EXCLUSIVE | ‘Yellowstone’ star Eden Brolin teases the future of Mia and Jimmy's love story
Eden Brolin has an enchanting way with words. With her big black eyes and a beautiful face, she can charm a magic spell on anyone. Perhaps that's why when the 26-year-old stepped into the 'Yellowstone' universe, fans were taken aback.
With a delightful introduction as a pretty cowgirl in the third episode 'An Acceptable Surrender', her character came into focus when the Duttons lined up for a horse racing event. Dressed in a collared-printed shirt, tight blue jeans and a grey-brown hat over her flowy long locks, she stole all the attention. She plays Mia, a barrel racer at the rodeo who becomes friendly with the bunkhouse guys and begins a love affair with ranch hand Jimmy Hurdstram (Jefferson White).
The daughter of actor Josh Brolin and Alice Adair, she has gained much popularity after she starred in 'Arkansas' starring Liam Hemsworth and Vince Vaughn. Not just acting, she also has a passion for singing and is the lead singer of the music group Atta Boy. In an exclusive interview with MEA WorldWide (MEAWW), Eden sheds light on her character in 'Yellowstone'', teases the love story with Jimmy (Jefferson White) on the show, and talks about a spin-off for the strong female characters from the Paramount series.
You play Mia in 'Yellowstone'. How were you approached for this role which is so unique and has actually astonished a lot of fans because they weren't expecting something like this?
Yeah, absolutely. I had actually auditioned originally for Jennifer Landon's character, Teeter. And I ended up finding out that they had a different character in mind for me, which was Mia. But I didn't know a whole lot about her, except that she was Jimmy's new love interest. So it was kind of exciting to work with Taylor [Sheridan]. I spoke with him on how we wanted to build that character and introduce her to the show.
Mia is quite outspoken than her partner, Jimmy, and that is something we don't get to see with a lot of female characters on TV. How did that play out?
It was really exciting because of the relationship dynamics between a man and a woman that are supposed to be a certain way. The status quo says the woman should be more docile and the man should be more of a leader. But it's different here and I think it's really amazing because we're getting to see something that people don't usually get to see on screen, especially because for some people, it really works when you have a man who is more emotional and has a woman willing to carry him forward and willing to give him space to be exactly who he is. I think it's a great opportunity to reflect a relationship dynamic that you don't usually see on television and Mia really does come in with a force that she's willing to carry the relationship for both of them and to help Jimmy maybe realize his own dreams a little bit more as she believes he can do so much more.
As soon as you came on board, it was love at first sight with Jimmy and it was quite shocking for fans. So what is the future of the relationship? Where do you see Mia and Jimmy in the future?
It is a really sweet relationship that I don't think people were expecting to see. I wish I knew exactly where their relationship was going. But I have to say I'm excited to find out. What I hope for them and what I can see in Mia is that she's somebody that's willing to stand by the relationship even if he made a decision that wasn't exactly right for them. I would hope that she would be somebody willing to have his best interest and happiness at heart. I think having that understanding is an incredible thing in a relationship and to be able to see that it doesn't necessarily mean that two people have to end up together but making sure that the happiness of each person is being fulfilled in every moment. I have a lot of faith in them for the future but people should be ready to be surprised.
Your character is introduced as a barrel racer. So did you have to learn to ride a horse or did you already know before you took on the role?
I knew a little bit. I've been riding for a pretty big chunk of my life but doing this show opened me to a whole new level of riding that I didn't really think I had explored. It has exposed me to more riding than I think I've ever done in my whole life and I've learned so much. And even though I can't barrel race, I have learned more about the cowboy gang and what that rodeo world is like. It's really fascinating to learn all that.
Since you've just joined 'Yellowstone', how was your experience with the cast and crew, and who is the one person you would hang out with the most on the set?
I love this cast and crew so much. They have such a beautiful bond and when you're new on a show, it feels extra welcoming when there's already a family dynamic going on. It's like a gift when you have a group of people that are as warm as the 'Yellowstone' casting crew has been to people that either come on as a guest for the season, a few episodes, or even just one episode. They're very, very inviting and welcoming to everybody so I'm grateful for that. And then the person that I probably hang out the most with would have to be Jefferson White who plays Jimmy because he's become a wonderful friend and kind of confidant and yeah, he's just been awesome to hang out with for sure.
This season, a lot more female characters have been added to the show. We already had Governor Perry, Beth and Monica now we have Teeter, Angela Blue Thunder, Willa Hayes along with your character. Do you think finally the ‘Yellowstone’ female characters will carry forward the show more than their male counterparts?
I think the show has carried female characters beautifully with Beth and Monica's storylines for the last couple of seasons. They've really carried that balance on women's shoulders, but to have watched them do it has been really incredible. And I think they do such a good job of it. That being said, adding more female voices and diverse female representation is a smart and incredible thing to do because it's more reflective of the real world. I think people can watch this show and understand certain dynamics and interpersonal relationships that they aren't necessarily even aware of.
And, you know, the fact that you have Q'orianka Kilcher playing an indigenous woman who's playing this trailblazer of a lawyer is really spectacular to see and she does such an amazing job. I do think that what you see on screen often reflects in the real world and vice versa. So I think it's wildly important to see more female representation, especially diverse female representation on a show like 'Yellowstone' that is predominantly about the industries that are male-dominated. It brings back to the thought that behind every strong male is a strong woman.
A lot of fans want a 'Yellowstone' spin-off with just these ladies. And if it ever happened, what would you call that show?
That's such a crazy question. I'm bad at games like these but I would probably call it Women of the West!
What are your plans for the future and would you like to share any other projects with us?
I'm excited about the future and looking forward to seeing what everyone will get to do in this kind of new future.
Catch new 'Yellowstone' episodes as it airs on Paramount Network every Sunday at 9 pm ET.