'Landman's Michelle Randolph on her 'Bachelor' sister bond, Billy Bob's secret cat memes
- - 'Landman's Michelle Randolph on her 'Bachelor' sister bond, Billy Bob's secret cat memes
Bryan Alexander, USA TODAY November 12, 2025 at 1:20 AM
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FORT WORTH, Texas ― Michelle Randolph gets double takes when people clock her double life in "Yellowstone" creator Taylor Sheridan's TV universe.
The Wilhelmina model-turned-actress, 28, broke out in 2022’s "1923" in period attire as Elizabeth “Liz” Strafford, the big-city transplant fiancée of Jack Dutton (Darren Mann). Jump ahead a century in TV time, and Randolph is garnering even more notice as the unfiltered, college-bound Ainsley Norris on “Landman.”
"I get people saying, 'Oh my God, I just realized you're in '1923' and Ainsley in 'Landman,'" Randolph tells USA TODAY. "It's always like they just discovered this and just had to tell me. The roles are 100 years apart and so different in every way."
Michelle Randolph as Ainsley Norris on "Landman" Season 2.
As "Landman" Season 2 kicks off on Nov. 16 (Paramount+), here are the many ways that rising star Randolph still finds ways to surprise.
Sister and 'The Bachelor' star Cassie Randolph is her premiere fan
Randolph and her older sister, Cassie Randolph, 30, winner of "The Bachelor" Season 23, looked so similar growing up in Walnut Creek, Calif., that people thought they were twins.
"We used to tell people we were twins all the time," says Randolph. "I don't think we'd get away with that anymore."
(L-R) "The Bachelor" star Cassie Randolph and sister Michelle Randolph on an October red carpet.
Cassie, who got engaged to musician Brighton Reinhardt last November, remains her sister's supportive superfan. Although Cassie can't make it to the Nov. 11 "Landman" Season 2 kick-off in New York City, "she's been to every other one of my premieres," says Randolph.
'1923' TV love, Darren Mann, was Randolph's first horror movie boyfriend
Randolph fell in love with acting while making her first movie, the 2017 horror flick "House of the Witch," in which Mann played her boyfriend. She calls it a "strange and full circle moment" to learn that Mann was cast as her TV partner on "1923."
"So we started off as movie boyfriend and girlfriend, then got engaged in '1923,' and then married," says Randolph. "Are we getting divorced in the next project? It's not over for us."
Michelle Randolph with "Landman" mom Ali Larter and with "1923" mother-in-law Helen Mirren.She's besties with 'Landman' mom Ali Larter and '1923' mom-in-law, Helen Mirren
Randolph was "terrified" about acting with frequent "1923" scene partner and Dame of the British Empire, Helen Mirren, who played Liz's formidable mother-in-law, Cara Dutton.
"I didn't want to disappoint her," says Randolph, who ended up bonding with Oscar-winner Mirren over two seasons and posting an Instagram photo of the two hugging outside the Dutton ranch. "We had a lot of fun together."
On "Landman." Randolph instantly connected with Ali Larter, who plays Angela Norris, Ainsley's mom and partner in crime.
"Ali has become one of my best friends. We even live in the same Fort Worth building," says Randolph. "Our TV and off-camera relationship has sort of morphed into one in the best way."
Michelle Randolph as Liz Strafford on "1923" and, shooting up 100 years, as Ainsley Norris on "Landman."She's not 'Landman' Ainsley in real life, but will wave when called
Randolph is getting used to people calling out "Ainsley!" when she walks down the street, especially in Texas. "I now just respond to it," she says.
"But I'm not similar to Ainsley at all," Randolph says. "I love playing her because I get to unleash a side that I almost wish I were more like. She's a lot more carefree than I am."
Randolph worked with an accent coach on Texan speech and with a movement coach to learn the bouncing Ainsley walk.
"I wanted to change the way I move. I'm 10 years older than Ainsley, and she is still getting to know her limbs. She's messy like a baby horse or a puppy," says Randolph. "I wanted to get rid of the stiffness I've built up. And I think I've kept her walk a little bit. I won't lie."
Western acting legend Sam Elliott joins Billy Bob Thornton in "Landman" Season 2 (Paramount+, Nov. 16). See the first-look photos from the new chapter of executive producer Taylor Sheridan's Big Oil drama. (James Jordan, far left, plays engineer Dale Bradley.)
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Western acting legend Sam Elliott joins Billy Bob Thornton in "Landman" Season 2 (Paramount+, Nov. 16). See the first-look photos from the new chapter of executive producer Taylor Sheridan's Big Oil drama. (James Jordan, far left, plays engineer Dale Bradley.)
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Cami (Demi Moore) and Tommy (Billy Bob Thornton) work together on the business side of M-Tex Oil in Season 2 (pictured with Guy Burnet, left, as Charlie and Kayla Wallace as Rebecca).
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Cami (Demi Moore) and Tommy (Billy Bob Thornton) work together on the business side of M-Tex Oil in Season 2 (pictured with Guy Burnet, left, as Charlie and Kayla Wallace as Rebecca).
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1 / 15‘Landman’ Season 2 photos: Billy Bob Thornton and the combustible Big Oil drama
Western acting legend Sam Elliott joins Billy Bob Thornton in "Landman" Season 2 (Paramount+, Nov. 16). See the first-look photos from the new chapter of executive producer Taylor Sheridan's Big Oil drama. (James Jordan, far left, plays engineer Dale Bradley.)
Billy Bob Thornton sends quality cat memes from secret Instagram account
Billy Bob Thornton plays Randolph's no-nonsense TV dad, Tommy Norris, but is a softie in real life. While Thornton proudly has no social media presence, Randolph swears the "Sling Blade" actor sends her cat memes from "a secret Instagram account."
"He knows I love cats," says Randolph, who says the memes are top grade. "I'm like, where are you finding these?"
She's a 'Scream 7' horror queen meeting Ghostface
Randolph just finished filming "Scream 7" (out Feb. 27), in which she checks into the haunted Spring Hill Estate with a new horror movie boyfriend (Jimmy Tatro). She comes face-to-face with Ghostface, so it's looking like a short stay. But Randolph promises "a lot of great callbacks" to the 1996 original.
"1923" wrapped in April after two seasons, with pregnant widow Elizabeth leaving the Dutton ranch for the city. But there's still work to be done on "Landman," with Ainsley heading to college in Season 2. Laser-focused on college cheerleading, Ainsley has shown no interest in following her dad and brother, Cooper (Jacob Lofland), into the oil biz. Yet, Randolph wants to make it happen.
"She's so good at pivoting and throwing herself all into something," says Randolph. "Ainsley needs to be in the oil business. I refuse to leave this show until it happens."
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 'Landman's Michelle Randolph on Ainsley Norris, '1923' TV double life
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
