Ali Larter<\/a> has hit back at critics of her \u201cLandman\u201d character<\/a> and defended the show\u2019s creator, Taylor Sheridan.<\/p>\n The former model, 49, plays Angela Norris, ex-wife of Billy Bob Thornton\u2019s oil rig executive Tommy Norris. The show was devised by \u201dYellowstone\u201d creator Taylor Sheridan<\/a> and Christian Wallace. It is based on Wallace\u2019s own podcast, \u201cBoomtown\u201d, about the Texas oil industry. <\/p>\n \u201cLandman\u201d returns for a second season November 16. <\/p>\n Since the series debuted last year, Larter\u2019s character has been criticized as over-sexualized. However, the actor pushed back at those claims in an interview with People<\/a>, saying: \u201cTaylor is a provocateur.\u201d<\/p>\n Larter continued: \u201cHe loves to write characters that make people respond, that initiate a reaction, a feeling. And I think that what’s incredible about our show, and a lot of the shows that Taylor makes, is that they\u2019re all wildly original and authentic to themselves.\u201d<\/p>\n open image in gallery<\/p>\n Ali Larter at a screening of ‘Landman’ season 2 in Los Angeles on October 30, 2025 (Monica Schipper\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n She went on to describer her character as a \u201cfierce mama bear.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re watching this woman leave a life behind of luxury, leave a life of comfort behind, because she’s gotten to the age and to the point in her life where she wants to be with the person she loves,\u201d Larter said. \u201cAnd she wants to laugh. Being able to kind of create that arc and weave that into the first season was really interesting and fun to be able to do.\u201d<\/p>\n The actor also applauded Sheridan for making the inner workings of the oil industry so appealing. \u201cYou would never know on paper that this show would be so riveting or so many people would love it, different generations of people who live in different places. That they find a connection to it, I think, is super fascinating.”<\/p>\n open image in gallery<\/p>\n Taylor Sheridan is behind a string of hit shows including \u2018Landman\u2019, \u2018Yellowstone\u2019 and \u2018Mayor of Kingstown\u2019 (Getty)<\/p>\n When the first season aired, Thornton also defended Larter\u2019s character and addressed criticisms of the show.<\/a><\/p>\n![\"Ali](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/GettyImages-2244259480.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"Taylor](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/GettyImages-1245360764.jpg\")
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