3 Years Before Yellowstone, Kelly Reilly Played A Key Role In HBO's Star-Studded Crime Drama

Three years before she would become a force of nature as Beth Dutton in Yellowstone, Kelly Reilly starred in HBO’s critically acclaimed anthology crime drama. Reilly stepped onto the acting scene in 1995 and has had a remarkable career since then, with appearances in movies, TV shows, and plays such as Bastille Day, Pride & Prejudice, Black Box, and Above Suspicion. While all the projects she’s been a part of have highlighted her acting prowess, it's Yellowstone that made her a household name.

Reilly’s career took a significant leap forward in 2015 when she took on the role of Jordan Semyon in the second season of HBO’s True Detective. In the overcrowded crime drama genre, it remains, even to this day, one of HBO's best series. The show’s anthology format has always worked in its favor, with every season revolving around one crime and a star-studded cast. While featuring morally grey protagonists is nothing to sing about these days, True Detective is one of the few crime dramas that takes that to another level.

In the second season of True Detective, Reilly worked alongside Colin Farrell, Rachel McAdams, and Vince Vaughn. Despite being among these household names, Reilly still managed to stand out, and True Detective ended up becoming one of the best performances of her career. While many might know Reilly from Yellowstone, the actor has been commanding the screen long before starring in Sheridan’s neo-Western TV shows.

True Detective Was Kelly Reilly's Biggest TV Role At The Time

When True Detective season 1 premiered, it immediately caught audiences’ and critics’ attention, particularly because it starred Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson as the lead characters. The series received great reviews and was certified fresh on Rotten Tomatoes with a 91% and 92% rating from critics and viewers, respectively. As such, it was one of the biggest shows on TV at the time, and Reilly getting a role in the series was a big deal. Although her part in True Detective was not the central focus, it highlighted Reilly’s ability to convey emotional complexity within a tense, character-driven narrative.

Before starring in True Detective, Reilly had supporting roles in many other TV shows. She’s starred in Wonderful You, Poirot, The Ruth Rendell Mysteries, Black Box, and Above Suspicion. However, her portrayal of Jordan Semyon in True Detective was her biggest role at the time, given that the other TV shows she had worked on were not as well-known as the HBO series. While she’s now known for her TV roles, Reilly’s acting resume leans more towards movies than it does towards series.

Kelly Reilly's Career Has Only Grown Since Her Time On True Detective

Credit: Sky

True Detective served as a stepping stone for Keilly Reilly, as it should, given how popular the crime drama was. Following her outstanding performance in the series, Reilly has appeared in great projects that aren’t attached to the Sheridanverse. The actor has had roles in Britannia, Greek Salad, A Haunting in Venice, Under Salt Marsh, and The Take. Most recently, Reilly is once again playing Beth Dutton in Dutton Ranch, a new addition to the Yellowstone franchise.

True Detective might have been the turning point of Reilly’s career, but it was Yellowstone that put her firmly on the map. The actor’s work on Yellowstone elevated her from a respected character actress into a television icon. Audiences connected deeply with Beth’s complexity, and critics praised Reilly for bringing nuance to a character who could easily have been one-dimensional.

Due to how brilliant she was in Yellowstone, Reilly wholeheartedly deserved to command her own TV show, which she does in Dutton Ranch. So far, the neo-Western series has received great reviews, with the actor being praised for her layered portrayal of Beth. Hopefully, Reilly’s career after both True Detective and Yellowstone will keep growing.

Release Date January 12, 2014

Network HBO Max

Showrunner Nic Pizzolatto

Directors Cary Fukunaga

Writers Nic Pizzolatto