When Taylor Sheridan creates one of his immersive worlds, he is known for being extremely detailed, right down to every inconsequential character. Those who have worked with him in the past have spoken openly about how the director typically plans out the entire story of a project, focusing on each individual character and all of their actions and motivations.
Teonna Rainwater’s character in 1923 is the perfect example of what a great writer Sheridan really is. However, one must not forget how dark his story can get. In an interview, Aminah Nieves, who played the role of Teonna, mentioned that her father was seriously triggered by her character during the premiere of the series.
Taylor Sheridan didn’t hold back with Teonna’s story
Teonna Rainwater’s story in Yellowstone spin off, 1923 can be particularly triggering for many. It is about a young woman who has been torn from her family and forced to spend her days in a Catholic boarding school; a place where she is constantly taught, beaten, and even attacked for that reason.
Throughout her stay there, she was abused and every time she tried to fight back or stand up for herself, she was pushed down again and the situation became much worse for her.
While watching her story was disturbing in itself, it is hard to imagine what it must have been like for Aminah Nieves to play this character. In conversation with VultureThe actress revealed that her mother pushed her to pursue the role and honor those who fought before her.
I was like, “Oh man, this is a tough one.” I was nervous and a little scared to do it. My mom was there every step of the way, saying, “Aminah, you have to do it. It’s for us!”
While this helped her during filming, the premiere of the series was apparently particularly difficult for her and her father. During the interview, she also mentioned that her father was extremely irritable when he saw his daughter on the show.
Aminah Nieves’ father was severely triggered
Aminah Nieves revealed that, although she was motivated by her mother to push through and represent Teonna in the best possible way, the process was by no means easy. She spoke in particular about the premiere of 1923, She revealed that it was very difficult for her father to sit through the premiere and watch his daughter go through such horrible things.
So much so that he physically couldn’t stay in the cinema during that scene. Nieves had to accompany her father outside and try to calm him down. The actress even revealed that her father started crying because of the darkness of the scenes.
It was really, really hard for my dad to be at the premiere. I actually had to escort him out during Teonna’s scenes. We talked about it because he was crying really loudly. He was very irritable.
This isn’t surprising considering how much Teonna goes through in the series. From being attacked by a nun to being constantly beaten to an exorcism, Taylor Sheridan’s handling of the character can certainly be a lot for many to take in.
1923 is available to stream on Paramount+.
