Michelle Randolph on Finding Confidence and Adrenaline in 'Landman'

Michelle Randolph has quickly become a Hollywood name to watch in recent years, thanks to her momentum and latest buzzy role in Landman, a Paramount+ series that chronicles business and corruption in the world of West Texas oil rigs. Randolph plays Ainsley, a 17-year-old with the ultimate Western wardrobe who is stuck between adolescence and adulthood in a chaotic world. This has led to viral scenes like the talk with her father, played by Billy Bob Thornton. As much as viewers appreciate Randolph's performance, the actor says her character has already left a mark on her in a very personal way.

"She has this undeniable confidence, and it's impossible for that not to be contagious when you're playing that for so long. She's so herself and very lovable. I'm learning from her... you can say things. You can be so confident and so yourself, and people will still love you," the 27-year-old tells L'OFFICIEL. She adds, "I just learned that I can be less filtered than I am naturally."

Playing Ainsley has allowed Randolph to step into a character that she finds breaks the mold of the typical teenage girl. Rather than the typical character who hates her parents, Ainsley loves them "loudly" and has a story related to something more profound.

"What I want is that people realize is that we're seeing her from one perspective, and she's a 17-year-old girl who's just figuring out who she is in life. She's realizing that her parents make mistakes. She's figuring out where her boundaries lie and just who she is," she says. Just like anyone in real life, "there should be some sympathy with that of someone who's navigating this crazy world at 17 years old."

Read on for more on how Randolph landed the role and on her path into acting.

How Michelle Randolph Landed Her Role in Landman

Texas-born Taylor Sheridan is the writer behind Landman and other TV hits in recent years, including the award-winning show Yellowstone and 1923, where he first worked with Randolph. When casting for 2024's Landman, Randolph was top of mind. He called her and told her about the character, and then she had 12 hours to put 18 pages of dialogue on tape for her audition, which caused quite the adrenaline rush. "I dropped every single thing. I turned my phone off. I locked myself in a room. I didn't sleep. It was helpful. It's nice when you have undivided attention for something because it's easy when you have time to get distracted," she says.

Landing the role was a dream for Randolph, and she had plenty of fun on set. For example, she says when getting into character, it's helpful to listen to a lot of country music, including artists like Megan Moroney and Laci Kaye Booth. Plus, flipping on her Southern accent (aided by dialect coach Jessica Drake) helps step into Ainsley's energy.

Landing the role was serendipitous in many ways, as was her path into acting. The Napa Valley-born actor started in the world of entertainment as a model at 18 years old, working in the Los Angeles area during college before a talent agency suggested she try acting. "I think because I was so green and didn't know what I was doing, I was natural. I somehow booked a movie and was terrified. I felt way in over my head," she says. But when she got on set, "immediately it all clicked."

Michelle Randolph's Career Journey

With modeling, Randolph says, she never reached that epiphany and wasn't planning on doing it long-term either. Acting had many advantages, especially in giving her more of a voice and creative outlet. "It was like playing make believe as an adult," she said, adding that acting even reminds her of games she used to play growing up, whether with her Barbie dolls or siblings.

Several years later, her talent and momentum on the scene are quickly making her a new favorite. As much as fans love watching her performances on-screen, there's a growing interest in her style, perhaps boosted by her character's own Western fashion flair, be it her chambray shirts or perfectly winged cowboy hats. But Randolph's personal style couldn't be any more different, especially having grown up in California and having spent much time in Huntington Beach.

"I feel best in casual wear," she says, wearing a white cardigan and seafoam-colored tank top. "I love Sienna Miller. I love '90s Gwyneth Paltrow. I love '90s style, like all the straps and loose-fitting clothes and dresses. That's what I feel most confident in, and I don't like anything too fussy or styled," she says, adding that her stylist Mimi Cuttrell helps tremendously, especially with red carpet looks.

"When I got into acting, I had no idea that fashion would be such a big side of things, so I'm still navigating that," Randolph adds. Still, its role is likely to keep growing in tandem with the star's accelerating career, putting more eyes on her style on and off-screen.

Landman is available to watch on Paramount+, including the season finale. While Season 2 isn't confirmed, people close to the matter think the show will likely be renewed.