AMANDA JAROS — A BOOK OF MAGAZINE

Actress, writer, anti-trafficking advocate AMANDA JAROS stars as “Alina” in Paramount +’s “1883,” prequel to the network’s successful “Yellowstone” series. JAROS will also be seen in the recurring role of ‘Juanita Milam’ in ABC’s “Women of the Movement.

Tell us a bit about yourself.

I’m an actor, screenwriter, anti-trafficking advocate, and dog lover.

Tell us more about your character Alina on Paramount+’s “1883” and Juanita Milam on “Women of Movement”. What drew you to this role?

I play Alina on Paramount+’s 1883 and Juanita Milam on Women of the Movement (ABC/Hulu).

I knew Taylor Sheridan had an impressive body of work and I wanted to work in 1883 as soon as I had heard about the show. I like Alina because she’s witty, she knows how to negotiate a fair trade, has strong survival instincts, and is committed to the journey, come what may. She’s a small-but-mighty character in the series.

I worked on Women of the Movement a few months before 1883 started filming. Juanita Milam was an interesting character to play, because historical footage shows she was madly in love with her husband even after he committed murder. As for the script, I felt her strength Episodes 4 & 5, but she softens after she hears the brutal testimonies of what happened to Emmett Till. . . by the finale, she feels much weaker than she started. Playing up her southern charm in a low-class, cotton-picking town also seemed like an interesting dichotomy to me.

How would you describe the shows you’re in?

1883 is an epic adventure that follows the heritage story of the well-known Dutton family (Yellowstone) as they join a number of immigrants and cowboys, and set out together via wagon train with hopes to discover a better future for themselves in Oregon.

Meanwhile, Women of the Movement explores the true story of Emmett Till who was murdered after visiting his uncle in Mississippi in the summer of 1955. The series is told from the perspective of his mother, Mamie Till-Mobley, who travels south to fight for a fair trial and eventually sparks the civil rights movement. This series is an utterly moving re-telling of history.

What’s the most challenging part of doing these roles?

Two of the biggest challenges in 1883 were: 1. The weather, and 2. Doing my own stunts. Once the wagon train was “on the road,” we worked outside almost 100% of the time. That meant we were working in 100°+ heat in the summer and below 36° cold in the winter. . . but it was even trickier when we had to wear our summer clothing in the bitter temperatures and act as if it was warm outside. As for doing my own stunts, many of those are coming up in future episodes. I’ll say one of my toughest days was a windy day. Running uphill. . . against a strong wind. . . for about a mile at a time. . . in four layers. . . zaps the energy out of you quickly, haha.

For Women of the Movement, it was the opposite; I had all indoor scenes that required me to sit and listen to weeks of gruesome testimonies (amazing performances by each of those actors). One of the many impactful things about this show were the speeches that were transcribed directly from the historical court transcripts; everything felt very raw and real.

How did you rise above these challenges?

With 1883, I was grateful for a wardrobe team that equipped me with a dive jacket between takes. And our locations department provided heaters (or warming vans when the winds were too high). As for that specifically rough, windy day, I had to stay hydrated, take breaks when I could, and production assistants helped coordinate an all-terrain vehicle to reset me (so I wouldn’t waste my energy walking back for the next shot).

In Women of the Movement, I stayed in the mindset that Juanita’s biggest concern was her husband’s well-being. In the beginning, she felt confident that her husband would be found innocent, but as more details were revealed, she felt more nervous, uncomfortable and sad that her husband was directly involved with Emmett’s death. I like to think she also grew sympathy for Mamie, because she realized that Mamie lost her only child.

What’s the proudest moment of your career so far?

I’ve had a series of smaller moments when I’ve felt accomplished; like when I booked the job that got me into the actor’s union, or when I finished my first feature-length screenplay (even though I’ve since become a much better screenwriter). . . and it’s a truthful paradox to say I’m both incredibly proud and humble to be in 1883 and Women of the Movement. But I really believe the proudest moments of my career are yet to come.

What inspires you?

The redemption story. And love. The world would be a better place if we all had unconditional love for one another.

What scares you?

I have a weird fear of rip currents and sharks; the combination of the two is why I don’t swim too far out from the ocean’s beach. I’ve always had a desire to learn scuba-diving, but I’ve been too scared to do it.

Guilty pleasure?

Watching The Bachelorette + wine + dessert with my friends. I haven’t done that in ages (due to the pandemic and working out of state), but I miss those nights with the girls.

Name your top 5 favorite films of all time

There’s too many! Here are the ones that come to mind right now:

The Godfather

Lord of the Rings (I’m counting the trilogy as one movie)

Amelie

Shawshank Redemption

Pride & Prejudice

Last song that got stuck in your head

“River” by Leon Bridges.

What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?

One of the best pieces of advice I received during one of the toughest times of my life so far was “Courage isn’t the absence of fear, but the ability to walk through it.”

What’s your ultimate goal?

To die knowing I fulfilled my purpose. Telling powerful stories that have an impact on the world and helping people are parts of that.

What are your dream projects?

It would be a dream to live in a world created by J.R.R. Tolkien; he’s painted such beautiful realms in his novels. Aside from that, I absolutely love playing distinctive characters in period pieces.

Is there a skill / talent that a lot of people don’t know about you?

I’m a master at ventriloquism, haha. But seriously. I learned it as a kid and even competed in an international competition where I won second place. And thanks to cowboy camp at 1883, I now know how to herd and rope cattle!