In 1997, CBS aired True Women, a Western miniseries that marked Angelina Jolie’s television debut, offering viewers a dramatic portrayal of female resilience in the 19th century. Based on Janice Woods Windle’s 1993 novel and directed by Karen Arthur, this two-part series traced the lives of women pioneering through turbulent eras, including the post-Texas Revolution, the Civil War, and the dawn of the women’s suffrage movement. While Jolie’s role as Georgia Lawshe Woods brought her early recognition, the series itself has largely remained obscure and difficult to access despite being notable for its compelling narrative and Emmy-nominated score.
The Story Behind True Women and Its Historical Significance
True Women dramatizes sweeping decades of hardship and survival through the eyes of three women: Sarah Ashby McClure, played by Dana Delany; Euphemia Ashby King, portrayed by Annabeth Gish; and Georgia Lawshe Woods, embodied by Angelina Jolie. These characters endure challenges such as attacks by native tribes and the loss of spouses, illustrating the struggles faced by women on the advancing American frontier. The miniseries originated from Windle’s trilogy of novels, rooted in family histories passed down through generations. The author described these stories as
“the vivid stories of the women in [her] family”
that were
“passed down mother to daughter, grandmother to granddaughter, aunt to niece, and even father to daughter, for six generations.”
Karen Arthur’s adaptation brought this multi-generational saga to life within just two long episodes, highlighting a rarely depicted perspective in Western television.
Angelina Jolie’s Role and Television Career Context
Angelina Jolie’s portrayal of Georgia Lawshe Woods captures the pioneering woman’s enduring strength amid adversity. At the time of True Women‘ original airing, Jolie was still emerging as a talent on television, also appearing that year in the CBS biopic George Wallace. Her breakthrough TV performance came shortly after in 1998’s critically acclaimed biopic Gia, which established her as an actress of considerable range. Following these early television appearances, Jolie transitioned primarily to a film career, stepping away from the small screen aside from rare projects such as the 2010 animated special Kung Fu Panda Holiday. Although her roles on television were limited, Jolie consistently delivered strong performances across her TV projects.
Challenges in Accessing True Women Today
Despite its quality and historical scope, True Women never generated significant buzz or lasting acclaim, leading it to slip into relative obscurity. It is not available on major streaming platforms, and physical copies are scarce, making it challenging for viewers to discover this part of Angelina Jolie’s early career. Some access to the miniseries is possible through a free streaming site called Mometu, and informal sources like YouTube might occasionally offer fragments or the full film. This scarcity underscores the importance of preserving physical media for television works that risk becoming inaccessible over time.
Legacy of True Women and Its Place in Western Television
Before Taylor Sheridan’s contemporary exploration of multi-generational Western families on shows like Yellowstone, True Women provided an earlier example of dramatizing expansive family sagas set against the backdrop of Western history. Featuring actresses such as Dana Delany and Annabeth Gish alongside Jolie, this miniseries remains a redeemable but largely overlooked chapter in Western television. Its focus on female endurance and historical struggles offers a unique viewpoint often absent from the genre’s canon. Though difficult to find now, the series holds value as a testament to both the women’s stories it tells and the early career of one of Hollywood’s notable stars, Angelina Jolie.
