Billy Bob Thornton didn’t need to look far for inspiration to play his character in Taylor Sheridanthe new high stakes drama Landman.

During a screening of the Paramount+ series in Nashville, Tennessee on Wednesday, October 23, the actor shared how his daughter Bella Thorntonhelped him in his portrayal of Tommy Norris, an oilman who always watches over his daughter Ainsley (Michelle Randolph). (Thornton shares Bella, 20, with his wife Connie England; he also shares daughter Amanda Brooke Brumfield, 45, with ex Melissa Lee Gatlin, and sons William Langston Thornton, 31, and Harry James Thornton30 years old, with ex Pietra Dawn Cherniak.)

“I have a daughter who just turned 20 and just started CalPoly in San Luis-Obispo,” Billy explained, adding, “I’m very protective and it wasn’t hard for me and Michelle Randolph to protect her.”

When Bella was 9, Billy gave PEOPLE a rare glimpse in family life, sharing the passions of his daughter at the time.

“My daughter wants to become an entomologist, so it’s all about insects like butterflies and caterpillars,” he explained. “Last Halloween she went as a monarch butterfly and I went as a ladybug. It doesn’t really sound like me, but I did it. I attached the wings and everything.

Although Bella has largely stayed out of the spotlight, she has made several appearances with her parents over the years. She performed with Billy on stage in 2008 with his band The Box Masters in Los Angeles and joined her parents at an event for Steven Universe the book by designer Rebecca Sugar Steven’s story in October 2019.

With Landman, Billy explained during the Nashville screening on October 23 that “you always have to play yourself.”

“I am known for playing very different characters. They look different. They act differently,” he admitted. “So you always have to play yourself… Because your strongest work will be yourself.”

While Billy once again found creative ways to portray Tommy, the actor also explained to PEOPLE during the Landman premiering in Los Angeles on Tuesday, November 12, how Sheridan wrote this complex role with him in mind.

“Taylor wrote it specifically for me, so he wrote it in my voice, which really helped me a lot, and any time a writer does that, when they know who they’re writing for, it makes them feel better. really helps,” he says. “There were challenges, obviously, because I knew a little about the oil sector, but not everything. I’m learning as I go. »

The actor ultimately hopes that viewers come away a little more enlightened about the nuances of the oil industry and maybe even life in general.

“I hope they learn something about a company that most people don’t know the inside of,” he added. “But I also hope that they eliminate the way that people, in the face of intensity and danger, still have humor in life and also that they eliminate the way that relationships are affected by the company you work for.”

Never miss a story: subscribe to PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up to date with the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Landman premieres Sunday, November 17 on Paramount+.