It's an unspoken rule that behind every well-intentioned, moral-coded man in a Western series stands a strong-willed, whip-smart woman who helps him navigate the complexities of the wild west. Paramount+'s original drama Joe Pickett—based on C.J. Box's bestselling book series—is no exception. As the wife of the game-warden-turned-unofficial-homicide-investigator, Marybeth Pickett's intuition and resourcefulness are vital to unraveling the gruesome mysteries haunting the small town of Saddlestring, Wyoming.
And let's just say she's anything but a damsel in distress.
Playing this tough and intelligent leading lady is actress Julianna Guill, who offers a multifaceted perspective to the portrayal of women in a historically male-dominated genre. Something she was all for bringing to life.
"This was the most fun part about playing Marybeth," she told TVBrittanyF.com in 2021. "She's not standing in the background washing dishes...She's standing right beside Joe. Not looking over his shoulder but right next to him, being included in this journey."
The show marks a first for Guill, who's spent the majority of her career appearing in smaller roles on some seriously major projects. So if you find her face familiar, here's where you've seen her before.
As a Guest Star on Your Favorite Series
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Born and raised in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, Guill and her three siblings grew up getting well-versed in the performing arts as well as tap, ballet, jazz, and singing. That creative education served her well as she landed her first of many guest roles on a hit series in 2004—one year before she graduated high school. You can see her playing Ashley, a cheerleader who swoops in to steal Brooke Davis's (Sophia Bush) crush, on One Tree Hill in seasons one and three.
"She has always been so determined and hard-working," said her mother, Ann Guill, in a 2010 interview with the Winston-Salem Journal. "And has maintained her balance and her sweet, caring nature in a very competitive world."
While she eventually started landing more prominent characters, she continued to make appearances as a guest star in popular shows like CSI: Miami, Cold Case, Psych, Community, Criminal Minds, Cougar Town, The Mindy Project, and How I Met Your Mother.
As a Small Part in Your Favorite Movies
In addition to her notable TV appearances, Guill also floated in both the background and center stage of many major movies. Some of her biggest hits include Crazy, Stupid Love (2011), Captain America: Civil War (2016), Killing Poe (2016), Becoming Bond (2017), and Psych: The Movie (2017).
Lifetime fans may also recognize her for the few holiday TV movies she's done, like Grounded for Christmas (2019) and Christmas on the Vine (2020).
As Bree on Friday The 13th
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If you're a fan of thrillers, you may have caught Guill's first breakout role as Bree in Friday the 13th (2009), a reboot of the classic horror franchise that originated in the 1980s. In the film, Bree is one of a group of young adults who go on a camping trip near Crystal Lake and soon find themselves being hunted down by the infamous Jason Voorhees.
"Friday the 13th was a great experience and my first big studio project," she told the Winston-Salem Journal. "It moved me into a different position in the business."
Guill's performance as the wild party girl made her a memorable addition to the slasher flick—especially when she (spoiler alert) gets impaled on an antler rack.
As Becca on Girlfriend's Guide to Divorce
After years of one-off roles and small parts in popular movies, Guill landed her first recurring spot on the Bravo series Girlfriend's Guide to Divorce. From 2014 to 2018, she played Becca Riley, a young and successful actress who starts dating Abby McCarthy's (Lisa Edelstein) ex-husband after they get divorced.
As Jessie on The Resident
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Most recently, Guill has been portraying Nic Nevin's (Emily VanCamp) sister Jessie Nevin on the FOX medical drama series, The Resident. Her character struggles with addiction and serves as a recurring patient at the hospital.
While The Resident and Girlfriend's Guide to Divorce were her two biggest recurring roles, she landed a few others, such as Bekah in Underemployed and Christie Dewitt in Glory Days.
Is Joe Pickett Getting a Season 2?
Michael Dorman as Joe Pickett and Julianna Guill as Marybeth Pickett (Paramount+)
If you love watching Julianna Guill as Marybeth on Joe Pickett, then you're in luck. After a year-and-a-half-long hiatus, the second season was finally ordered. The first two episodes will premiere on Paramount+ on June 4, 2023.
READ MORE: 'Joe Pickett' Cast: Who's Coming Back to Wyoming in Season 2?
