongly with the cast.
“Taylor can write different tones within the same show. You just don’t see that. That’s what makes our show stand out from the rest, and makes it so incredibly original, being able to shift in all these different ways.”
—Ali Larter, Actress. She elaborated,
“He knows when the audience needs a change.”
—Ali Larter, Actress, and emphasized,
“He knows when they need to breathe, when they need to laugh, and then he knows when to draw them back in. He’s a master storyteller, and it’s incredible to get to read each script.”
—Ali Larter, Actress.
A Romance Defined by Conflict and Emotion
Tommy and Angela’s relationship lies at the heart of Landman’s narrative complexity. Their history—rife with love, conflict, heartbreak, and fleeting happiness—provides a canvas for exploring how life’s trials can alternately bind and distance people over time. Larter characterized their bond as,
“It’s one of those old-school, classic romances,”
—Ali Larter, Actress. Flashbacks and present-day struggles depict Tommy’s struggle with alcoholism following the collapse of his business and Angela’s attempt to secure comfort for her children by marrying into another family.
Larter observed,
“I think when you realize what they’ve been through together, it just shows the depth of their relationship,”
—Ali Larter, Actress, highlighting the importance of conveying the emotional breadth between them:
“That was very important for me to be able to portray in this character.”
—Ali Larter, Actress.
Family Struggles and the Quest for Redemption
Attempts to reignite their marriage play out through scenes like Angela’s elaborate dinner, designed to reclaim a sense of family unity. Yet, these hopes unravel as Tommy responds with indifference, reigniting old wounds.
“Trying everything to show her love,”
—Ali Larter, Actress, Angela faces Tommy’s refusal to reciprocate:
“just will not give that to her. Tommy keeps cutting her down and doesn’t realize that,”
—Ali Larter, Actress. Larter noted, in terms of family effort,
“she’s giving everything she can for the family, and they’re the same amount of energy.”
—Ali Larter, Actress. The emotional toll is clear:
“demeans her and doesn’t really respect how much time and effort she’s giving to try and repair their family, it’s super sad.”
—Ali Larter, Actress.
The charged domestic scenes were crafted for realism. Larter explained the kitchen confrontation:
“was not written to be emotional at that point, but the way that Billy works is we’re really living,”
—Ali Larter, Actress. She described how the unscripted emotional notes brought authenticity:
“That’s the beauty of the show. It’s not planned out that we’re going to laugh here and cry here. We just know that my character wears her emotions on her sleeve, and I have to go onto set and just live and find it, and see where it’s going to go.”
—Ali Larter, Actress. Scenes played out in real time allowed the actors to immerse themselves fully, especially in moments when Tommy confesses recognition of Angela’s efforts but insists he cannot give her what she seeks:
“tells her that he sees the effort, but she can’t ask that of him. You watch this in scenes over and over, these two people in a messy, complicated relationship trying to find who they are, and who they are together.”
—Ali Larter, Actress.
Motherhood and Family Dynamics
The show also dives into Angela’s relationships with her children, casting light on the different connections within the family. When Cooper, played by Jacob Lofland, arrives filthy from oil work, Angela’s reactions contrast with her dynamic with Ainsley, her daughter with a similar spirit.
“The difference in how she treats her children,”
—Ali Larter, Actress, becomes apparent. Angela’s bond with Ainsley is described as having her “mini me,” —Ali Larter, Actress, while her relationship with Cooper reveals,
“the son who wants to push you away,”
—Ali Larter, Actress, a tension that feels “very real and organic.” —Ali Larter, Actress.
Angela’s maternal instincts take center stage during moments of crisis, particularly when Cooper is hospitalized after a violent incident.
“That was a really hard day on set for me,”
—Ali Larter, Actress, she admitted.
“I had to come in and really fall apart. There was no time to process.”
—Ali Larter, Actress.
Such emotionally raw scenes were demanding, and production realities often made them harder to process. Larter recalled,
“we broke for lunch, which is the worst in the middle of those scenes.”
—Ali Larter, Actress. She sought support from Sheridan during filming:
“‘This scene is horrible, it’s not working.’ He just had to walk me back off the ledge because I have to be so there in this role, and I have to put myself out there every single day, every single scene, every moment when I’m Angela.”
—Ali Larter, Actress. Sheridan’s guidance allowed her to
“really hold my space as this woman,”
—Ali Larter, Actress, before resuming the intense scene.
Larter’s Career Journey and Personal Growth
For Ali Larter, Landman marks a significant chapter in a career that has spanned genres from horror films like Final Destination to television hits like Heroes. Larter considers herself fortunate:
“I’m very lucky to be working at my age,”
—Ali Larter, Actress. She acknowledged enduring many ups and downs:
“There are so many peaks and valleys in a career,”
—Ali Larter, Actress, referring to years with
“the sail is up and you have incredible opportunities,”
—Ali Larter, Actress, and other times when
“you’re at the wrong age. For me, it was very hard every time I had a child because people didn’t want to see me in that way. The pressures of this industry, and what it demands of you as a woman, are really difficult, but I love what I do,”
—Ali Larter, Actress. Balancing motherhood and acting, Larter would “fight my way back” after focusing on family needs.
Taking time away in Idaho to be present as a mother provided Larter with new depth to inform her portrayal of Angela:
“That time with my family unit, and really getting them settled and getting to be very present as a mother, has allowed me to be so bold in this role,”
—Ali Larter, Actress. She shared,
“It’s never easy to work away from your children and your life, but what’s built me for this is I feel like I’ve made choices in my life that align with my integrity, and the values of how I want to raise my family. Once I have that, I can go and I can play this.”
—Ali Larter, Actress.
The Ongoing Drama of Landman
With the first season of Landman streaming now, audiences can witness the intricate interplay of personal history, emotional trauma, and resilience in a show that puts Billy Bob Thornton’s role as Tommy Norris in sharp focus alongside the equally complicated Angela. The series stands out for its raw depiction of family, ambition, and the fragile ties that both hold people together and pull them apart, promising viewers both heartache and hope as Tommy, Angela, and their children face the consequences of love, loss, and personal growth in West Texas.
