Taylor Sheridan’s Yellowstone prequel 1923, was a series with as much power as it had heart and vulnerability; as fans got to explore a more historic chapter in the Dutton family story, they were brought face to face with a lot of joy and majesty but also heartache and devastation.
Most of that heartache and devastation was felt in the heart of Teonna’s story, a young indigenous woman who was held captive at a “school,” which was a front for what could be best described as a torture house. Young women were held there to have the Indian “killed” out of them, and anyone who tried to remain “in tact” faced harsh punishments, including physical violence so intense that it is hard to put it into words.
Speaking to Deadline, Teonna actor Aminah Nieves said that the feedback she’s received after breathing life into Teonna Rainwater has reaffirmed that taking this role and being an actress is precisely what she’s meant to be doing — it’s been confirmation that telling these stories is so important.
“From what my family says and from what other cast members and their families are saying, it’s really great feedback. People have told me that it’s given them the opportunity to be more open with what is happening [within the community]. I think that’s the whole reason why we do this art, to share honest and real stories that spark curiosity and help people feel safe. Having a moment to see yourself and to feel the strength to talk about certain things is super important. That’s all I wish for — sharing these stories that make people want to do a Google search to see what really happened.”
Of course, that doesn’t mean it was an easy road, but Sheridan knew that Teonna’s story was important because it happened more recently than one might imagine. Indigenous people have opened up about the abuse they faced in boarding schools, and it’s heartbreaking to read.
Nieves said a lot of preparation went into ensuring those scenes were done with care and concern for everyone involved. It was important for a bond to be built and conversations to be had before the brutality of this story had to be played out.
“Right before we shot the scene, we’d have a little conversation about it. But everything that you see, the leather mallets, the rulers and stuff, they had a furry coating. I was hit quite a bit and still got bruised up. But for the most part it was all pretty painless, unless I overextended myself, which I usually do because I like to do most of my stunts. Jennifer is just an incredible talent. I bow to her. She was so tender and kind, moving through everything that we did. We talked a little bit before each scene, but typically they would just give us the stunt choreography in like 10 minutes. Then we’d be, “alright, let’s shoot it.” You kind of have to separate yourself a little bit from what’s happening because it’s a lot of physical and spiritual energy. We always made sure to be with one another.”
While her scenes were some of the most emotionally charged in the Yellowstone realm as a whole, they’re also some of the most well-acted and praised. Nieves had to make a choice to experience the highs and lows of Teonna to ensure that her story was told with respect, compassion, and a light of truth —and all of the credit goes to her for shouldering that weight.
You can see 1923 in its entirety streaming on Paramount Plus now.