Actress Jeanne Tripplehorn, known for her roles in Basic Instinct, Sliding Doors, Big Love, and The Terminal List, recently shared her profound connection to filming the FX drama The Lowdown in her hometown of Tulsa, Oklahoma. The series, created by Sterlin Harjo, centers on Lee Raybon (Ethan Hawke), a self-proclaimed “truthstorian” dedicated to exposing the powerful Washberg family.
In The Lowdown, Tripplehorn portrays Betty Jo Washberg, whose husband, Dale (Tim Blake Nelson), is suspected of suicide following an exposé by Lee. Betty Jo is also revealed to be having an affair with Dale’s brother, Donald, played by Kyle MacLachlan. Tripplehorn expressed her immediate willingness to return to her roots, recounting a quick conversation with creator Sterlin Harjo where he asked if she was ready to come home, to which she enthusiastically agreed.
The experience of filming in Tulsa was deeply meaningful for Tripplehorn, as she had not been back to her hometown for approximately five years. Harjo highlighted Tripplehorn’s humble reception in Tulsa, describing her as “Tulsa royalty” and noting the widespread excitement for her return to film the show. Tripplehorn felt a sense of belonging when locals began calling her “Jeannie,” a nickname typically reserved for her family, signifying her new found connection with the show’s cast and crew, whom she now considers her family.
Growing up in Tulsa, Tripplehorn was influenced by her musician father and his creative circle, and she herself participated in local theater and worked as a radio DJ. This upbringing provided her with firsthand insight into the vibrant and eclectic arts community that Tulsa boasts. She stated that Tulsa’s rich local talent and productions inspired her and fostered the belief that she could pursue a professional career doing what she loved.
The complexity of her character, Betty Jo, also attracted Tripplehorn to The Lowdown. Describing Betty Jo as a survivor from a small Oklahoma town, Tripplehorn noted her past as a rodeo queen and a “hellcat” with a strong will to protect her daughter at all costs. As part of the Washberg family’s “black sheep,” Betty Jo is characterized by her resilience and lack of sentimentality, driven by a fundamental need to survive.
The Lowdown airs on Tuesday nights on FX.
References
- UPI. (2025, September 30). Jeanne Tripplehorn reflects on filming “The Lowdown” in her native Tulsa. UPI.