Lily Gladstone: Paving the Way for Oscar Recognition as a Native American Actress

Lily Gladstone, a 37-year-old actress, has made history as the first Native American woman to be nominated for the Best Actress category at the Oscars. She has already won a Golden Globe for her role and will find out if she will take home the Oscar on March 10th. While she has appeared in TV series and films before, it was her role in Killers of the Flower Moon that propelled her to recognition. Gladstone believes that it is long overdue for a Native American actress to be recognized at the Oscars, considering the significant role Native people played in the origin of cinema. She acknowledges that she is standing on the shoulders of many who have made her success possible. Gladstone is not the first indigenous performer to be nominated for best actress, but she is the first from the US. Born and raised on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation in Montana, Gladstone knew from a young age that she wanted to be an actress. She got her start in local productions and gradually built her career, eventually landing the role in Killers of the Flower Moon. Gladstone's portrayal of Mollie Kyle in the film has received high praise, with critics describing her performance as "magnetic" and "brilliant". As an actress, Gladstone is using her platform to shed light on her community and the issues Native American actors face in Hollywood. She is set to star in a sci-fi film and hopes to take on a lighter role in the future.