In the high-stakes world of television production, especially within the gritty universe crafted by Taylor Sheridan, actors often face unexpected challenges. For Everythiiing.com, we can reveal a startling incident involving actress Ali Larter on the set of the hit Paramount+ drama, Landman. During filming for Season 2, Larter endured an on-set hazard that was both painful and completely unnoticed by the crew until after the cameras stopped rolling.
The Race Against the Texas Sunset
Landman, set against the backdrop of the booming Texas oil industry, features Larter in a role that demands significant emotional investment. Speaking recently on Late Night with Seth Meyers, Larter detailed a scene that required capturing the perfect, fleeting moment of an “epic Texas sunset.” As anyone who has worked in exterior filming knows, sunset light is notoriously time-sensitive, leading to immense pressure to capture the shot quickly.
Larter, already familiar with the demanding nature of Sheridan’s sets—having previously confessed to fearing she might be fired from the series—was determined not to jeopardize the take. “We have a huge crew, it’s high pressure, and we are rushing to get this shot,” Larter explained. The stakes were high, and Larter was prepared to push through discomfort for the sake of the production schedule.
Barefoot, Rushing, and Under Attack
The scene required Larter to be out in a wide-open field, barefoot, wearing only jean shorts. As the director called “Action!” Larter focused intensely on her performance, locking eyes with the horses intended for the shot. However, what she felt next was entirely unscripted and immediately alarming.
“All of a sudden I feel something crawling between my toes,” Larter recounted. Looking down, the actress realized she was being aggressively bitten by fire ants. In the chaos of the rapid filming schedule, Larter was caught in a truly agonizing bind: she was being stung by venomous insects, yet her co-star, Billy Bob Thornton, was approaching to deliver his lines.
Suffering in Silence for the Art
Larter’s immediate thought was survival, but second to that was maintaining the integrity of the take. She felt she simply could not break character, fearing the consequences of stopping the crucial sunset footage. “I’m like, ‘I just have to live through this.’ So I lean to him, and I go into the scene, and I do the scene with him,” she revealed. Larter successfully executed her emotional performance while her feet were being systematically chewed up by the swarm.
It wasn't until director Stephen Kay finally yelled “Cut!” that Larter could reveal the source of her distress. The director, seeing her state, misinterpreted her raw emotion as brilliant acting.
The Reveal: Tears of Fire Ants
“He’s like, ‘Ali, you were so emotional! You were so connected!’” Larter recalled. Her response was stark: “I’m crying because I was getting bit by fire ants!” Larter admitted her fear was rooted in worrying the crew would be upset that they might miss the shot due to her discomfort.
The aftermath was painful. Larter confirmed she was left with significant welts on her feet, concluding that shows like Landman, which often depict physically demanding environments, truly “take a toll on this bod.” This incident joins a long list of actors who have physically suffered for their roles, though Larter’s experience involved a biological ambush rather than planned stunt work.
Commitment Beyond the Script
Larter’s dedication to Landman has clearly been tested. Beyond the fire ant incident, securing the role itself involved a grueling audition process. However, the commitment seems to be paying off for the series, which has proven to be a significant hit for Paramount+, already greenlighting a third season.
For any dedicated actor, enduring such unexpected physical duress for a production that is succeeding financially and critically can often make the pain seem worthwhile, or at least, easier to swallow. While the sting of the ants may have faded, Larter’s story offers a potent reminder that the glamour of Hollywood often masks moments of genuine, unscripted peril on set. Fans eager to see the results of this demanding shoot can stream Landman now on Paramount+.
