Long before Annette Bening became the commanding Beulah Jackson on Dutton Ranch, there was one challenge she never expected to face: horses.

Although the Oscar-nominated actress looks completely at home riding across Texas ranchland in Paramount+’s hit drama, Bening recently revealed that stepping into the saddle was one of the most intimidating parts of preparing for the role.

Speaking with PEOPLE at the Dutton Ranch premiere, the 68-year-old actress admitted she wasn’t naturally comfortable around horses when production began.

“I’m a little bit intimidated by horses,” Bening confessed.

Considering that Beulah Jackson spends much of the series overseeing the sprawling 10 Petal Ranch on horseback, overcoming that fear quickly became essential.

Fortunately, Bening had help from one of the production’s most experienced teams.

She explained that the show’s wranglers—responsible for caring for the horses and cattle throughout filming—worked closely with her before cameras started rolling. Instead of simply teaching her how to ride for specific scenes, they took her out on real trail rides to help her build confidence.

“I took some wonderful lessons,” Bening said. “I was taken out by the wranglers—we have an amazing group of wranglers on our show who take care of all the horses and the cows—and they took me out riding.”

Those sessions proved invaluable.

According to Bening, the hands-on experience gradually helped replace anxiety with genuine enjoyment.

“The lessons really helped me enormously,” she said. “I loved it, and I also just enjoyed it personally.”

That commitment to authenticity extended far beyond horseback riding.

Rather than relying solely on scripts and coaching, Bening immersed herself in the culture of Texas ranch life. She spent time meeting women who actually manage working ranches, hoping to understand the responsibilities, resilience, and leadership required to thrive in that environment.

One of the most meaningful stops during her research was the National Cowgirl Museum in Fort Worth.

The museum chronicles the history of women who helped shape the American West, providing Bening with valuable insight into the world that inspired Beulah Jackson.

“I went to the Cowgirl Museum, which is this amazing museum in Fort Worth that is really an in-depth history of women of the West,” she explained. “The history of that area is amazing.”

Beyond historical research, Bening also focused heavily on Beulah’s voice and mannerisms. She listened carefully to local residents in order to capture an authentic Texas accent while studying how real ranch owners carried themselves.

For Bening, however, the physical transformation was only part of the challenge.

Her primary goal was understanding who Beulah truly was beneath her intimidating exterior.

“My biggest priority was the inner world of this woman,” she explained, adding that she wanted to portray Beulah as “as real and as complex as possible.”

That layered performance has become one of the defining elements of Dutton Ranch. Throughout the first season, Beulah has emerged as both a ruthless businesswoman and a deeply conflicted family matriarch whose decisions continue to divide the Jackson family.

Bening summed her character up simply:

“She is a boss woman.”

Another aspect of the role that Bening especially enjoyed was building Beulah’s electric rivalry with Kelly Reilly’s Beth Dutton.

Although the two women clash almost immediately after meeting, Bening believes their relationship is driven by something deeper than simple hostility.

According to the actress, Beulah respects Beth’s fearlessness and independence, even as they battle for control.

“There’s a kind of mutual attraction and a mutual intrigue, let’s say, between these two women,” Bening explained. “But that’s the fun of it. It’s just really a joy to have that dynamic going on.”

Their tense relationship has become one of Season 1’s biggest highlights, with every encounter between Beulah and Beth carrying equal parts admiration, rivalry, and psychological warfare.

As Dutton Ranch heads toward its highly anticipated Season 1 finale on July 3, Bening’s dedication to the role has become increasingly evident. From conquering a lifelong fear of horses to immersing herself in ranch culture and the history of the American West, she transformed herself into one of the series’ most memorable characters.

Watching Beulah confidently ride across 10 Petal Ranch, few viewers would ever guess that the actress behind the performance once admitted she was intimidated simply by getting into the saddle.