Fun
Frisky
Nostalgic
Intense
Adventurous
Choked Up
Curious
Romantic
Weird
The Iron River Ranch may be run by the dudes on Netflix’s The Ranch, but it’s the ladies of the popular streaming sitcom that continue to lasso in viewers. Ashton Kutcher, Danny Masterson, and Sam Elliott may receive more acclaim, but the greatest strength of the series is its cavalcade of talented female actresses. It takes a special kind of gusto, a unique disposition, and lots and lots of patience to go toe-to-toe with the Bennett boys, and Debra Winger, Elisha Cuthbert, and Kelli Goss have all that and more in spades.
The premise of the Netflix sitcom is pretty straightforward. The Ranch revolves around Colt Bennett’s (Ashton Kutcher) return to his family’s ranch in Garrison, Colorado after his career as a semi-pro football player comes to an end. While best known for its hard-drinking and raunchy language, the series isn’t afraid to tackle serious subjects like financial hardships and unexpected pregnancies with a realistic kind of depth not typically seen in a multi-camera sitcom. The contentious father/son dynamic may be at the heart of the show, but the series is at its best when it opens up and embraces its talented female ensemble.
Whether you’re still catching up on season one or have already streamed all 20 episodes, get to know the gifted array of female actresses from The Ranch!
Debra Winger
I like to think that three time Academy Award-nominee* Debra Winger isn’t just Colt and Rooster’s mom on the series, but that she also keeps Ashton Kutcher and Danny Masterson in line while shooting The Ranch. For instance, I imagine Kutcher and Masterson off in the corner trading arm punches and Winger being like, “Calm down, boys. You’re getting way too riled up.” And then the pair sheepishly respond, “Yes, ma’am,” and empty out their pockets, which would inexplicably contain spare change, buttons, and a live toad.
Basically, I like to think the set of The Ranch operates like a scene from The Little Rascals.
Winger and Elliott’s mere presence anchors The Ranch. The serious scenes shared between the two distinguished actors add some gravitas to the series while also balancing out the juvenile antics/humor of Colt and Rooster.
* Winger was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actress in 1982 (An Officer and a Gentleman), 1983 (Terms of Endearment), and 1993 (Shadowlands).
Elisha Cuthbert
First things first: RIP Happy Endings. We both miss and love you, friend.
Elisha Cuthbert is the secret weapon of The Ranch. You need comedy? Done. Drama? You got it, dude. Dramedy? Yes. Obviously. That’s just a combination of comedy and drama.
My main grievance with the first ten episodes of The Ranch was that Cuthbert’s prodigious talents were being reduced to a fairly simplistic stock ex-girlfriend character, but the second half of the season has adeptly course-corrected by imbuing Abby with personality and integrating the character into the plot. Colt and Abby’s opposites attract chemistry has been a boon to the series as the producers have finally realized that everything is better when you add a little more Cuthbert.
Aside from the aforementioned Happy Endings, Cuthbert is best known for her starring role in The Girl Next Door and scene-stealing performances in 24 and Old School.
Kathy Baker
Few thespians can hold their own against that simmering kettle of machismo known as Sam Elliott, so when The Ranch was looking to cast a recurring waitress who befriends Beau, I imagine the list started and ended with Kathy Baker. The renowned actress is a three time Emmy Award-winner for her work on Picket Fences, as well as an accomplished film veteran whose list of credits include The Cider House Rules, Edward Scissorhands, and 13 Going on 30.
Baker and Elliott sizzle on the small screen as the actress not only goes head-to-head with the mustachioed patriarch of the Bennetts, she even gets the upper hand during many of their verbal jousts.
Kelli Goss
The “obstacle to the One True Pairing” character is typically a thankless job. Audiences want you to get the hell out of Dodge so their OTP can finally embrace their inevitable happily ever after. But Kelli Goss’ innate likability has transformed Heather from what could have been just another sitcom speed bump into an integral part of The Ranch.
***Spoilers from the season finale ahead***
Now that Heather is pregnant with what we presume to be Colt’s baby, it looks like we may be heading back to love triangle territory between Colt, Heather, and Abby. In order for this to be effective, the character of Heather needs to be fleshed out in season two. Goss did a masterful job with what she was given this year, but “Pretty girl who likes Colt” isn’t a defining character trait, so hopefully we’ll learn more about Heather next season.
Prior to The Ranch, Goss played Courtney Sloane on CBS’ The Young and the Restless and has appeared on My Name is Earl, United States of Tara, and The Big Bang Theory.
Megyn Price
Even if you don’t recognize the name, chances are you’ve appreciated the work of Megyn Price. From Grounded for Life to Rules of Engagement, Price’s quick-wit and deadpan delivery have been a sitcom staple for over fifteen years. Price has been a welcome addition to the cast as Mary, Heather’s no-nonsense mother and current girlfriend of Rooster.
Price’s savvy comedic ability has not only injected the sitcom with a whole new level of humor, but her character’s maturity has helped add some much-needed depth to Masterson’s Rooster.
