‘Dutton Ranch’ star Sterlin English on why playing a cowboy is his ‘dream role’
Sterlin English had the time of his life making “Dutton Ranch.”
The real-life cowboy has been riding horses and roping since he could walk, and has parlayed those skills into a successful team roping career. He’s also given acting a go since 2020, appearing in projects like “Big Sky,” “The Winchesters,” “Ransom Canyon” and “Eddington.”
English’s latest role is on “Dutton Ranch” as Austin Lewis, a cowboy at the 10-Petal Ranch that’s growing suspicious of the operation ran by Beulah Jackson (Annette Bening).
In this week’s episode, “Whiskey Limits,” out Friday, June 26, Austin reaches a breaking point and searches for the truth as the walls come crashing down around him.
Ahead of the episode, English spoke with the Star-Telegram about his cowboy upbringing and his time on the Western series. English also sheds light on acting with an arm cast, which he wore for a good portion of the season after his character broke his arm.
This interview has been edited for clarity and length. Spoilers for “Dutton Ranch” episodes 1-8 below.
Star-Telegram: Sterlin, I wanted to start with this show as a whole. When you make something like this it's in a bubble, and then when it comes out, it’s no longer yours anymore as it's released into the world. I’m curious for you what the reaction to show has been for you both personally and professionally?
Sterlin English: It’s just amazing to see that people are loving it as much as we love making it, because we had the best time. The whole cast, the whole crew there, it was a dream. It was a dream cast to work for. I met some of my best friends on this show, and we got to spend a lot of time together. It truthfully was just a dream. To see everybody love it as much as we loved making it, and what we put into it, it’s so cool to see, it really is.
S-T: I see all these belt buckles behind you on the wall. You have a background in team roping, so I’m curious if the skills in that discipline, besides knowing how to ride a horse or how to rope, if they translate into the way you act?
SE: I feel like with this one, yes, of course, because, I mean, I was riding horses when I was in diapers. My dad had me on horses when I was a little kid, and just kind of learning the cowboy way and the Western lifestyle, and roping and riding. It helps this character. I mean, Austin, he is, he’s a cowboy, he really is. He has cowboy morals, he digs deep, he doesn’t have any backup in him and he doesn’t take anything off of anybody. I feel like that’s all helped a lot, my upbringing has helped this role. It was a dream role, to be honest, because I get to play a cowboy, and I am one in real life. Then I just have to bring Austin into it.
S-T: I was doing some research and I searched your name online and found your old YouTube channel. There’s a video from nine years ago of you doing trick roping, particularly one move where you jump through the rope like side-to-side. Then, I go to your Instagram and see you doing the same move as an adult.
SE: I can’t believe that’s still up, to be honest. I think I posted that for like fun or something when I was a little kid, and I was just bored. But I mean, truthfully, since I was five years old up until I was probably 15, 16 years old, I had a rope in my hand. That’s all I did was rope and do rope tricks and go to school and be a kid and rope. I had a rope in my hand the whole time, and I really love doing rope tricks, so I just liked being able to do them and show people and perform for people.
I love getting a little crowd around there and showing people tricks, and then teaching the little kids tricks, and it was just always really fun for me. I’m very thankful that I’ve been able to hold on to that, and kind of still be able to do it. I don’t practice that as much. I practiced that every day for a long time. But I still hold on to it. It’s kind of like riding a bike a little bit when you get to the point that I’m at, it stays with you.
S-T: I think the video has like 8,000 views.
SE: That’s so funny [laughs].
S-T: It’s been nice to spend more time with Austin this season and learn more about his dynamic with the ranch. However, we don’t know too much about how he originally got to the 10-Petal Ranch, or how he and Wes became friends. When you’re building the backstory for your character, do you know those things? And do you hope to explore that down the line?
SE: I have it in my head. I did kind of a whole backstory on Austin and where he came from and why he’s there and what he’s doing. I don’t know if it lines up with what they’re thinking for the character, so I don’t want to put it out there. But it helps me for my character and for Austin, because it kind of grounds me a little bit, and a little bit of it is kind of where he came from and his upbringing and his parents. I really went in-depth on that, and I don’t know if, again, I don’t know if that’s where [the creatives] have that headed, or what they had in mind for the character, but it worked for me to kind of bring that character to life.
S-T: Austin has been waving the flag all season about how corrupt the 10-Petal is and that they had something to do with Wes’ death. We finally get a reveal in episode 8 that the ranch has an illegal cattle operation in Mexico that funnels livestock up to Rio Paloma. As a viewer, it was nice to get some catharsis about what’s going since Austin has been adamant about it. For you as a performer, did you feel some catharsis too?
SE: I mean, I feel like the whole season he’s just trying to figure it out. He’s playing “Scooby-Doo,” you know what I mean? He’s trying to pick up all the clues. He knows something’s going on, but he doesn’t know exactly, he can’t put his finger on it. He finally starts getting pieces here, and hearing something over here, and, “Oh, this happened.” I feel like by now he’s kind of putting the picture together, and he’s really seeing the full image, and it’s not good.
S-T: In that scene where he’s talking to Beth and Rip, Austin mentions a screwworm outbreak previously closing the U.S.-Mexico border. It was an odd bit of timing since Texas and Mexico are currently facing issues with the new world screwworm. Did you guys have an inclination that was coming or just a coincidence?
SE: I have no idea. If they did, it was great writing. I don’t really know, to be honest, but yeah, it is happening. That’s in the show as well, and yeah, it’s a cool thing to see. Not cool, I mean, since that stuff is getting over here and messing with cattle, of course. It’s not good, but the writing is great.
S-T: Austin has been put through the ringer both mentally and physically, specifically in episode 3 when he gets his arm broken by Chet (Hart Denton). Your character has been wearing this cast ever since, so I’m curious for you as a performer, what that’s like? And how long did it take to apply every day?
SE: Yeah, when they first did it, and I first had to have a scene with my broke arm, they really cast me like in a real cast. They just put a lot of foam in there, a lot of that gauze stuff in there, so I could hopefully slide it off at the end of the day. Well, we had worked a long day, and my arm swelled up, so I couldn’t get the cast off. I had to sit there like this [English raises his arm like he has a question], and let the blood come back out of my arm, because we didn’t want to have to cut it off, and then recast it. I finally managed to get it off, and then the rest of the season it kind of just became like, “Oh, I show up to set, where’s my cast?” Then it kind of felt at home, you know what I mean? Like I’m sure it does if you really break your arm.
But yeah, it was a funny deal, because it kind of just got really normal. It got looser too as the episodes went on, where it was a lot easier to put on and take off. The roping was a little bit weird with the cast on, just the way you hold your coils and the reins, and there was just enough in there where we had to kind of trim it down a little bit to kind of get it to where I could hold them. But other than that, it was pretty easy. I was trying to make sure not to hit anybody when I was swinging with it, because that really wouldn’t have felt good.
S-T: After his interaction with them in episode 8, is there any chance Austin jumps ship and joins Beth and Rip on their ranch?
SE: I don’t know, you guys are just gonna have to watch and see. I don’t want to give too much away right here, so we’re just gonna have to watch and see. It’s gonna be big for sure.
S-T: That’s fair. Is there anything you can tease about the season finale?
SE: Yeah, it’s gonna be action-packed. It’s going to be a big one, for sure. That’s all I can say.
S-T: Alright, I tried. One thing we do know for sure is that the show is coming back for a second season. Did you know it was coming? Or, did you find out when the news came out?
SE: I woke up and saw the post, and it’s awesome. It’s great to see. I don’t know what’s gonna happen in [episodes] eight and nine, so you guys are gonna have to watch and find out.
S-T: Austin has an antagonistic relationship with many of his bunkmates, but in the behind-the-scenes photos you post online, it seems like y’all are having so much fun. What’s it like to build a relationship with these guys?
SE: It was really cool. Everybody, the whole show ... I mean, Berto [Colon], James [Eddie], Clay [James], J.R. [Villarreal], [Marc] Menchaca, Hart [Denton]. Me and Hart hit it off really early on, and we got to be really close, and I got to be really close with everybody on the show. It just seemed that me and Hart took a lot more pictures together, but yeah, it truthfully was amazing. I love Hart, and I would love to get the opportunity to work with him again someday.
S-T: You guys made this show in Fort Worth and across North Texas. I’m not sure if you’re from the area, but I’ve talked to many of your castmates about their time in Texas and they’ve all enjoyed it. What was it like for you?
SE: Yeah, it’s amazing. I’m not originally from there, but it was great. I’ve been out there a whole bunch for rodeos, a lot of big team ropings and stuff is in the stockyards and at Dickies [Arena], U.S. finals and everything. I love that city, and I love the area down there. Love the people. It was great, and it was just an awesome time with all of the people on the show. I mean, some of my best friends are on that show now. It really was great.
S-T: Did you have any favorite spots or restaurants while in town?
SE: There’s a good sushi place right by Dickies, like you can walk there. I can’t remember the name of it, but it’s some of the best sushi that I’ve ever ate. I will definitely be back there, and I will try to remember the name next time, but I cannot remember the name. But it was some of the best sushi I’ve ever ate.
S-T: Maybe it was Hatsuyuki Handroll Bar? Was there a U-shaped table inside?
SE: Yes, that place is amazing.
S-T: I think there are no reservations, you just walk inside.
SE: Yeah, you just walk in. If there’s a million people there, you just have to sit there if you want to eat there. But yeah, it’s truthfully the best sushi I’ve ever eaten in my life.
S-T: Last question for you: We don’t yet know how things will shake out for Austin, but if this is the end, what’s one thing you’ll take from this whole “Dutton Ranch” experience?
SE: Just all the friendships that I’ve made and all the great people that have been around. I’m just so thankful. It truthfully has been a dream, and we’ll see what happens in the future. I mean, you guys are gonna have to see and find out.
“Dutton Ranch” airs Fridays via Paramount+ and the Paramount Network.
