Yellowstone star Kelly Reilly ‘can’t talk’ about show’s future as Beth Dutton | Global News Avenue

Warning: Contains some plot spoilers for Yellowstone

Cowboys, murderous revenge plots and family secrets have fascinated Yellowstone fans since 2018.

It is one of the most-watched shows in the United States and made creator Taylor Sheridan the king of prime-time television.

But last year, Paramount announced that the fifth season would be its last, ending next month.

Its star, Kelly Reilly, told me it would be “the end of Yellowstone as we know it.”

“Does this mean my days of playing with her are over? Maybe, maybe not,” she said. “We don’t know the honest answer yet.”

Yellowstone already has two spin-offs, with more on the way. Reilly, who plays the troubled and emotionally unstable Beth Dutton, said she “loves” continuing to play her character but that any spin-off “will be a new beginning somewhere.”

It sounds like something is brewing, though, with Riley saying she “can’t talk about the future because there are so many conversations going on.”

With the departure of star Kevin Costner, the on-screen drama of Yellowstone has also been felt off-screen.

He only filmed half of season five because he said Contract and scheduling issues.

Sheridan once said Costner wants to focus on his Horizon film series, which the star directs, co-writes, produces and stars in.

Regardless, British-born Reilly is undoubtedly the star of the show.

The daughter of a police officer and a hospital receptionist, the actress was born and raised in Chessington, Greater London.

A far cry from the Hollywood Hills.

She previously starred in “True Detective,” “Prime Suspect” and “Suspect.”

But Yellowstone has introduced her to a large international audience.

I asked what it felt like to be a popular heroine.

“Well, I’m 47 years old and it didn’t happen overnight, you know. So I didn’t get a whiplash,” she said with a laugh.

“I’ve been an actor for 30 years. It’s not lost on me that there’s a show that’s such a global success and there’s a character that gets so much attention or traction.

“But I keep it at arm’s length. I don’t spend too much time thinking about it. I live a very normal life. It’s important to me that my life is normal. Except I’m really busy. Nothing has changed.”

“I rarely sleep at home, which is annoying because I love home!”

Most fans believe Riley herself is American, rather than the soft-spoken Brit she is in reality.

She told me that when Yellowstone was founded, she “didn’t do any media coverage” because she wanted people to believe her character.

“People talk to me as if Beth is real,” she said. “We all talk about Beth as if she were a real-life person.

“I’m always a little disappointed when people meet me. I walk into the local bakery and the lady says, ‘I’d love to have a drink with you.’

“I knew what she meant – she wanted to drink with Beth. People want to feel a part of that energy… someone who is so connected to their original self.

“We were so disconnected. We were all on our phones, on social media. If someone didn’t take a picture, it wouldn’t have happened. Beth was the exact opposite. That’s how she lived.”

To say Riley’s character has been tested would be an understatement.

Beth endured the traumatic experiences of attempted rape, attempted murder, heartbreak, and family betrayal.

She even lamented, “I’m one of those rock therapists who breaks me down.”

Riley described Beth as a “powerful person” and told me it was “such a fun adventure to have her on.”

“I’m very introverted,” she added. “I don’t have any dreams of revenge in my life.

“It was really exciting to play her. I felt like I was on an adrenaline rush for the four months I played her, and when I was done, I thought, I have to go back to my quiet, boring life now. I’m grateful for my quiet, boring life after playing her.

“But when every summer comes and I start preparing again and the scripts start coming in, I get excited about meeting her again.

“I was very aware of her talent as a character, but I locked her in a padlocked box for six months out of the year.”

The character of Beth quickly became a fan favorite, with articles devoted to her character’s appearance and thousands of social media posts about her.

One of Beth’s most memorable lines, “You’re the trailer park and I’m the tornado,” is even featured on a T-shirt.

To what does Riley attribute this popularity?

“She is unequivocally herself and unapologetic about it,” she said. “As a woman, it’s so refreshing and fun to play.”

The actress believes Beth “has tapped into the female zeitgeist.”

“I think she moved around the world with that unencumbered freedom. She wasn’t afraid of death, she wasn’t afraid of loss.

“There’s a scene in season two where she’s attacked by a man who’s raping her and trying to kill her, and she’s covered in blood.

“She’s not going to be his victim. I think for women and me, I love that. She’s fierce.”

After all the trauma her character went through, Reilly said she “went through different stages” of thinking about Beth’s happy ending.

“I believe in Taylor and his vision for her. He loves her so much,” she said.

“I probably wanted something cathartic. I didn’t want to leave her in the wilderness. But I don’t know if happiness is what any of these characters are after.

“They try to protect, they try to kill, they try to be killed. They are not looking for a peaceful life.”

The second part of Yellowstone Season 5 will air on Sunday, November 10 on Paramount Television.