“Kelly Reilly Borrowed One Key Yellowstone Part from Kevin Costner’s Beth Dutton”
Kelly Reilly may be one of a kind, but so is the fierce and unforgettable Beth Dutton — the role she’s brought to life for years on Yellowstone, and will soon reprise in a spin-off centered around the character. One of Beth’s most striking traits? Her voice.
During an appearance on The Drew Barrymore Show, Reilly revealed that Beth’s distinctive accent wasn’t entirely her own creation. In fact, she admitted that she drew inspiration from none other than Kevin Costner, who plays patriarch John Dutton on the show.
Though Reilly didn’t directly mimic Costner’s voice, she noted that his deepened tone for John helped shape the vocal identity of Beth. Her character’s gravelly register, Reilly explained, was also influenced by Beth’s smoking habit and frequent drinking. “She’s educated, she’s from a very wealthy side of the family,” Reilly said. “For Beth, it was all about the voice… I listened to Kevin a lot, because he really deepened his voice for John Dutton. So I just stole it — I copied him.”
Reilly also praised her dialogue coach for helping refine Beth’s sound. But why such a focus on voice and accent? Because Reilly isn’t American — she’s British. She explained to Barrymore that she leans on dialect coaches when portraying American characters. Early in her career, she appeared in UK-based dramas such as Bramwell, The Ruth Rendell Mysteries, and Wonderful You, where she used her natural British accent.
Her breakout in film came with 2005’s Pride & Prejudice, playing the posh and proper Caroline Bingley. From there, Reilly began taking on roles that required American accents, eventually adding Southern, Western, and even Mid-Atlantic dialects to her skillset.
Although she occasionally slips into her native British tones for certain roles, Reilly has clearly mastered the American drawl — especially Beth’s bold and biting delivery. Whether she’s influenced by co-stars like Costner or guided by coaches behind the scenes, there’s no denying Reilly brings Beth Dutton to life with fierce authenticity.
