Bella Hadid continues her acting career with a cameo in 'Yellowstone'

Bella Hadid was one of the final surprises of the last season of "Yellowstone." The model and burgeoning actress was featured on one of the final episodes of the fifth season of the series, ensuring it goes out with a bang, surprising viewers in every way. 

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Hadid played the role of the girlfriend of a new character played by Taylor Sheridan, the series' creator and writer. He plays the character of Travis Wheatley, a famous horse trainer who's been a recurring character since the show's first season. In episode 13 of season five, Wheatley gets some more backstory, showing more details of his life, including Sadie, his girlfriend played by Hadid. 

There are layers to this casting. Aside from the fact that Hadid is kickstarting her career as an actress, she's also a bit of a rodeo icon. She grew up with horses and has been back at playing various horse-based sports thanks to the influence of her boyfriend Adan Banuelos, who's a real horse trainer and cowboy based in Texas.

At the end of the episode, Wheatley helped the Duttons sell their ranch, facilitating the conclusion of the series, which will air next week and marks the end of one of the most popular TV shows made in recent years. 

Why was Hadid in 'Yellowstone'?

Despite Hadid's interest in cowboys and horses, her appearance in "Yellowstone" is still a surprising one. While it's unknown why she's decided to spend more time acting, the episode also featured a cameo from Banuelos himself, who played the role of one of the farmhands of Wheatley's ranch and is seen playing a game of strip poker.

Hadid has a short but interesting list of performances under her belt. In 2022, she appeared in an episode of "Ramy," the acclaimed series following the life of a young American-Muslim guy from New Jersey who's trying to be spiritual while still being a modern man. Hadid was featured in the series' third season and played a character named Lena. 

She discussed her debut in an Instagram post. “I am learning more and more every day, but so bloody grateful for this opportunity," she wrote. "Thank you to the entire Ramy production and most of all, my friend, Ramy.”