A TV Marriage More Than 30 Years in the Making

Helen Mirren and Harrison Ford are back together again onscreenin the Yellowstone prequel 1923

- By Jamie Burton

Helen Mirren's and Harrison Ford's performances as a married couple in 1923 look convincing because they've had a long time to work on it.

That's according to Mirren, who spoke to Newsweek about the launch of the highly anticipated Yellowstone prequel series. The show, which debuted December 18, on Paramount+, is executive producer Taylor Sheridan's latest addition to his popular Yellowstone universe, which follows the Dutton family story after the events of 1883, the previous prequel series.

Mirren stars as Cara Dutton and Ford is Jacob Dutton, the owners of Montana's Yellowstone ranch in the early 20th century. When announced, the casting marked a surprising reunion for the pair, who had previously worked together in the 1980s.

Mirren was asked what work she and Ford put in behind the scenes to inform their relationship as a married couple in 1923.

"That's really interesting you ask that because basically the answer is nothing," Mirren tells Newsweek. "The work we had put in, in a sense, had been happening over the last 30 years since we last worked together, and the work we put into living life and surviving life and carrying on and getting to be the ages that we are. That was 'the work,' if you like."