Australian actress Abbey Lee and American star Kevin Costner appear to have developed a close professional relationship while working on his latest film.
The 69-year-old Hollywood director, who divorced his wife Christine Baumgartner last year, stars opposite the 37-year-old Down Under native in his four-part film project Horizon: An American Saga.
Now that the co-stars and friends are doing a media blitz for Chapter 1 and Chapter 2, they’ve been spotted raving about each other at the Cannes and Venice film festivals in recent months, reports The Daily Telegraph on sunday.
Mad Max star Abbey told the publication she was impressed by the Yellowstone actor’s nonchalant attitude toward the “rules” of filmmaking.
“Kevin makes the rules. He says, ‘F**k the system. I make the rules.’ And I think he deserves that,” she said at 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 nothing but rave reviews for Abbey’s performance in his hour-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 saga, just months before its premiere at VIFF, because he wanted to see more of the Australian star in his film.
‘I wanted to continue her story and I couldn’t sleep at night, which also drove people crazy. Kevin, you’re done with [Chapter] 2. No, I don’t, he said.
Australian actress Abbey Lee, 37, and American star Kevin Costner, 69, appear to have developed a very close professional relationship while working on his latest film. Both pictured at VIFF
“I want to do something with Abbey, too. I can’t help it. She’s so fantastic in the movie. I mean, she’s one of the most inventive actresses I’ve ever met.”
Abbey plays Marigold in the epic western and is the love interest for Hayes Ellison, the lead character played by Kevin, who is also the 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 me feel really comfortable and we talked about it a lot beforehand,” Abbey said People in an article at the time.
Abbey said Kevin “told me how the film would be shot, that there would be no nudity and nothing explicit.”
The Hollywood director, 69, who split from wife Christine Baumgartner, 50, last year, starred opposite the Down Under native, 37, in his four-part film project Horizon: An American Saga. Pictured together in 2018
“You have to talk about the details so that you understand what’s happening and everyone feels safe and comfortable. And we’ve obviously had those conversations,” she added.
This comes after Kevin said he is open to finding love after his recent separation and subsequent divorce battle.
On the way he has shaped his life after the split from Christine Baumgartner, the actor said he will ‘not let anything harden’ [his] heart’.
About falling in love again he said that he ‘[loves] the idea of that possibility’ in his People cover story published in June.
When asked how he’s been living his life since his ex filed for divorce in May 2023 after nearly 20 years of marriage, he simply replied, “You just do it.”
Now that the co-stars and friends are conducting a media blitz for Chapter 1 and Chapter 2, they’ve been spotted raving about 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]”You stay interested in what they find interesting,” he continued. “I had to.”
The father of seven, who has sons Cayden, 17, Hayes, 15, and 14-year-old daughter Grace with Christine, added that he hopes to find love again.
“Yeah, I think everyone wants 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.
“It feels so good,” he continued.
“It may have to be defined in a different way,” he added. “But yeah, I like the idea of that possibility.”
Abbey plays Marigold in the epic western who is the love interest of Hayes Ellison, the lead character played by Kevin who is also the director, producer and co-writer. Both depicted