1883's Isabel May Talks Bonding With Tim McGraw And Bringing Optimism To The Dutton Family

1883’s Isabel May Talks Bonding With Tim McGraw And Bringing Optimism To The Dutton Family

]

Just because Yellowstone Season 4 already reached its deadly conclusion doesn’t mean fans have to say goodbye to the Dutton family just yet. 1883 is moving along strongly and swiftly on Paramount+, with Tim McGraw, Faith Hill and Isabel May leading the ancestral charge. (As well as li’l Audie Rick’s John Sr.) So far, fans have witnessed one of TV’s darkest and most fatality-filled journeys, with Sam Elliott’s Shea Brennan leading the Duttons and a plethora of others across the still-developing United States. Despite all the hardships and setbacks, though, May’s Elsa Dutton has stood out as a spark of optimistic light in a family that often oozes cynicism.

Tim McGraw’s James Dutton is certainly guilty of such oozing, but it sounds like he doesn’t share that attitude when the cameras aren’t rolling. When Isabel May spoke with CinemaBlend about all things Season 1 — all non-spoilery things, anyway — I asked her about building the daddy-daughter bond with the country music icon, and she had nothing but kind words for him and his craft, saying:

Yeah, Tim takes this very seriously. He takes his character very seriously. He cares deeply about the story. I don’t know, I think there’s just a connection that we had right off the bat. It took very little to care deeply about him, and to feel this paternal kind of warmth emanating from him. He has three daughters, so he understands what it is like to have a child, especially a young woman as a kid. Yeah, it hasn’t taken much to fall in love with everyone in this cast. But Tim’s a pretty remarkable man, and I feel very lucky to be performing alongside him. He’s very special.

Raising three daughters, on top of being married to co-star Faith Hill, certainly does give Tim McGraw an advantage when it comes to portraying a loving and doting father in 1883 , even if many of the lifestyle specifics couldn’t be more different. And it has to help that Isabel May seems filled to the brim with positivity, and harbors such love and appreciation for the superstar playing her fictional father. And while the look on James Dutton’s face is usually in the realm of “sneering and/or looking fed up with nonsense,” that’s not so much the case when Elsa is around. (Although it cycles back and forth whenever Ellis is also around Elsa, such is the life of a protective father.)

Which isn’t to say that Isabel May and Faith Hill aren’t just as close or anything, since the two actresses came across during another press interview as if they were actually mother and daughter. It’s a shame that the standalone world of 1883 isn’t one where unstoppable giggling is the norm, because May and Hill could likely fill a time slot with their mirth-filled kinship alone.

(Image credit: Paramount+)

Speaking of mirth and similarly sanguine vibes, Elsa Dutton may very well be the most positive-minded character in the Yellowstone universe thus far, approaching the treacherous trek with her head held high. (Tate Dutton would almost count, but he’s faced multiple traumas already in his young life, so I doubt his optimism keeps hold for another decade.) Those feelings will no doubt become partially tainted by some of the events that play out in 1883, but it’s all about living in the moment. And that plays into how Isabel May portrays Elsa, whose bright smiles run counter to the darkness surrounding her. When I asked her about bringing such hopeful energy to the Dutton family, here’s what she told me:

Yeah, I think it’s what makes the show special. You’re hearing her thoughts in the narration and the voiceovers, and it’s the backdrop to this really, really tragic, incredibly difficult life-altering journey that they’ve decided to go on. You know, we’ve been shooting in the actual locations and experiencing the train to the fullest extent. So she romanticizes everything, and I can understand why. It’s so almost tragically beautiful. We’re always looking at our phones; we’re looking down, not up. Seeing these incredible sunsets in Texas and these beautiful mountain peaks in Montana has been a really incredible experience. So having that incorporated into the story, I think, is a nice contrast to the terrible depictions of the realities of that experience.

Despite all the potentially nightmarish situations that the Duttons and the rest of the wagon train have experienced in 1883 so far, as well as all the hard-knocks drama to come, Elsa serves as the beacon of aspiration helping to keep the American Dream alive. And it’s fueled by, logically enough, the gorgeousness of an unexploited America. Which is exactly what John Dutton has attempted to maintain control of throughout Yellowstone’s four seasons thus far. Like grandmother, like grandson.

“Nobody is safe”: ‘1883’ star Eric Nelsen talks THAT episode

]

“Nobody is safe”: ‘1883’ star Eric Nelsen talks THAT episode

(SPOILERS AHEAD) 1883 viewers didn’t see this one coming, as the road west came to an end for a fan-favorite on the latest episode of the popular Yellowstone prequel on Paramount+.

Cowboy-for-hire Ennis, played by Eric Nelsen, met an untimely death while protecting Isabel May’s Elsa Dutton and their band of pioneers from a gang of marauding prairie bandits. Oh, and the couple had just gotten engaged too.

“It still hurts for me to even think about it,” Nelsen tells ABC Audio. “I remember reading the script for the first time and just crying…I had no idea it was coming.”

The Ennis/Elsa coupling had become a lighter spot in a story set against the backdrop of the dangers of westward migration across the American Frontier. In a lot ways, Nelsen said something like that had to happen.

“It’s safe to say, nobody is safe," he says. “Tragedy is throughout this entire series…these people went through this, and it gives you so much more respect and appreciation for what we have, from what these early settlers went through.”

And even though it looks like his time on 1883 has wrapped up, he called it “life changing” being able to work with show creator Taylor Sheridan and co-stars like Tim McGraw, Faith Hill and Hollywood heavyweight Sam Elliott.

“The main thing I learned from Sam was overall kindness,” Nelsen says. “He’s got such a way with people. He’d be filming all day long and he’d finish his scenes, and there would be two more and after his. He’d sit and watch and support everybody else who was filming that day.”

New episodes of 1883 are available Sundays on Paramount+.

‘1883’ Star Breaks Down Brutal Death: ‘It Changes Things Completely’ (Exclusive)

]

‘1883’ Star Breaks Down Brutal Death: ‘It Changes Things Completely’ (Exclusive)

Spoiler alert! Do not proceed if you have not watched the latest episode of 1883.

Say goodbye to the cowboy.

On the latest episode of Paramount+’s Yellowstone prequel, 1883, which dropped Sunday, it was a dramatic farewell for Ennis (played by Eric Nelsen), who agreed to help the Duttons and their herd find a new homestead. During that time, Ennis took an immediate liking to the Duttons’ eldest daughter, Elsa (Isabel May), and soon thereafter, the two fell in love. Unfortunately for the young couple, their honeymoon ended abruptly when Ennis, in an effort to protect Elsa and the others, from a dangerous group of bandits, was killed by gunshot in the final minutes of the latest installment.

The timing couldn’t have been worse. Just the day before his tragic death, Ennis and Elsa took their union to the next level, consummating their whirlwind romance, and even making plans to raise a family together. And Ennis’ often tense relationship with Elsa’s father, James (Tim McGraw), reached a moment of understanding when Ennis declared to the Dutton patriarch that he accept them as a couple or lose his daughter as a result.

The immediate after of Ennis’ death, however, will change Elsa forever, and viewers caught a glimpse of that dramatic shift when she marched over the hill and fired shots in point-blank range at the bandit responsible for killing her love. “She is completely stripped of innocence from that moment and she goes from a girl to a woman right then and there, and that’s evident,” Nelsen told ET. “You’re not going to see Elsa like you saw her before going forward.

Nelsen breaks down Ennis’ death, his character’s brief but pivotal journey on the show and if there’s a chance he’ll be back in some way, shape or form.

ET: When you signed on to 1883, were you aware of your character’s fate?

Eric Nelsen: Not at first. I did not know what was happening at first – before I signed on – I just knew it was an epic story by Taylor Sheridan, the prequel to 1883 and I think I only read the first episode. Then I got cast and we went through the process and then I found out. Taylor sent me the scripts and I read what happens at the end of [episode] five and I was heartbroken. I mean, it was just as gut-punching as it’s going to be for the viewers who get to watch, but it’s all so beautiful. And the way it’s told, it’s so emotional and it’s such a pivotal moment in the series so I was grateful to be able to be the one to portray that. Where the story goes from here, you’ll see how impactful this moment is and it really shifts things completely. It was hard to read and watch, but a beautiful piece of art to be a part of and I’m so grateful for the opportunity.

Even over a very brief period of time, there’s been a lot of growth for Ennis. What are your thoughts on his journey in these five episodes?

Yeah. I feel like it’s pretty quick because we see it all happen within these five [episodes], but you’re absolutely right. Ennis has a great arc that I wanted to make sure showed. In the beginning, we see that he’s this cowboy who has got some innocence and purity to him in a way and he really just wants acceptance from James Dutton. I want him to like me and to give me approval to like his daughter and I feel like I’m stuck in between two places at times. But of course, Ennis uses his humor and his lightness to get through situations and then we start to see Ennis fall head over heels in love with Elsa and then ultimately his whole body. His whole being is in love with this girl and at that point, he really doesn’t care what other people think and he no longer is submissive to James. He stands up to him and he gives him the ultimatum of “[Accept] us or you don’t have either of us. I’m going to take your daughter because we’re in love. She loves me, she trusts me. I trust her and if you’re not supportive, we’re going to go do our own thing.” That’s a huge turning point for Ennis’ strength and relationship on the show to not only James but to himself. We see that power and he stands his ground for the first time. Of course, at the end, his dying words are to James, which I think is a pretty powerful moment within itself. If there’s anything James Dutton saw from Ennis, it’s his true heart and his true soul more than ever, especially at the end there so I hope he has love and appreciation for Ennis by the end of this.

Emerson Miller/Paramount+

You touched on the fraught relationship that he has with Elsa’s dad. But at end of it they reach an understanding. Had Ennis not died, what were you curious about exploring?

Elsa just flat out asks Ennis if he’d be man enough to have her child. And he says yes, if he’s even lucky enough for that to happen. It would’ve been nice to explore a family dynamic together and see where that went. At that point, Elsa could have asked Ennis to do anything and he would say yes for her. We see that too, but just the fact that Ennis chooses to have her stay as he rides up over the hill towards those bandits, he knows what’s coming and he knows that in order to save her, he needs to go first. Ultimately, he gives his own life for her. I don’t think there’s anything Ennis wouldn’t have wanted to explore with Elsa going forward, but specifically that family dynamic and children with the girl he’s head over heels in love with would’ve been really special.

In the immediate aftermath of his death, there’s like a switch that’s turned off – or on, depending how you see it – when it comes to Elsa. How do you think this is going to impact her?

I know what happens so I can’t really put it in [words]. However, I can say we see almost instantly a major shift in Elsa. When she walks over to that bandit and shoots and kills him, that’s just a glimpse into Elsa’s journey from here on out. She is completely stripped of innocence from that moment and she goes from a girl to a woman right then and there, and that’s evident. You’re not going to see Elsa like you saw her before going forward. That’s about all I can tease, but it was a crucial moment for her character arc and the show as a whole. For her to go through this tragedy with Ennis and it gives her the strength and power that she otherwise maybe wouldn’t have had.

There was a lot of talk of babies and family between Ennis and Elsa. Is that something that will come back around? Will we find out that she is expecting his baby?

It leaves everyone wondering and questioning. I can’t divulge that information because those are big questions in the storyline, but I will say, regardless of what happens, it’s obviously a tragic event in her life and she’s going to be approaching anything that happens to her from here with that weight on her shoulders. We’re going to see her walk through the rest of this journey with a much heavier foot than she did before.

Any chance of you coming back in some shape or form, like flashbacks? Are you still in the world?

Ennis is not forgotten, but again, I can’t explain what’s going to happen for Ennis but Elsa definitely carries his memory on and we see that throughout.

What’s next for you?

Definitely putting my foot to the pedal and moving on and using this show as leverage for the next [thing]. As of right now, still technically working with Paramount. Actually, they’re still filming. I think their last day of the shoot is [Saturday] and so we’re about to close that door and open another one. Definitely have some stuff in the works. Nothing I can put out there as of yet, but again, so grateful for my time on the show and hope that with every ounce of my being can remain in the shared universe.

What do you want to say to viewers who might be a little distraught after watching this latest episode?

I’m with you guys. I was [distraught] too and filming it was difficult, especially because I was supposed to be laying there dead and the emotion that’s happening around me, it was hard for me not to cry in the moment. But I thank everyone for their support and encouragement, and trust that this is a crucial moment and turning point for the series and it was a very impactful and crucial moment for Elsa’s development and where her character goes from here. But I’m in your boat. I’m sad. I wish it didn’t have to happen, but that’s storytelling at its finest and it’s going to have everybody talking. At the end of the day, it’s entertainment and we hope we evoked emotion because that’s what we’re trying to achieve here.

New episodes of 1883 drop Sundays at 12:01 a.m. PT/3:01 a.m. ET on Paramount+. For more, watch below.

To stay up to date on breaking TV news, sign up for ET’s daily newsletter.

Tim McGraw was a method actor on set of 1883, says co-star Eric Nelsen

]

Tim McGraw was a method actor on set of 1883, says co-star Eric Nelsen 1883 is on Paramount+

Tim McGraw has been praised by his 1883 co-star Eric Nelsen, despite being branded an “intense method” actor. Tim stars as James Dutton, alongside his real-life wife Faith Hill who stars as James’ wife Margaret.

MORE: Faith Hill makes surprising announcement about future of 1883

Eric plays Ennis, a young rancher who falls for the Dutton’s daughter Elsa (played by Isobel May), and he has shared that Tim kept in character even when the cameras weren’t rolling to “intimidate” Eric, revealing that although Tim was the “big brother” on set, always singing or “goofing off”, the real-life father-of-three also liked to riff on his character.

Loading the player…

WATCH: Are you a fan of Yellowstone?

Eric explained that when the cameras stopped rolling Tim was “a lot more method than I was expecting him to be on certain days” and “there would be times where I would just catch him just staring at me when we weren’t even filming”.

Speaking to Wide Open Country, he added: “He would just be on the other side of the room, just like really giving me a glare, trying to intimidate me.

MORE: Faith Hill sparks emotional reaction with rare video of daughter

MORE: Faith Hill’s unexpected answer to Tim McGraw’s marriage proposal sparks major reaction

“Of course, it worked every single time. And he’s, like, still really intense.”

Luckily it was all in jest and the pair would always laugh about it at the end of the day, but Eric concluded: “He’s pretty good about putting that fear of God in somebody with those eyes.”

Eric plays rancher Ennis

Faith and Tim, both 54, have been happily married since 1996 and together they share three daughters, Gracie, 24, Maggie, 23, and 20-year-old Audrey.

The pair are now starring together in the highly-anticipated Yellowstone spinoff 1883.

Tim and Faith star as the Duttons

Set nearly 150 years before the events of Yellowstone, the new series shines a light on the Dutton family’s humble beginnings, with the pair playing early 19th century travelers, the ancestors of Yellowstone family, as they travel through the Great Plains to the Wild West.

The country music power couple are joined by a number of huge names, including two-time Oscar nominee Sam Elliott, Billy Bob Thornton, Isabel May and LaMonica Garrett.