Ali Larter was bitten by fire ants while filming a barefoot scene for season 2 of Landman, she told host Seth Meyers on Late Night Wednesday, Jan. 14.
At a Glance
- The actress felt insects “crawling between my toes” during a sunset shot
- Director Stephen Kay praised her “emotional” performance, unaware she was in pain
- Larter kept acting to avoid delaying the crew’s tight schedule
- Why it matters: The incident shows the physical risks actors take for authentic scenes
The actress, 49, plays Angela on the Paramount+ drama created by Taylor Sheridan. While shooting with costar Billy Bob Thornton, she stood barefoot in a wide Texas field as crew members rushed to capture “one of those epic Texas sunsets where the egg drops.”
“I’m standing there in this wide open field, barefoot, jean shorts and they’re rushing, rushing, rushing,” she recalled. “And I hear ‘Action!’ And I’m looking at the horses and all of the sudden I feel something crawling between my toes.”
The sensation was “fire ants biting my toes,” she explained, but she stayed in character because Thornton was approaching for the scene.
“I just have to live through this,” she remembered thinking. “So I lean to him, I go into the scene and I do the scene with him.”
When Kay yelled “Cut!” he ran over to compliment her work. “You were so emotional, you were so connected,” he told her. Larter replied, “I’m crying because I was getting bit by fire ants!”
She admitted fearing the crew would be upset if the shot was lost, so she endured the bites until the take was complete. The result was visible: she developed “welts” and joked, “This show takes a toll on this bod.”
On-Set Souvenirs
At the Jan. 4 Critics Choice Awards, Larter told News Of Losangeles she took home wardrobe items including Leddy’s cowboy boots, an Agent Provocateur bra from episode seven, and a pair of Wrangler jeans.
She left the fire ants behind.
Character Inspiration
Larter told News Of Losangeles in November that playing Angela is “freeing” because the character “walks through life without the fear of judgment of others.”
“She makes up her own rules,” she added, noting the trait differs from her own personality and societal expectations.
Series Status
Landman, inspired by the West Texas oil boom, stars Thornton, 70, as oil man Tommy Norris. Season 2 debuted in November and a third season has been confirmed. New episodes stream Sundays on Paramount+.
Key Takeaways
- Despite painful ant bites, Larter finished the scene to keep production on schedule
- Director Stephen Kay initially believed her tears were part of the performance
- The incident highlights the physical challenges of on-location filming
- Larter’s commitment earned praise before the real cause of her tears was revealed
