Its such a dream job.
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LAYSLA DE OLIVEIRAI got a call from Taylor that he wanted to meet me.
It was at the peak of Covid.
Bassem Youssef as Amrohi and Laysla De Oliveira as Cruz Manuelos In Special Ops: Lioness, episode 8, season 1.Luke Varley/Paramount+
I had to fly to Montana where they were shootingYellowstone.
I performed the entire first episode for him on the set while he was directing an episode.
It was really exhilarating.
I was just so excited to be there and to be considered.
That was such a win for me already.
It was absolute torture.
DEADLINE Where was production?
We really shot out of order because that first episode takes place in Morocco.
We were all over the map.
DEADLINEIt looks like your character pretty much hates Joe the whole time.
I guess she cant really be sympathetic because she needs Cruz to remain tough, right?
Theyre just trying to break her.
Joe is in a really tough position.
DEADLINE So youre the Lioness in this situation, right?
DE OLIVEIRA: Cruz is the Lioness now.
Joe was the lioness but now shes the head of the Lioness team.
DEADLINE Your character is quite the fighter.
How long did you have to prep?
DE OLIVEIRAAbout a month before I left to shoot, and then maybe three weeks before we started shooting.
DEADLINE Did it physically hurt to play your character?
DE OLIVEIRAIt physically hurt, and it emotionally hurt, too.
The physical aspect is the part that completely terrified me.
My very first day was running from my boyfriend, so I ran for 14 hours straight.
And then I want to say the third day we started doing the torture scene.
I was definitely the new kid on the block.
I mean, my first scene with Zoe was the one where she makes me cry.
She comes in and I see that shes the one torturing me.
Its this regular theme on the show.
After my first take, Zoe just kind of squeezed my shoulder and said, 10 out of 10.
It was a really great experience.
Theres only so much of that you’re free to fake.
Of course, theyre not fully waterboarding me.
They put a mouthpiece on me and I have to bite down.
Did you know that romantic arc was coming when you booked the role?
There were only two episodes written at the time.
Taylor writes based on the people he casts, which is why I think he writes so brilliantly.
So I knew it was going to be something deep.
Its such a tragic love story.
DEADLINE Do you think well ever see Aaliyah again?
DE OLIVEIRAI have no idea.
I really, I feel like this story can go in so many ways.
What do you do when you kill someones father?
Its such a beautiful love.
But its also a tragic love story.
DEADLINE We were left with Cruz wanting to quit the whole damn thing.
DE OLIVEIRAYeah, she technically quit the whole damn thing.
So I guess well see where that goes.
I dont know if she could stay away forever.
These are Taylor Sheridan questions.
I wish I could just open his mind up and get all the answers.
