Betty Gilpin stars in a new Netflix series that’s become a global hit for the streaming service, and while that’s great to see, it’s also a harsh reminder of one of her previous shows. Gilpin has been acting since 2008, but her career break came through playing the polarizing Dr. Carrie Roman in Nurse Jackie. Gilpin’s career rose throughout the 2010s, with appearances in Elementary and Masters of Sex, before playing the soap star Debbie Eagan (a.k.a. Liberty Belle) in GLOW, one of the best TV shows on Netflix.
Since then, Gilpin has continued going from strength to strength across a range of genres, be that in horror movies such as The Hunt, or Sci-Fi shows like Mrs. Davis. Through these roles, Gilpin has established herself as a great, ever-reliable performer, who is capable of stealing the show whether she’s leading it or providing support, and she’s always fascinating to watch with an incredible range. Now she’s again standing out, as part of the cast of American Primeval, and her role is one of her darkest and most complex yet.
American Primeval Gives Betty Gilpin A Big New Role, 6 Years After GLOW
Gilpin’s GLOW and American Primeval Characters Are Similar Women In Different Predicaments
Since GLOW, Betty Gilpin has branched out, taking on some interesting new roles, like Crystal in the dark thriller The Hunt. That said, her new role is different from her previous projects, with American Primeval being described by reviewers as “unbearably bleak.” Gilpin plays Sara Rowell, who is on the run from a violent confrontation in her past and searching for a guide to help her cross the frontier. When the men pursuing Sara eventually catch up with her, the violence is extreme, with American Primeval drawing comparisons to Bone Tomahawk, the notorious horror Western.
Sara massacres the people who assault her in a scene that marks a turning point for her character.
Like GLOW, American Primeval is based on a true story, though neither Sara nor Liberty Belle were directly based on real people. Sara and Debbie are similar women, both pursuing a new future, but in very different predicaments and historical periods. GLOW‘s Debbie is trying to escape the 1980s “casting couch” culture by becoming a producer, while Sara is escaping her pursuers. Both are persistent, though Debbie only has to take extreme lengths in business, stealing a deal from her boyfriend, while Sara massacres the people who assault her in a scene that marks a turning point for her character.
Why Was GLOW Season 4 Canceled?
GLOW Season 4 May Be More Welcome Than American Primeval Season 2
Despite overwhelmingly positive reviews and a 93% Rotten Tomatoes score, GLOW was canceled after three seasons despite being renewed for season 4 in August 2019. Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic affected the future of GLOW, with Netflix changing their minds about the show in October 2020, at the height of the pandemic. For a series about wrestlers who would have had to work in close proximity, safe filming would have been a challenge. Gilpin told the Happy Sad Confused podcast, “I was super sad we didn’t get to finish out season 4. Maybe someday something will happen.”
Netflix’s new Western series with a 62% Rotten Tomatoes score has become a global streaming success shortly after releasing on January 9.
Unlike the cliffhanger ending of GLOW season 3, the ending of American Primeval shows Sara escaping to California after Isaac sacrifices himself to save her and Devin. With the two most compelling characters dead or setting out on a less brutal path, American Primeval seems to have come to a natural conclusion. Netflix has not yet confirmed a season 2, which may be for the best. Having seen the range Betty Gilpin is capable of, a better option might be to bring back GLOW for season 4 rather than resurrecting American Primeval when so many of its characters are dead.
American Primeval & GLOW Both Prove How Great Betty Gilpin Is
The Actress Is Arguably The Best Part Of Both Netflix Shows
Gilpin’s performance in American Primeval is one of the show’s biggest triumphs, and a huge reason to invest in the series. Making Sara land as a character is essential to everything else around it, because ultimately it’s her bid for survival (alongside her son, Devin) that is the emotional core of the story. It’s a notably restrained performance from Gilpin, unlike the showier aspects of Liberty Belle, because it’s one that requires her to be a steely presence.
Several other movies and shows capture similar Western and violent horror elements of Netflix’s epic period Western series American Primeval.
She’s a survivor who’ll stay strong for herself and her son, but is also capable of sparking into a furious rage when called into action, and Gilpin nails that balance perfectly. She also develops great chemistry with Taylor Kitsch, and some smaller moments between them provide the series with a lot of its heart and humor.
Whether it’s the Wild West or the wild world of wrestling, Gilpin proves she deserves to be a star.
GLOW‘s Debbie may be a world and over 100 years away from Sara, but some of those same aspects can be seen in Gilpin’s performance. Across the show’s three seasons, she turned Debbie into its best character thanks to her emotional range and vulnerability, while also being incredibly funny and forming a great pairing with Alison Brie. Whether it’s the Wild West or the wild world of wrestling, Gilpin proves she deserves to be a star.
Betty Gilpin’s Next Netflix Show Will Continue Her Great Trend
Gilpin Will Star In The Next Series From Game Of Thrones’ Creators
Gilpin has now shone in multiple Netflix shows, and that’s going to continue with her next series on the streamer, Death by Lightning. Created by Mike Makowsky and executive produced by Game of Thrones showrunners David Benioff and D.B. Weiss as part of their overall deal with Netflix, the miniseries will be a different sort of historical drama compared to American Primeval, charting the presidency of James A. Garfield up to his assassination.
| Betty Gilpin’s Upcoming TV Shows | ||
|---|---|---|
| Title | Year | Status |
| Hal & Harper | 2025 | Completed; premiering at Sundance 2025 |
| Death by Lightning | TBA | In post-production |
This time, Gilpin will be playing a real-life character, appearing as Lucretia Garfield, the wife of President Garfield and First Lady of the United States. This should be another opportunity for a nuanced, emotional role that further shows Gilpin’s range, and while she isn’t the lead this time out, it wouldn’t be a surprise if she stole the show. Besides that, Betty Gilpin is also appearing in Hal & Harper, one of the shows premiering at Sundance 2025, and hopefully there will be more chances to build on her success in GLOW and American Primeval.
