The female perspective – that was one of the most important things for Sienna Miller in Kevin Costner's "Horizon" project.
I saw loads of westerns when I was growing up, but I never thought about how the women had it, says Miller to TT.
"Horizon", which has been written and directed by Costner, will total four films with a combined running time of twelve hours. The plot of part one takes place before the American Civil War. This part will be released on 28 June and part two will premiere in August.
Costner has the lead role as the loner Hayes Ellison, Miller plays Francis who is left alone with one of her children after her husband has been killed. They are just two of the characters in a multifaceted story.
The woman I play is strong, resourceful and resilient, says Sienna Miller, who notes that she doesn't really know why Kevin Costner gave her the role.
I should probably ask him? When I was growing up, he was God. I had never met him before, except in my dreams – that sounds perhaps dreadful in print?
"We are so sensitive"
The women in "Horizon" are many and they are strong. Sienna Miller thought it was easy to relate to the mother role in the film – but highlights that the differences are great compared to today's conditions.
Today we are so sensitive, despite having it so easy. The women in the American wilderness in the mid-1800s had it incredibly hard and painful. I took it to heart, I hugged my daughter tightly every evening.
She thought it was difficult to do research because there isn't much written about pioneer women.
I found a female poet whose poems gave me a little insight. On the other hand, my job is to have imagination, to activate my inner thoughts.
"Very exhausting"
She received the scripts for all four films in the project at the same time and praises Costner for his effort.
When he worked on this, he was like a child in a toy shop. This project is like a living being for him. Even though we followed the script, he was always open to discussion. He is economical when he films, he doesn't do more takes than he knows he needs. It's very exhausting to work with directors who just go with "again, again, again".
Sienna Miller recently moved back to her hometown of London with her children.
New York changed in a negative way after the pandemic. Besides, I wanted to get away from Trump, she says.
Age: 42 years.
Family: Boyfriend Oli Green, two children.
Lives: In a flat in London, a 16th-century house in Buckinghamshire, England.
Occupation: Actress.
Previous roles in selection: "Layer cake", "Alfie", "Casanova", "Factory girl", "Stardust", "American sniper", "High-rise", "Bränd", "The lost city of Z", "Live by night", "Anatomy of a scandal", "Chivalry".
Currently in: "Horizon: an American saga, chapter 1" which will have its Swedish cinema premiere on 28 June.
