When Taylor Sheridan is creating any of his comprehensive worlds, he is known for being very detailed, down to every inconsequential character. Those who have worked with him in the past have opened up about how the director usually plans out the entire story of a project, focusing on every single character and all of their actions and motivations.
Teonna Rainwater’s character in 1923 is the perfect example of how great of a writer Sheridan really is. However, it is important to remember how dark he can get with his story. During 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 Did Not Hold Back With Teonna’s Story
Teonna Rainwater’s story in the Yellowstone spinoff, 1923 can be especially triggering for many. It follows a young woman who was stolen from her family and forced to spend her days in a Catholic boarding school; a place where she is constantly schooled, beaten up, and even assaulted for the sake of it.
She was abused throughout her stay there, and every time she tried to fight back or stand up for herself, she was pushed back down, and things became a lot worse for her.
While watching her story was disturbing on its own, it is difficult to imagine what it must have been like for Aminah Nieves to have played the character. While speaking with The Vulture, the actress revealed that she was pushed by her mother to pursue the role and honor those who have fought before her.
I was like, Aw, man, this is a tough one. I was nervous and a little scared to tackle it. My mom was there every step of the way, and she was like, ‘Aminah, you have to do it. It’s for us!’
While this helped her through the filming process, it would seem that the premiere of the series was especially difficult for her, and her father. During the interview, she also mentioned that her father was extremely triggered when he was watching his daughter in the series.
Aminah Nieves’s Father Was Seriously Triggered
Aminah Nieves revealed that even though she was motivated by her mother to push through and represent Teonna in the best ways possible, the process was not easy in any way. She specifically talked about the premiere of 1923, revealing that her father found it very difficult to sit through the premiere and watch her daughter go through such horrible things.
So much so, that he physically could not stay in the theater during that scene. Nieves had to escort her father outside and try to calm him down. The actress even revealed that her father started crying because of how dark the scenes were.
For my dad, it was really, really hard for him to sit in the premiere. I actually had to walk him out during Teonna’s scenes. We talked about it because he was crying really loud. He was very triggered.
This is not surprising considering how much Teonna goes through in the show. From being assaulted by a nun to constantly being beaten up, and even being forced to withstand an exorcism, Taylor Sheridan’s approach towards the character can certainly be a lot for many.
1923 is available for streaming on Paramount+.
