Kayla Wallace Watched Celebrity Trials to Prepare for Landman

Rebecca Falcone is one of the most powerful characters on Landman — and in order to portray the litigant effectively, Kayla Wallace she had to do her research.

During an exclusive interview with Us WeeklyWallace, 31, was keen to watch real court trials to get the right space for his role in Taylor Sheridandrama series. “I was very interested in the questioning and dealing with how litigants get what they need from the questioning itself,” says the actress Us. “I found that so interesting. It’s a whole art on its own.”

Not only did Wallace sit in on trial in Fort Worth — where Landman filmed it – but also looked to well-publicized trials on the internet for inspiration.

“I watched some celebrity cases (and) celebrity trials,” Wallace said Usstating that includes “both” the OJ Simpson trial in 1995 a Johnny Depp v Amber Heard trial in 2022. She also rewatches The People v. OJ Simpson: American Crime Story: “That was very helpful.”

In episode 4, Rebecca proved her mettle as a negotiator by demanding respect during a tense deposition alongside Tommy (Billy Bob Thornton). In the dialogue-heavy scene Rebecca fiercely tells a sexist attorney, “Do you think they hired me because I’m pretty? I charge $900 an hour … and you’re about to learn why.”

Wallace admitted that the scene was “one of the biggest to deal with,” explaining, “I remember feeling like I’d run a marathon at the end of the day.” Ultimately, she was pleased with the result: “It was great to have the experience of having to build that confidence in her and also in myself.”

For the When The Heart Calls alumstarring as Rebecca—“a powerful, strong, smart woman”—has been a dream. As it turns out, the role was made for her, with Sheridan reworking the character after seeing Wallace audition for Ainsley, played by Michelle Randolph.

“I’m so honored that he saw whatever he saw in me and trusted me, almost at a time where I didn’t trust myself to begin with,” she told Us. She doesn’t take being part of Sheridan’s successful TV empire lightly, either: “We all feel so lucky to have him at the helm of our ship.”

Working opposite Thornton, 69, was also a master class in acting. “It’s really inspiring to watch, and it makes filming such an exciting scene because it’s so in the moment,” Wallace explained. “He’s so pro, and so incredibly talented – I took a lot from him.”

In the season 1 finale, Rebecca faced a moral dilemma after being asked to renegotiate a $175 million farm lease that would involve fracking. While there’s no word yet on season 2, Wallace hopes to continue bringing Rebecca’s story to life — and she already knows where she’d like to find the “incredibly smart and savvy negotiator.”

“As they called out in episode 9, she’s not an oil and gas person – she’s a litigator with almost no knowledge in this area, so I’m excited to see her navigate (an area) that’s not she knows a lot about him. ,” Wallace said Us. “I also want to see who she is at the end of a working day.”

“I’m ready for more,” he added. “I hope we get the chance.”