Why Claire O'grady From Netflix's Ransom Canyon Looks So Familiar

Netflix

"Ransom Canyon" has returned for Season 2 on Netflix. The first season of the romantic Western series dominated Netflix's charts and scratched an itch for "Yellowstone" fans. Now, rancher Staten Kirkland (Josh Duhamel) and musician Quinn O'Grady (Minka Kelly) are back for more — except, this time, they have some new company ready to shake things up.

Based on the book series of the same name by Jodi Thomas, "Ransom Canyon" is described by Netflix as "a heartfelt drama set against the sweeping vistas of Texas Hill Country." It follows the intersecting lives of families in a town where the neighbors know everyone's business.

Season 2 picks up six months after Season 1, with Staten fighting to reclaim his legacy after being unseated as the trustee of his family's Double K Ranch. Meanwhile, Quinn must decide if her heart truly belongs in the small town she once tried to outrun or in the fast-paced world of New York City.

Among the newcomers joining Duhamel (who, don't forget, once flew an actual fighter jet to prepare for "Transformers") and Kelly in "Ransom Canyon" Season 2 are Patricia Clarkson, who's playing Quinn's mother Claire. Specifically, the character is officially described as "the drop-dead gorgeous mother of Quinn, who is both maternal and self-involved." Speaking to Tudum, showrunner April Blair has this to say on the matter:

"Quinn's mother, Claire — played by Clarkson, who's an icon — comes to town, and she's a little 'Postcards from the Edge' meets 'The Notebook.' What did she do to mess up? We find out there are some secrets from the past."

Indeed, if Claire looks familiar to you, there's a very good reason for that. Like Blair noted, Clarkson is quite the accomplished actor and has decades of experience under her belt.

Paramount Pictures

Patricia Clarkson has been acting steadily in Hollywood since the late 1980s and has more than 100 acting credits to her name across movies and TV. As it stands, her career currently spans more than 40 years and includes a number of classics from both the big screen and small screen. She got her start with guest spots on shows like "The Equalizer" and "One Life to Life," with her first feature film credit coming in the crime classic "The Untouchables." It was a small role, but a good feather in the ol' cap.

From there, Clarkson worked more steadily in the '90s, landing longer arcs on shows such as "Davis Rules" and "Murder One." She also appeared in notable movies like "Jumanji" and director Frank Drabont's underrated Stephen King adaptation "The Green Mile" as Melinda Moores, whom the magical John Coffey (Michael Clarke Duncan) helps cure of an ailment.

Clarkson's acting career truly took off in the 2000s, though, starting with a small run on "Frasier" and followed by her time on the beloved HBO drama "Six Feet Under." On top of that, she appeared in acclaimed movies such as "Miracle," "Good Night, and Good Luck," and "Lars and the Real Girl." Her career has only continued to blossom since then, with Clarkson appearing in one of Martin Scorsese's biggest box office hits with 2010's "Shutter Island."

Of course, Clarkson has worked on far too many other notable TV projects to name here, including the hit series "Parks and Recreation" (where she had a small stint), "Sharp Objects," and "House of Cards." Likewise, she's played recognizable roles in moves such as "Easy A," "Friends with Benefits," and the "Maze Runner" film trilogy, among others.

"Ransom Canyon" is streaming now on Netflix.