Lily Gladstoneis the breakout star of this year’sKillers of the Flower Moon. However, she is not new to the entertainment industry. In fact, she has a resume that rivals many actors but in roles that may have gone unnoticed by mainstream Hollywood. Gladstone has been applauded for her work in the new film, and her career deserves a second look.
For people unfamiliar with the actress, it is important to know that she is Native American. The reason for this importance is that much of her career has been about representation. Whether this was on purpose or by coincidence is up for discussion.
Representation Matters
One of the main things to remember is that Gladstone is Native American, having grown up on the reservation of the Blackfeet nation. The importance of this fact is palpable. If we look at the current landscape of Hollywood, it is severelylacking in Native Americanactors, especially those playing in films that are not based in the Old West. Native Americans have often been replaced by people who “look similar” or completely ignored until a big Western film comes around and there is a need for extras or highly stereotyped characters.
The good thing is that we have seen increased representation over the past 10 years. This is due primarily to television shows that have either been created by Native Americans or simply feature native people.
One show isShoresy. The Canadian comedy series comes from the makers ofLetterkennyand stars many First Nations characters in key roles. The show’s creator, Jared Keeso, aimed to further the representation he saw in his everyday life living in Sudbury. He also makes an effort to feature strong female leads, which has brought in First Nations actresses such as Kaniehtiio Horn, Tasya Teles, Blair Lamora, and Keilani Rose.
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Another show, one that recently wrapped up its third and final season,isReservation Dogs. The show was created by indigenous people and starring a cast of almost exclusively indigenous actors. The show has been heralded as a breakthrough moment in entertainment as it was not a straight drama or comedy but rather decided to create an atmosphere that brought in a variety of genres. The show has featured many up-and-coming actors but is notable for featuring Lily Gladstone as Hokti in a two-episode arc.
Gladstone’s Resume: Short But Significant
Lily Gladstone has been in ten films since her start in 2012 and a variety of television shows. She has shown interest in acting and writing, with an eye toward directing at some point. She has expressed her disdain for shows likeYellowstone,which she called “deplorable"due to its poor portrayal of Native Americans and their spirituality.
That being said, Gladstone has slowlyfound her own voicein Hollywood. Her first film wasJimmy P: Psychotherapy of a Plains Indian(2012). Though she only had a small part in the film, it has been criticized for using actor Benicio Del Toro in the main role, playing a Blackfoot Native American when he is from Puerto Rico. The film was released at Cannes, where it was nominated for the Palme d’Or.
In 2016, Gladstone got her biggest break when she starred in the filmCertain Women. For her work, Gladstone was nominated for several awards and won four. These included Best Supporting Actress from the Boston Society of Film Critics, the IndieWire Critic’s Poll, and the Los Angeles Film Critic’s Awards. She was also recognized as the Breakthrough Artist of 2016 by the San Diego Film Critics Association.
Certain Womenput Gladstone on the same marquee as Kristen Stewart, Michelle Williams, and Laura Dern. Gladstone herself plays the part of a rancher named Jamie. She is drawn to a young lawyer named Beth, who teaches education law. The two hit it off, and they begin spending time together. Jamie develops a relationship with Beth, having spent so much time on her own on the ranch with her horses. However, when things end poorly, Jamie is left alone and without direction. It is a pivotal story in a contained and segmented film.
In 2022, Gladstone was able to flex her writing chops by partnering with Lainey Bearkiller Shangreaux, Vanara Taing, and Morissa Maltz to createThe Unknown Country. The film is directed by Maltz and stars Gladstone as Tana, the main character whose travelthrough the Midwestis brought upon by an unexpected invitation. It is just another piece of the actress' full creative scope.
Gladstone’s Future
Lily Gladstone is likely to be the first native woman to be nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress for her work inKillers of the Flower Moon. This would be a milestone for the actress and could lead to a new phase of her career. However, the uncomfortable question would be why Gladstone would win the award.
By all accounts, the film should have centered around her character instead of DiCaprio’s and DeNiro’s. However, the Academy wants desperately to give an award to Martin Scorcese for this film because of what it considers “important” content. The Academy also knows that if they give an award to DeNiro or DiCaprio, they will receive extremely negative press for awarding “another white guy.” UnlessKillers of the Flower Moonsweeps the Oscars in all categories, one of its biggest wins may be for Best Actress with Gladstone.
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If nominated, Lily Gladstone would make history as the first Native American nominee in the Oscar’s Best Actress category.
However, the follow-up question has to be, what happens to her next? She will undoubtedly find work on a variety of projects, but she may also find herself in the position of having won an Oscar only to have Hollywood claim they cannot find any roles for her. The hope is that other directors know how to use a talented and capable actress, regardless of their background, but with Hollywood’s track record, we can never be sure.
Lily Gladstone can currently be seenstarring inKillers of the Flower Moon, now in theaters.
