I promised myself I wouldn't open this feature by comparing Ali Larter to one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. Then I found myself face-to-face with her in Whitefish, Montana, where Gold Bond had brought me to talk about her new campaign for the drugstore body-care brand—and there she was in suede hot shorts and cowboy boots, radiating a head-to-toe glow that made the comparison feel less hyperbolic than factual. Sue me.
At 50, Larter has spent more than two decades collecting the kind of roles that remain iconic until the next one comes along: Clear Rivers in Final Destination, Brooke Windham in Legally Blonde, Niki Sanders in Heroes, Claire Redfield in the Resident Evil franchise. Her latest may be her best: playing Angela Norris, the sharp-tongued, gloriously combustible on-again ex-wife of oilman Tommy Norris on Paramont +’s Landman. Angela is all bombshell hair and full glam. The woman in front of me in Montana was sun-kissed and barely made up—and every bit the knockout.
The fictional Texan brings more chaos to the screen than calm, but off camera, Larter keeps things quiet. In 2020, she moved to Sun Valley, Idaho—a secluded ski town—with her husband, actor Hayes MacArthur, and their two children, Theodore and Vivienne, trading Hollywood's version of wild for the real thing, (albeit with fewer paparazzi).
Not that she's gone full recluse. With Season 3 of Landman on the horizon, Larter is deep in her latest chapter: 50 and busier than ever, training for very-future-grandkid-tossing duty and loyal to a hand cream that costs less than a latte. Ahead, in an exclusive interview celebrating her new Gold Bond partnership, Larter talks the Scented Hand Cream ($5) and Hydrating Gel Cream ($12) anchoring her body-care routine, the makeup trick she stole from the pros and why she refuses to put a number on aging.
Congratulations on your partnership with Gold Bond! What specifically drew you to the new products?
"Gold Bond's been in our house for generations. When they came to me and said, we're going to launch scented body creams at the Under the Big Sky Festival in Montana, I was excited to be part of it. I live in Idaho, so I know what it's like to live in a very dry climate where your skin just needs that moisture.
They sent me a bunch of them. In the morning, I was using the Cherry Crush Gel Cream ($12)—just a couple pumps, it goes in nicely and I'm on my way for the day. I also like that it's an accessible brand that you can find easily, [with] high-quality ingredients. That was a big thing for me."
Is Cherry Crush your favorite scent so far?
"It is, but I also like the Cedar Rain Hand Cream ($5), which I have on, because I like when things are musky. I always want a little patchouli or a little musk, something that gives it that earthy kind of smell.”
Some people are really into elaborate hand-care routines right now. Are you a fan, or are you more of a one-and-done person?
"I just went through my cabinet as I was packing, and I ordered [moisturizing gloves]... they're still sitting there. So I'm not there yet. I see people doing lasers and all that kind of stuff—kudos to you if you're taking care of your hands. But there's a certain level where things become a little bit too much, where it's dominating your life and it becomes about vanity, and that starts to make me feel uncomfortable. I'm someone who's about balance—taking care of yourself but also living like a real person."
You look the same as you did in Heroes. What’s your secret?
"I don't think there's any secret. It's hard work. But a big thing for me is I eat healthier than I ever have, just because it makes me feel good. When I'm down on set and I just have my work refrigerator, it's much easier than when I'm home with the kids making the chicken nuggets, the chicken ramen—we love all of that stuff, chili crunch on everything.
Obviously I work out, and that's changed as I've gotten older too. I think the biggest thing is that it's not how long you do it, it's just that you need to do it.”
Do you have a favorite workout, or do you dabble?
"I'm super into strength training right now. I'm big on 45-minute weight training at least twice a week, sometimes three times a week."
What do you think people get wrong about aging?
"I think people have put a number on what aging is. I just do not believe that. When you talk about even exercising or anything now—if I don't want to do it, I go, 'Oh my gosh, I want to be throwing my grandchildren up in the air in 30 years.' I want to be able to do that. So I think it's about flipping the switch on something that you don't enjoy that you know is healthy for your body—and then once you feel the benefits of it, it's something that you will stick with for a lifetime."
Is there a beauty trend that's come back that you're excited to see?
"Someone posted the headband that's like the comb, and my daughter brought one home like two weeks ago. I put it on our family chat, and it was like the coolest nostalgia—I think I wore it on Dawson's Creek. I was like, ‘I was cool, honey. You're wearing a style that I started.’”
Are you ever so inspired by your character’s makeup that you incorporate elements of it into your own routine?
"A little bit, yeah. I stole the Dior palette, which I really love. I've also always been into a poppy cheek, so now I like my blush super high, which never used to be like that. One sneaky little product is the Palladio [Under-Eye Brightener] ($13) that Kelsey [Deenihan] taught me about—it's a pink under-eye that [balances] right here, for under-eye circles and puffiness. I have like five of them everywhere. I also can't live without an eyelash curler.”
What else is in your makeup bag?
"I love Patrick Ta blush, and I love Saie cream blush—Saie Beauty is doing an amazing job. I also always go back to Charlotte Tilbury when it comes to lip stuff—it just works. And Victoria Beckham—her liners are so good."
Landman has some intense, sweaty scenes. How do you approach your skin and makeup on those long filming days?
"I always take off my under-eyes at lunch and put on an eye mask. We usually get 30 minutes: I will scarf down lunch, then I put on my eye mask and try to meditate for 20 minutes to start again.
I don't like powder, so it's usually my makeup artist fighting to put powder on me and I'm saying no—I just would prefer to look shiny. For longer days, if I am really sweaty—usually we're sweaty because it's Texas—they do a lot of blotting papers."
You’ve worked with top makeup artists for decades. Is there one technique they’ve taught you that has really stuck?
"The way that they blend—I don't really take the time that they take to really push it into my skin, and I do that more now. I don't use brushes a lot; I really use my hands to push in around my eyes.”
Do you find your time in the makeup chair meditative?
"I do. I zone out, catch up with them or FaceTime my daughter most of the time. She wants to see the tips and the tricks."
Do you have any go-to rituals that help you reset?
"I love to read, and I've always loved to cook. I'm really into the new Ninja Creami Soft Serve ($350) right now—we've been making that a lot in our house. The kids get the real deal, and mine's almond milk and peanut butter, or a little Nutella—then we do jimmies and toppings. I like to sit and watch three hours of television when I'm exhausted and just kind of munch."
What are you watching right now?
"I'm actually watching DCC [America's Sweethearts]. I don't watch a lot of reality television, but I watched this one with my daughter, because it's one that you can watch [together]. She turned on Love Island the other day and I was jumping in front of the television.”
Who’s your favorite DCC, past or present?
“Reece [Weaver]—she's amazing because she's authentic."
Since we’re at the Under the Big Sky Music Festival, who are you most excited to see?
"Oh, Chris Stapleton. I'm so excited. He's just the best. His music has taken me through so many different times in my life, and his lyrics are moving and grounded.”
Any other fun plans while you’re in Montana?
"No more fun plans here—just going back to work. It's going to be a grind. We're going to be working and promoting, and once September comes, it's going to be a busy six months. I'm just trying to enjoy my time with my family."
What are you most excited about as you prepare to film Season 3 of Landman?
"I'm just excited to see the cast again and to be back down with our director, Stephen Kay. We're really close with the crew, too—Friday nights, we're kind of all out together. Everyone that Taylor [Sheridan] hires, there's just that je ne sais quoi—they're really cool, authentic people. They have integrity, they show up for work. Nobody's scared of hard work on our sets.
You get those personality types together and there's some kind of connective tissue between everyone—it's just really inspiring to be in that environment. We have so many women on our crew, and our female camera operators are the best. They're so badass. I’m excited to be back.”
