Tom Blyth Learns Cattle Wrangling as Billy the Kid

Tom Blyth stopped by to discuss his lead role in the series Billy the Kid and what it was like to play such an iconic figure.  He carried a lot of reverence for the character even visiting some of the locations where Billy had spent time during his life to connect to the character.  It was a role which required extensive amounts of research but also an interesting space of interpretation since details around Kid’s life are sometimes conflicting and often subjective.  

The physical aspects of the show challenged him in a way which was enjoyable for Blyth.  In anticipation of the role he spent a lot of time training not only in how to ride a horse, but also in spending time learning the day to day care of the animals so that he could bring this relationship to screen as well.  His training also included cattle wrangling and ice baths became a necessity for him during filming.

He loved the aspect of the show which allowed him to explore who Billy the Kid was before he became infamous and what it might have looked like as he was growing up, facing loss and becoming the outlaw that he eventually became.  

Watch the full conversation below.

Q&A on the EPIX series Billy the Kid with actor Tom Blyth. Moderated by Mara Webster, In Creative Company.

An epic romantic adventure based on the life of Billy the Kid, from his humble Irish roots and his early days as a cowboy and gunslinger in the American frontier, to his pivotal role in the Lincoln County War and beyond.