1923 star understands one important thing about the Rainwater legacy in Yellowstone

1923 Season 2 star Aminah Nieves has broken down what it means to play Teonna Rainwater, and she knows the name is a big deal in the Yellowstone universe.

Forget the Duttons – one of the biggest names in Taylor Sheridan‘s cowboy universe is actually Rainwater. As John’s number one frenemy, Thomas Rainwater, the leader of the Broken Rock Reservation, serves as one of the biggest recurring characters in the show.

By the end of the flagship series, ownership of the Yellowstone land has returned back to the Reservation, and Rainwater plays a huge part in that exchange. And in 1923, we get to know one of his ancestors, Teonna Rainwater.

Teonna spends the first season of the prequel series breaking out of an abusive American Indian boarding school. Going into Season 2, she’s on the run and securing her legacy. And cast member Aminah Nieves knows what that means to fans.

Aminah Nieves wanted to “carry strength” of the Rainwater name

One thing Yellowstone fans never fail to obsess over is legacy. Whether that’s the Dutton family tree or the ancestry of other major characters, there’s no stone unturned when it comes to questioning and examining every single relative.

That means added responsibility when it comes to Teonna, who is the ancestor of one of Yellowstone’s most important characters.

Paramount

When speaking to Dexerto ahead of 1923 Season 2, Nieves broke down exactly what that meant for her.

“Obviously I want to have that in the back of my mind,” she said, referring to the pressure of the Rainwater name. “But [Teonna’s] matriarchal, so she came before any of that. She’s gonna set the precedence for the strength that carries through.”

Speaking about the fan frenzy over the history behind the Duttons and Rainwaters in Yellowstone, she’s well aware of what it means to play such a monumental character.

“I know how strong the Rainwater name is,” she said. “It’s a spiral online. So I just always had that in the back of my mind, of ‘I just have to continue to carry our strength and honor as deeply as I can.’ And I think we did that.”

1923 Season 2 premieres on Paramount+ on February 23.

For more, check out our guide to the entire Yellowstone timeline. You can also see what the future holds with our guides to 6666 and The Madison.