Lioness’s Nicole Kidman reveals behind-the-scenes work it takes to handle Taylor Sheridan's "dense" scripts

Taylor Sheridan's spy thriller series, Lioness, is currently on its third season. The series features a star-studded cast including Zoe Saldana, Nicole Kidman, and Morgan Freeman. Released on Paramount+, the series follows a leader of a CIA team that enlists female operatives, also called Lionesses, in dangerous undercover missions.

Kidman, who plays Kaitlyn Meade, a high-ranking CIA activities officer, has opened up about the efforts that the cast put into understanding Sheridan's 'dense' scripts. Kidman shares how the language used in the series is quite technical, and they need to prepare for it before filming the scenes (via People).

"We have to understand every single thing we’re saying. And that is a huge [undertaking]. It has to come trippingly off your tongue. You have to understand everything, and it has to be [like it's] something that you are using as everyday language all the time, which obviously we're not."

Here's more about it.

Lioness Season 3: Nicole Kidman reveals a team of researchers help her to understand scripts

During Paramount's The Icons of Taylor Sheridan's Universe event on April 22, 2026, Kidman revealed that she has a team of researchers who help her to understand the scripts and the technical jargon to have a better understanding of her character /role.

Kidman further added that the fact-checking is mostly done by Sheridan. However, she prefers to do the additional preparation. Speaking to People at the April event, she compared preparing for her role in Lioness to a thesis, which includes extensive research,

"It's been incredibly exciting, because it's like suddenly doing a thesis in the CIA,"

Kidman further adds that to nail her dialogue, she and her co-stars, especially Freeman and Morgan Kelly, practice their lines together and analyse every dialogue.

While Kidman plays Kaitlyn Meade, Freeman appears as the US Secretary of State Edwin Mullins. Kelly portrays Deputy Director of Operations Byron Westfield. Saldana appears as Joe McNarmara, a CIA officer who leads the undercover team of agents.

Kidman told People that Sheridan is quite particular with the series and especially Season 3. Speaking about her experience, she said,

"It’s like, wow, it’s so topical, and you’re constantly treading in these minefields, and you’ve got to keep up, like, really keep up, because it’s really hard to follow.”

Morgan Freeman on working with Taylor Sheridan

Not just Kidman, Freeman has also shared his experience working with Sheridan. Speaking to New York Times, the 89-year-old Oscar-winning actor said that Sheridan's writing reflects human experiences and their emotions. He adds how much of his projects reflects it's, such as Yellowstone, he added,

"And here, in “Lioness,” in Joe’s [Saldaña’s character] case, for instance, he is dealing with a woman whose life is on the line very often. She has kids and a husband. She makes decisions and she has to consider these. "

Freeman further reveals that it takes courage to write such things and develop them into projects, and Sheridan seems to master it.

New episodes of Lioness Season 3 drop every Sunday on Paramount+. According to Variety, Season 3 hit 7.1 million views in the premiere week. As per Season 3's logline, Joe is torn between her professional and personal life as unseen forces make it hard for the CIA officer. While Kaitlyn and Westfield guide her, she finds herself plunged into dangerous situations.

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Also Read: Lioness Season 3 Episode 3: [SPOILER] becomes an unwitting Lioness - recap ahead

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