Page 30 - ARUBA TODAY

A30 PEOPLE & ARTS
Thursday 21 June 2018

'Yellowstone' boasts Costner, strong Native American co-star

By LYNN ELBER water's character required
Associated Press particular deftness.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — "Yel- "It's the ability to be cunning
lowstone" has everything a without it being miscon-
worthwhile Western should, strued as evil," said Sheri-
including breathtaking vis- dan, who recalled advising
tas, battles over land and Birmingham that Rainwa-
Kevin Costner in the lead ter needed to be seen as
role. "an equal force to people
There's also something rare who have a real disregard
in the contemporary Para- for the rule of law, and yet
mount Network series de- never lose his goodness."
buting Wednesday: promi- The actor has a personal
nent Native American story connection with his char-
lines and parts, including acter's story. Rainwater
one filled by an actor formi- grew up unaware of his an-
dable enough to stand up cestry because his adop-
to Costner and his ranching tive parents withheld his
baron. background from him,
Gil Birmingham plays Thom- while Birmingham's late fa-
as Rainwater, a tribal chief ther downplayed his native
and casino owner who's heritage.
ready and able to oppose Birmingham left home at
those whose interests con- 14, ultimately attending
flict with the well-being of the University of Southern
the people he represents. California and working as
Birmingham, of Comanche a petrochemical engineer.
ancestry on his father's side, This image released by Paramount Network shows Luke Grimes, left, and Kelsey Asbille from the A foray into bodybuilding
has played his share of Na- series "Yellowstone" premiering Wednesday, June 20. Associated Press served as an improbable
tive Americans and others wake-up call to embrace
on TV and in films includ- 'What would be your dream modern Indian character is Costner stars as John Dut- the arts.
ing "Hell or High Water" and character?' and this is it," an opportunity that doesn't ton, a die-hard Westerner "I was more intrigued by the
"Wind River," both written Birmingham said of his role come often enough and determined to keep his aesthetic ability to form a
by Taylor Sheridan, the cre- on Paramount Network's one that counts beyond family's holdings intact. body like a sculpture. In my
ator of "Yellowstone." first drama series since its re- entertainment, the actor There are pressures from creative desire, I just knew
"Through my career, a rath- branding from Spike TV last said. without — including land I couldn't do the engineer-
er long career of struggling, January. "Many people don't even developers, oil and lumber ing anymore. It didn't speak
mostly, I've been asked, Playing a fully realized, think that we (Native Amer- interests and the adjacent to me, to my spirit," he said.
icans) still exist, that we're Indian reservation and Yel- Another unlikely step — he
just historical artifacts that lowstone National Park — got a part in Diana Ross'
once upon a time existed," and from within, courtesy music video "Muscles" —
he said, crediting Sheridan of his family. propelled him into acting,
with a "great leap forward" Dutton's offspring include although the guitar had
in the 10-part series and on Kayce (Luke Grimes), es- captured his imagination
the big screen. tranged and living on the as a youngster and he'd
Birmingham tips his hat as reservation with his Native hoped for a musical ca-
well to Costner and his 1990 American wife, Monica reer.
Oscar-winning period dra- (Kelsey Asbille); lawyer Ja- That dream has yet to be
ma "Dances with Wolves," mie (Wes Bentley), eager fulfilled, but Birmingham
which "really did open the to please his dad, and heir said it allowed him to make
door for people for maybe apparent Lee (Dave Anna- an instant connection with
the first time ... to see the ble), who's running the fam- fellow actor-musician Jeff
beauty and the depths of ily operation with Dutton. Bridges when they had just
the native culture." The sole daughter, Beth a few days to rehearse their
Costner, also an executive (Kelly Reilly), more than roles as longtime friends in
producer on "Yellowstone," keeps up her end, filling in "Hell or High Water."
said authenticity is his goal for her late mother as fam- Birmingham marvels at
with any project. That's ily matriarch and doubling what's happened since he
particularly important in as a cutthroat business ne- decided as a teenager
the show's portrayal of Na- gotiator. he would rather be on the
tive Americans, he said, for The role of Thomas Rain- street in San Francisco (be-
whom "a terrible wrong" water was Birmingham's for fore becoming a ward of
has occurred and not been the taking after he proved the court and entering a
remedied. himself to Sheridan in "Wind boys' home) and find his
Sheridan got the balance River" and "Hell or High own path.
"letter perfect," with the Water," which earned the "The events of my life un-
nuance and imperfection filmmaker an Oscar bid for folded in such a way that
that characters of every best screenplay. they placed me in places
ethnicity warrant, he said. Birmingham couples tech- I never would have imag-
The series, set in Montana, nical proficiency with ar- ined. And the only way that
was filmed there and in tistic expression in his work, I could move forward was
Utah. Sheridan said, and Rain- to trust," Birmingham said.q