Faith Hill

Faith Hill is a country singer and actor who plays Margaret Dutton in 1883. She stars opposite her husband, Tim McGraw, with Isabel May playing their daughter Elsa. Hill's earlier film work includes The Stepford Wives and Dixieland; she also appears as Margaret in Yellowstone.

What I like about her performance in 1883 is its directness. Margaret is dealing with work, children and uncertainty, often at the same time. Hill gives that attention a force of its own. She can make a short response sound like the end of an argument without turning the character into a permanent source of disapproval.

The warmth matters too. Margaret's concern for her family is visible even when her way of expressing it is firm. Her exchanges with Elsa have the friction of a daughter wanting more freedom and a mother who can see the risks rather clearly.

It is a convincing contribution to a very strong ensemble. Read my 1883 review for the wider view of the family's journey.