Helen Mirren revealed she never liked Westerns but was drawn to1923because of its strong female characters. TheYellowstoneprequel, created by Taylor Sheridan, follows Jacob and Cara Dutton as they fight to protect their family’s ranch during the early 20th century. Starring Mirren and Harrison Ford,1923has been well-received and earned a 90% Rotten Tomatoes score. The series, which streams on Paramount+, broadens Sheridan’sYellowstoneuniverse and expands the Dutton family’s history.1923season 2premiered on February 23.
During an interview withThe Hollywood Reporter,Mirren explains her past disinterest in Westerns stemmed from how women are typically portrayed in the genre.She credits Sheridan for writing compelling female roles, and emphasizes that1923presents women as fully realized characters rather than background figures. She notes that when she was younger, she rarely saw these kinds of roles on screen, which made1923stand out. Check out her comments below:
Mirren: Young women should be very grateful to Taylor Sheridan for writing such great women roles. Cara [Mirren’s character] is just one of them. He’s written a whole series of great, great women’s roles. Those roles didn’t exist when I was growing up in our business. Even as an audience member, I never saw these people on the screen. I never really liked Westerns because the women in them were so awful. I just love the fact that young women now can watch 1923 or any of Taylor’s pieces and see really interesting, complicated, vulnerable, strong… just real people who happen to be women on the screen.
Who know how to use a shotgun, too.
Mirren: That’s not the most important thing at all. It’s having complexity as a character.
What This Means For 1923 & Genre Storytelling
Mirren Was Drawn To 1923’s Portrayal Of Women
Sheridan’sYellowstonefranchise, including1883and1923, prioritizes historical accuracy and nuanced narratives.1923integrates real-world events, including Indigenous boarding schools and economic hardship, which sets it apart from earlier Westerns that often romanticized frontier life.1923diverges from traditional Westerns, which have been around since the 1800s, by incorporating historical realism and multidimensional female characters. The show explores Prohibition, the Great Depression’s early effects, and conflicts between ranchers and industrial expansion. Cara Dutton, as a central figure,contrasts with the conventional Western archetype of women as passive figures or love interests.
Yellowstone Franchise: All 10 Dutton Power Couples In Taylor Sheridan’s Neo-Western, Ranked
The Dutton family tree in Taylor Sheridan’s Neo-Western franchise is full of indelible power couples who unite to overcome their era’s hardships.
Despite Mirren’s extensive career, which spans genre films likeThe Queen,Gosford Park, andThe Long Good Friday,1923is the only Western she has ever done, and her comments highlight a current industry trend.Westerns have evolved from male-dominated narratives into more balanced portrayals, with other shows likeGodlessandThe Englishcentering on female leads. The series continues this trend by giving Cara Dutton an active role in the family’s survival, rather than relegating her to the sidelines. Similarly, in1923’s cast, Alexandra Dutton, Spencer’s wife, follows a similar pattern to Cara by being balanced, nuanced, and resilient.
Our Take On Helen Mirren’s Perspective of 1923
The Western Genre Has Come A Long Way
Mirren’s reasoning for joining1923speaks to how much Westerns have changed over time. The genre once sidelined women as damsels in distress, but modern iterations have made them central to the story.1923stands out not just for its historical depth but for its commitment to portraying women as integral to the narrative. Mirren’s praise of Sheridan’s writing reinforceswhy1923has resonated with audiences, proving that the Western genre is no longer bound by its past limitations.
1923
Cast
1923 is a series following the Dutton family during the early twentieth century. It explores the challenges they face amidst pandemics, the end of Prohibition, historic drought, and the Great Depression, as they struggle to maintain their home in the mountain west.
