Yellowstone star Kelly Reilly reveals why she was ready for Under Salt Marsh after “violence and revenge” of Beth Dutton

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After six years of playing the intense and complex Beth Dutton on the popular show Yellowstone, Kelly Reilly felt completely prepared to take on the lead role in Sky Atlantic’s new thriller, Under Salt Marsh.

While filming the final season of Yellowstone, I came across the book [Under Salt Marsh]. At the time, I was deeply immersed in portraying Beth’s character – her anger, drive for revenge, and overall intensity. It was a challenging emotional space to occupy, and honestly, not very comfortable.

Reilly explained to TopMob that preparing to play Beth requires intense mental preparation, almost like a psychological training camp. Shifting to the character of Jackie Ellis in Under Salt Marsh felt like a completely different approach.

The character Jackie feels withdrawn and hesitant to assert herself,” the actress explained. Jackie begins secretly investigating the death of a child, a case that resonates with her own family tragedy – the disappearance of her niece three years prior. According to the actress, portraying Jackie’s more reserved nature feels more natural and accessible to her than playing the character Beth.

I adore playing Beth – I’m currently working on the character in the upcoming Yellowstone spin-off, The Dutton Ranch, scheduled for 2027 – but she’s very different from me as a person. I enjoy exploring that contrast, but I could never act or talk the way Beth does in my own life.

Regarding Beth Dutton’s popularity – she’s gone from a TV character to a recognizable cultural icon, even with her own merchandise like the “Don’t Make Me Go All Beth Dutton On Your Ass” t-shirt – actress Kelly Reilly shares her thoughts:

People were drawn to Beth’s boldness and self-assuredness; it felt like a breath of fresh air. She didn’t shy away from acknowledging her own anger and intensity, which was a bit unsettling to see in a woman, and that fierce energy seemed to capture the spirit of the times.

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Under Salt Marsh airs on Fridays on Sky Atlantic and NOW.

Don’t forget to add ‘Add Under Salt Marsh’ to your watchlist on the TopMob app! Download TopMob now to get daily TV recommendations and other great features.

Authors

Gareth McLean

For almost three decades, Gareth McLean has been a professional television writer. He’s reviewed countless shows as a critic and interviewed hundreds of personalities, ranging from Liza Minnelli to Jimmy Savile, as a feature writer. He’s also worked as a writer on television programs.

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2026-02-06 16:09