‘Yellowstone’ Star Q’orianka Kilcher Reveals Angela Blue Thunder’s Backstory (2024)

With Yellowstone Season 3 streaming on Peaco*ck, fans now have access to one of the Western saga’s most compelling and mysterious new characters: Angela Blue Thunder, played by Native actress Q’orianka Kilcher (The Alienist, Sons of Anarchy). An attorney and new adviser to Thomas Rainwater, Angela believes the chief has been far too passive in his quest to reclaim the Dutton land for the Nation.

Fueled by pain and anger from her past, Angela Blue Thunder is committed to securing the land that rightfully belongs to her people. While she agrees to a tentative alliance with the Duttons as a necessary evil, who knows what other plans lurk beneath Angela’s icy and tough exterior? We got to spend a few minutes over Zoom with Kilcher during which she revealed Angela’s backstory, explained how she collaborated on Angela’s bold look, and reminisced about filming her powerful scene in the Season 3 finale with co-star and friend, Gil Birmingham.

Decider: I read that you were already a fan of Yellowstone before joining the cast. Did that play into your accepting the role of Angela Blue Thunder?

Q’orianka Kilcher: I was ecstatic. It’s such an amazing, strong role that is written for a Native American woman. I was just so honored. It was pretty badass to come on to the show and be able to do a role like that. Plus, Angela Blue Thunder is a good Native counterpart to Beth Dutton (Kelly Reilly) because she’s just such as strong and determined as she is.

While her motives are becoming clearer, Angela Blue Thunder herself is still a mystery to many fans. Can you talk a little bit about your understanding of her backstory?

She has an interesting backstory because she was adopted. There are hints of her being sexually abused by her foster parents as well. She is a really strong voice because she is somebody who wants to do things in the right way. That’s her goal in life. She wants to go back to her community, even though she’s tried to leave the past behind. However, when she returns, she does so in a very strong way because she wants to make a difference. She wants to get the land back for her people. That’s what drives her.

With the dark lip color and sharp business attire, Angela is an imposing figure. Can you talk about the look of the character? Were you able to have much input?

I know that one of the biggest critiques by fans of my character was that everyone hated my bold lip color. The makeup team and I wanted to make a strong choice because the bold lipstick is her war paint. She’s going into battle, so she is not trying to make friends or be liked by other people. For an actor, the clothes and makeup inform the character as much as your physicality does. It’s just as important. The hair and makeup team and I chose to make a bold choice, and we accomplished what we set out to do.

Gil Birmingham described Angela’s approach to challenges as “win at all costs” in comparison to Mo’s focus on honor and integrity. Is that a fair statement or do you see more nuances in Angela’s character?

Her main drive absolutely is to get the Dutton land back for her people. However, she has a very humanizing backstory. She is not just a ruthless mean person. She carries a lot of context and a lot of history within herself. She wants to find her voice and stand up for her people.

Angela sets the dynamic with Thomas Rainwater when she asks him one question: Who did you set out to be? She reminds him that pretty words and diplomacy are great, but that you have to follow them with action.

Angela’s words are incredibly powerful. She talks of duty to the Nation and the difference between the master’s laws and the slave’s laws. It’s the first time someone has spoken so frankly to Thomas. What was it like acting opposite Gil Birmingham?

It was great. I’ve worked with Gil a lot in the past. I’ve even played his daughter. It was powerful to come onto an established show like Yellowstone and play the character that brings a super strong and super different take. Honestly, I was so scared. This is one of the most challenging roles I’ve ever taken on as an actress. It was so great to work with Gil because he was just so supportive. He also has such a strong presence on screen. Working with a friend who was rooting for me put me at ease.

What I love about Yellowstone is that every once in a while, the show reminds us that the Duttons can be bad guys too. Angela’s final scene in Season 3 with Thomas and Mo is proof of that.

I try to find the humanity in every single role. Something that I’ve recognized over the years are often “evil” people believe they’re doing bad things for the right reasons. With the Dutton family, they believe that they’re doing the right thing for them even if others see their actions as evil.

Fans can soon make their own judgments now that all 3 seasons of Yellowstone are streaming on Peaco*ck.

Yes! Fans should binge watch the show and gain insight into all of these characters. There’s so much complexity. You may start out watching the show and not like one of the characters, but as you get to understand where this person is coming from, what the character’s history is, why the person is who he or she is making certain choices and decisions, you can find the process really humanizing. You may be less likely to make snap judgments about people without understanding where they are coming from.

Stream Yellowstone on Peaco*ck