10 Things about Denim Richards
When did you first get into the business and what initially motivated you to do so?
My first opportunity to be a performer came at age 5, when I sang in front of several hundred people in an annual assembly. I remember singing this solo and seeing all of the smiles on the faces of the parents and young adults. And, I just knew at that moment, that I wanted to be a performer! And, that’s really what kicked my hunger off to be a part of this entertainment industry.
Which actors body of work has had a profound effect on your career and which ones would you love the opportunity to work with, if given the chance?
There have been several artists that have had a great impact on me as an artist… To name a few, I would say Denzel Washington, Cuba Gooding Jr., Sidney Poitier, and Obba Babatundé just to name a few! And, all of them do such an amazing job at fully embodying the characters that they are representing. They do so much with these characters by being very real and you never catch them “acting”. So, my goal was to always take bits and pieces from their performances and use them when I perform. And, eventually, it just kind of turns into your own style of acting which I really enjoy. But, a lot of the roots and my base come from these phenomenal artist!
You have an extensive background with musical theater. How has this benefitted you with the film and television you’re now doing?
Well, the great thing about musical theater, was that I always had an opportunity to change my performance night to night & it taught me how to memorize the entire show. Not only my lines but my counterparts lines! But, it was also very beneficial because it made me very quick on my feet. Because, of course, you’re in front of a live audience, and so I think that going into television and film it really made me less nervous & anxious. Mainly because I was used to people watching me perform. And, even though in musical theater you change your performance on a night to night basis, for television/film, you hone that part in and change your performance from take to take.
Currently, you’re on Paramount’s Yellowstone. How did you first get connected to the project and what was it about the script that made you excited to jump on board?
I first got introduced to “Yellowstone” because I was doing a film in entitled “Chickasaw Rancher” and one of the co-stars on the film, Tommy Flanagan, had informed me that his friends were doing this brand new series and that it’s about cowboys. And, it just so happened that the film that we were doing at the time was about cowboys, and he said you definitely need to call your team and see if you can get an audition! When I brought it up to my team, there wasn’t an any real information on the project at the time, save for the fact that Kevin Costner had signed on to be an executive producer! But, nonetheless, they kept digging and digging and I was able to get an audition. Then, in the producer session, Taylor Sheridan, who is the creator and writer of the show told me more about the project and what my character would be doing throughout the seasons. Granted, this was also my first opportunity to ever be a part of a series from its inception and so for every actor, it’s a real blessing. The script and everything was kind of a relevant to me because it was Taylor Sheridan and Kevin Costner on a new show. So, once they offered me the role, I jumped at it with no hesitation!
On the show, you play the role of Colby. What can you tell us about his personality and what you enjoy most about bringing his character to life?
I have such a fun time playing Colby! He is very laid-back and go with the flow vibe, which I have to say is probably a lot like my personality in real life. Colby gets to make jokes and doesn’t have to be super serious all the time, which in real life I think most would say I’m pretty serious lol. But, Colby also has a great working relationship with all of the men/women on the Yellowstone ranch! And, I really enjoy that aspect of being able to play him because you really get to be a part of a community of other great artists. So, there’s always an opportunity to be learning but also because we spent so much time with one another outside of set, when it comes time to being on camera we really know how to bring out the best in one another.
You get to play opposite Kevin Costner. What has been your experience working with him and helping make this show what it is?
Well, Kevin Costner is a Hollywood legend! I remember watching his movies growing up and I never imagined a world in which I would ever get the opportunity to be on camera with him! So, being a part of this project has been such a great learning experience & Kevin is such a giving actor. He really wants to work with you to make scenes better, etc. He’s taught me so much. One of the most amazing things about him is that he’s been in this business at the top for four decades and he still has this tremendous attention to detail. And, I think that, that’s something that every artist can truly learn from because, you never want to take the opportunities for granted. You also want to make sure that you are doing justice to the character as well as to the writer that created the character! So, as I always say, I feel like being a part of this show, I have gained 20 years of acting experience just by being around such phenomenal artists.
What can viewers and fans of the show expect to see from Colby and the rest of cast on this third season?
This third season of Yellowstone is really different from seasons one and two! And, I say that, because in the first couple of seasons there was so much action and suspense. Don’t get me wrong, the third season has plenty of action and suspense. But, Taylor also did an amazing job and really allowing the audience to get more emotionally connected to the characters. So, I think one of the great things that people are really going to appreciate in this third season, is how they get to really see these characters go through these deep emotional dives together. As well as individually, which I think as a show brings so much more reality to it. I think the audience is really going to respect that! But, I also believe that when bad or sad things happen to the characters, they really feel connected to them! And, Colby has a love interest this season. Teeter, played by Jennifer Landon. She really comes into the bunkhouse and is a complete fire cracker! I think that the audience is going to have a phenomenal time at watching Colby navigate this relationship with this dynamite of a character Teeter!
If you weren’t working as an actor in the business, what other career path could you see yourself doing?
My first answer to that question would be a jazz vocalist! But, I guess that still has to do with the entertainment industry LOL. I’m sure I would have pursued being a coach either for football or basketball! I still love those sports and I’ve learned so much from them. Every now and then, when the NFL comes on, I’m always like “I could be a defensive coordinator”. It’s also another creative outlet and you get to do it in a community of like-minded individuals, which is a win-win.
When it comes to fashion, which designers and styles appeal most to your personality?
I used to rock a ton of Kenneth Cole lines. I especially liked the way he tailored his suits. But now, I’ve kind of gotten to the point where I am really supporting up-and-coming designers and I really enjoy that! There are so many phenomenal designers out there that are relatively unknown, and so I think that any time I can use my platform to promote talented individuals, it’s a beautiful thing!
We look forward to seeing more of your work on Yellowstone. What other projects do you have coming up in the near future?
Currently, the film that I directed, produced, and co-wrote “The Zoo” is currently making its rounds in the film festival world! So, I’m looking forward to seeing that to its completion. And, we are pitching the limited series as well as the film version of that project. So, as it begins to make its rounds, people will definitely be able to find it online! And there’s a couple other features that will be coming down the pipeline that we will be making announcements about very soon. So, there’s a lot of really awesome projects coming up and I’m blessed to have the opportunity to be a part of them. Definitely stay tuned.
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Photos: Diana Ragland