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Yellowstonefame Kelly Reilly was paired opposite Denzel Washington in Robert Zemeckis’ drama filmFlight. In the film, Reilly played a heroin addict Nicole Maggen, while Washington played the role of pilot Whip Whitaker, an alcoholic. The intense film was a challenging experience for Reilly, who had to screen test opposite Washington to get the role.
She recalled being frightened of messing up the role, with a legendary actor playing alongside her. However, she managed to capture the right emotions to play the tough role of an addict.Flightwas a critical and commercial success and earned an Oscar nomination for Best Actor for Washington.
Kelly Reilly Was Nervous About Her Role In Critically Acclaimed Film Opposite Denzel Washington
WhenKelly Reillywent to audition for the role inRobert Zemeckis‘Flight, she was obviously nervous. She has been acting since the early 2000s, with roles inPride & Prejudiceand Robert Downey Jr.’sSherlock Holmes. She hated auditioning for roles and was especially nervous to read her lines alongsideDenzel Washington.
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During an interview with IndieWire, she shared her experience of acting alongside Washington. She shared that she was terrified to meet the actor but when she met with him, they started talking about the script and their parts in it. She eventually got more comfortable with the acting legend once they started reading their lines for a screen test. She shared withIndieWire:
I didn’t even know if I was reading when I met Denzel. They said, “He may read with you, he may not read with you,” and I was like, “Alright.” I just went in, I was terrified — but at the same time, I’m not twenty years old anymore; I said, “Alright, I’m here. I haven’t got anything to lose. If I don’t get it, this is an amazing experience.”
I met Denzel; he was obviously charming and incredibly intelligent, and we started talking about the script and the parts. He eventually said, “Okay, let’s read.” And so we started to read…
When she walked out of the audition, she was not sure whether she landed the job but she was immensely satisfied with the experience. She was offered the role and Reilly shared that her role was challenging. She further shared her movie experience, playing the role of acharacter darker thanYellowstone‘s Beth Dutton.
Kelly Reilly Was Not Scared To Play The Dark Character Nicole Maggen
Fans have seen Kelly Reilly in a really messed up state as Beth Dutton, but it appears that the role ofBeth was a cakewalkcompared to Nicole. However, all the dark places of her character did not bother Reilly. She revealed that she was more scared that she wouldn’t be able to do the character justice.
‘Yellowstone’ Star Kelly Reilly’s Forgotten Role in an Oscar-nominated Film Proves Why She’s the Perfect Casting For a Complicated Character Like Beth Dutton
She shared that she had the added pressure of working with Denzel Washington. Reilly had a larger audience watching her in this film due to the legend’s involvement. She also wanted to play the character responsibly, as it was easier to fall into stereotypes with such characters. She shared with IndieWire:
I wasn’t scared because of the dark places, I was more scared that I wouldn’t be able to get it right. I think that every actor just wants to honor a character, and be true to it — and to not f*ck up, really.
The pressure, for me, was also who I was working with; suddenly, the audience was going to be a bit bigger, for me, and I really wanted to just stick to what I felt and how I visioned this character. I also felt a slight responsibility playing a heroin addict, since it’s a role that’s filled with such stereotypes.
Kelly Reilly’s film received positive reviews and grossed $161.8 million at the box office against a production budget of $31 million (via Box Office Mojo). Reilly will return to screens for the final part ofYellowstone, scheduled for release on August 23, 2025.
Flightis now available for streaming on Max.
Hashim Asraff
Senior Writer
Articles Published :3018
Hashim Asraff is a Senior Entertainment Writer at FandomWire, with over 2,800 articles published on celebrity culture, comic book movies, and major TV franchises. With a background in Sociology and a keen interest in pop culture, Hashim brings a unique lens to breaking news stories, character deep-dives, film rankings, and fan-driven perspectives.His coverage often includes the MCU, DCU, hit network shows, and celebrity profiles, giving readers a rich blend of entertainment and analysis. A longtime fan of crime and investigative series, Hashim has watched thousands of episodes of NCIS, Criminal Minds, Law & Order: SVU, Bones, Blue Bloods, and The RookieA passionate storyteller and wordsmith, Hashim has also worked as a ghostwriter and managed multiple social media handles. He brought his writing expertise to FandomWire to also pursue his lifelong love for cinema and television.
