Australian actress Abbey Lee and American star Kevin Costner appear to have struck up a close professional relationship while working on his latest film.
The 69-year-old Hollywood director, who split from wife Christine Baumgartner last year, has been starring alongside the 37-year-old Down Under native in their four-part film project Horizon: An American Saga.
Now, as the co-stars and friends are doing a media push for Chapter 1 and Chapter 2, they have been seen praising each other at the Cannes and Venice Film Festivals in recent months, it was reported. The Daily Telegraph on Sunday.
Mad Max star Abbey told the publication she is impressed by the Yellowstone actor’s flippant attitude toward the “rules” of filmmaking.
“Kevin is the one who makes the rules. He says, ‘Fuck the system. I make the rules.’ And I think he deserves it,” she said during the premiere of Chapter 2 at the Venice International Film Festival (VIFF).
Meanwhile, just a few months earlier, in May, Oscar winner Kevin had received only very positive reviews for Abbey’s performance in his hours-long western drama.
During the Cannes Film Festival, the producer said he couldn’t stop “adding things” to Abbey’s scenes in Chapter 2 of his film series, just months before its VIFF debut, because he wanted to see more of the Australian star in his movie.
“I wanted to continue her story a little bit more and I couldn’t sleep at night, which also drove people crazy. Kevin, are you done with Chapter 2? No, I’m not done,” she said.
Australian actress Abbey Lee, 37, and American star Kevin Costner, 69, appear to have struck up a very close professional relationship while working on his latest film. Both are pictured at VIFF
“I want to do something with Abbey too. I can’t help it. She’s fabulous in the film. She’s one of the most creative actresses I’ve ever met.”
Abbey plays Marigold in the epic western, the love interest of Hayes Ellison, the lead character played by Kevin, who is also director, producer and co-writer.
The supermodel revealed in July that Kevin made her feel “really comfortable” while filming the sex scene between their characters in Chapter 1.
“Kevin was very sensitive to that. He made sure I felt really comfortable and we had a long conversation about it beforehand,” Abbey said. People in an article of the time.
Abbey said Kevin “told me how it would be shot, that there would be no nudity, there would be nothing graphic.”
The Hollywood director, 69, who split from wife Christine Baumgartner, 50, last year, has been starring alongside the Down Under native, 37, in their four-part film project Horizon: An American Saga. Pictured together in 2018.
“We need to talk about the details to understand what’s going on and make everyone feel safe and comfortable. And obviously we had those conversations,” he added.
This comes after Kevin said he is open to finding love again following his recent split and subsequent divorce battle.
On how he is coping with life after his split from Christine Baumgartner, the actor said he is “not going to let anything harden (his) heart.”
On falling in love again, she said she “loves the idea of that possibility” in her People Cover story published in June.
When asked about how she’s been handling life after her ex filed for divorce in May 2023 after nearly 20 years of marriage, she simply replied, “Just do it.”
Now, as the co-stars and friends campaign for Chapter 1 and Chapter 2, they have been seen praising each other at the Cannes and Venice Film Festivals in recent months, The Daily Telegraph reported on Sunday.
“Just keep talking, keep coaching (the kids), keep being interested in what they’re interested in,” he continued. “I had to do it.”
The father of seven, who shares Cayden, 17, Hayes, 15, and Grace, 14, with Christine, also added that he is hopeful of finding love again.
“Yeah, I think everyone would like to be in love,” said the three-time Golden Globe winner, who also has four adult children: Annie, 40, Lily, 37, Joe, 36, and Liam, 27.
“There’s a really good feeling associated with that,” he continued.
“Maybe we have to define it differently,” he added. “But yes, I love the idea of that possibility.”
Abbey plays Marigold in this epic western, the love interest of Hayes Ellison, the main character played by Kevin, who is also the director, producer and co-writer. Both are pictured.
