Natalie Alyn Lind still can’t believe she is part of the extended Taylor Sheridan Universe. As a fan of Yellowstone, Alyn Lind was just as excited as the rest of us by the announcement of Dutton Ranch, the continuation of Beth Dutton’s (Kelly Reilly) and Rip Wheeler’s (Cole Hauser) story. After cutting her teeth with showy roles in Big Sky, The Gifted and Tell Me A Story, Alyn Lind was more than ready for the challenge. “When I heard that they were doing the show, I couldn’t had been more excited,” remembered Alyn Lind. The actress flew down to Fort Worth to audition for role of the fiery, complicated Oreana who captures Carter’s [Finn Little] heart and is later revealed to be part of the Jackson family.

“Playing a character like Oreana who says exactly what she’s thinking and who does not hide behind insecurities has been freeing,” said Alyn Lind. However, behind that free-spirited woman is a little girl who feels trapped by her family’s dynasty and expectations. As the daughter of Rob-Will (Jai Courtney), Oreana witnessed his struggles of addiction first hand. “From the outside, the Jacksons look perfect picture, but there are so many different levels of hurt and sadness and betrayal and manipulation within the family,” said Alyn Lind. Naturally, Oreana resents her grandmother, Beluah (Annette Bening), who is vetting her to take over the 10 Petal ranch someday. “They’re both strong, independent women that are just very set in their ways,” said Alyn Lind. “What I’m most excited about with episodes coming up is that you’ll start to understand why they are the way they are.”

While Alyn Lind’s home life is fraught, she finds solace in her budding connection with Carter. Even though he’s younger than her, Oreana can see Carter is a diamond in the rough. “There’s a realness about him. He’s not trying to be something that he’s not,” said Alyn Lind when asked why Oreana is so drawn to Carter. “They both have complicated upbringings, and being able to be herself in front of somebody is something she hasn’t experienced before.”

Alyn Lind stopped by the DECIDER studio to talk about the series, reveal what makes her character ticks, and share how she built such great chemistry with Little.

DECIDER: Dutton Ranch is just a perfect addition to the Taylor Sheridan Universe. How did you first hear about the project?

NATALIE ALYN LIND: I was such a fan of the original show. Once the series ended, I feel like everybody wanted the Beth and Rip spinoff. When I heard that they were doing the show, I couldn’t had been more excited. I was sent an audition request and had to sign an NDA and had to access scenes through locked websites with passwords. I still do that for scripts that we get now. But when I heard that Annette and Ed [Harris] were going to be involved, I was sold. The fact that I’m on the show just doesn’t feel real.

I know you auditioned in Fort Worth and you got to read opposite Jai Courtney. What do you remember from that experience?

Nerves, for sure. We were staying in the stockyards in Fort Worth, so I was just trying to walk around and enjoy my time there because I didn’t know if I was going to book the role or not. We were walking out and Jai had just tested. The most amazing casting director ever, John Papsidera, found me outside and said, “come with me.” He brought me to this room where his team and Jai were waiting.

He asked me to go stand next to Jai. Then, they asked us to turn back to back. Afterwards, they were like, “yep, that’s it.” Jai and I both left the room and and we’re like, “okay, what was that?” Then we ended up both being on the show [laughs]. It was such a quick thing. Meeting him for the first time outside of the test, we just got along so well. He calls me his kid. I love Jai.

I was so happy to learn the tradition of cowboy camp is alive and well! What was your biggest takeaway from that experience?

Coming into this show, I’ve had a bit of horseback riding experience, but nothing to this degree. What I loved about cowboy camp is that they weren’t teaching us how to look good for the camera; they taught us real skills. We were learning cutting and roping and riding and galloping and trotting. My biggest takeaway was just how much I enjoyed it and how grounding it is. I had no idea what an emotional feeling I would have just being on a horseback in the middle of Texas. It’s nothing I ever thought I was going to be doing, and now it’s a passion of mine. I feel so lucky for that.

What excites you most about playing a character like Oreana?

I’m a non-confrontational person. I hate confrontation, and it’s something that I struggle with. Playing a character like Oreana who says exactly what she’s thinking and does not hide behind insecurities has been freeing. Her mouth gets her into some trouble, but it’s such a fun character to play. She drives a vintage Bronco and shoots guns and beats up men. Every episode there is a new crazy thing that she’s doing. Every time you open a script, you’re like, “what adventure am I getting into this week?” I feel like that’s so rare for a show.

It’s revealed in Episode 2 that Oreana is Rob-Will’s daughter, and clearly, their father-daughter bond is complicated. How long has this cycle of rehab and chaos gone on?

Rob-Will has struggled with addiction most of his life. From the outside, the Jacksons look perfect picture, but there are so many different levels of hurt and sadness and betrayal and manipulation within the family. I love that you don’t know that our characters are father and daughter from the beginning. It was important for us to have similar characteristics and embody each other so that when you do see us on screen together, it makes sense. With Annette too, I wanted it to be the apple not falling far from the tree.

Obviously, Oreana has a contentious relationship with her grandmother, Beluah. How do you think that has shaped her?

Oriana grew up without a mom, so Beluah was her mom. They’re very similar. They don’t like being told what to do. They’re both strong, independent women that are just very set in their ways. Obviously, they are mirrors of each other. I think that’s what I’m most excited about with episodes coming up is that you’ll start to understand why they are the way they are.

One thing I love about Oreana is that she is one of the first characters who really sees Carter. What do you think draws Oreana to Carter?

There’s a realness about him. He’s not trying to be something that he’s not. Oreana was obviously raised with money. She went to an amazing school, graduated at the top of her class, has a degree. She knows there are a lot of people out there that try to fake it. Carter’s just so authentically himself. He comes from such a raw place. They both have complicated upbringings. She’s never been able to experience what it’s like to be herself in front of somebody else before. I don’t think it’s something that Carter has experienced before either. They have such a beautiful, loving relationship.

You have great chemistry with Finn Little. How did you two build the bond between your characters?

Well, the first time that I met Finn was at cowboy camp. I said hello to Jai first because we had met at the audition so we greeted Finn together. Finn thought that I was Jai’s girlfriend! [Laughs] So as we were riding horses as a group, Finn said to someone, ” oh, it’s so cool that Jai’s girlfriend’s training with us.” And then they go, “no, dude, that’s your love interest.” He goes, “what?!” He was shocked!

After that little hiccup, we got to know each other so well. Things were so easy between us. We went to a movie the second night that we met. I took him to his first haunted house. He’s become one of my best friends. I’m so lucky to share the screen with him. He’s been an awesome partner in all of this.

During one of their first exchanges, Orena tells Carter “nobody’s gonna make it easier on you. You gotta say fuck em and do whatever you fuck want.” Is that her philosophy on life? What drives her?

I would say that’s definitely her philosophy. She has been told who she’s going to be from the day that she was born. Going into her adult years, she’s trying to break away from those expectations. She’s a very passionate character, so she takes everything that she does to the very highest extreme. That’s one of my favorite parts about my character, and you’ll see that quality in her throughout this season. Things start taking twists and turns, and I love the direction that it’s going to go. But I’m not going to say what direction that is [laughs].

The first two episodes of Dutton Ranch are now streaming on Paramount+