Lily Gladstone, star of Scorsese’s “Killers Of The Flower Moon”, discusses her Native American heritage, breakout role in “Certain Women”, and upcoming projects. Topics include: impact of indigenous performances, the relevance of Maslow's hierarchy to Blackfoot culture, preserving native culture through performance, a magical encounter in Vienna, creating the character Jax, and exploring Native American activism and representation in film.
Lily Gladstone's indigenous background and community values have influenced her approach to acting, emphasizing the importance of cultural perpetuity and the preservation of indigenous languages and storytelling.
Lily Gladstone sees her acting as a form of activism and uses her platform to raise awareness and inspire indigenous youth, particularly in supporting the movement to address the issue of Missing Murdered Indigenous Women.
Deep dives
Lily Gladstone's Journey and Success in Acting
Lily Gladstone, an actress from the Blackfeet and Nez Perce tribal nations, discusses her career and upbringing on the Blackfeet reservation in Montana. She highlights her breakout role in the film Certain Women, which earned her critical acclaim and nominations. She also mentions her role in Martin Scorsese's Killers of the Flower Moon and her work on the FX series Reservation Dogs. Lily expresses her inspiration from indigenous performers like Sheila Tousey, who influenced her decision to pursue acting. She also praises the new generation of native actors, citing Isabel May and Paulina Alexis as talented individuals she admires.
The Influence of Indigenous Culture on Lily Gladstone's Acting
Lily Gladstone shares how her indigenous background, growing up on the Blackfeet reservation, and being part of a community that values individual strengths have shaped her approach to acting. She emphasizes the importance of cultural perpetuity and the preservation of indigenous languages and storytelling. Lily also discusses her work with the National Indigenous Women's Resource Center, supporting the movement to address the issue of Missing Murdered Indigenous Women. She credits her acting as a form of activism and using her platform to raise awareness and inspire indigenous youth.
Fancy Dance: A Powerful Film with Native Social Themes
Lily Gladstone discusses her involvement in the film Fancy Dance as both an actor and executive producer. She highlights the film's exploration of the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) and the issue of Missing Murdered Indigenous Relatives (MMIR). Lily mentions the challenges faced in securing distribution for Fancy Dance and the struggle to bring native stories and perspectives to mainstream audiences. She emphasizes the importance of visibility and representation in combating ignorance and creating a more inclusive and diverse film industry.
Overcoming Challenges and Pushing for Indigenous Stories
Lily Gladstone reflects on the challenges faced by native actors and filmmakers in the industry. She acknowledges the need for more opportunities and support for indigenous stories, beyond being typecast in specific roles. Lily shares her optimism for the future, highlighting the collaborative and grassroots nature of projects like Fancy Dance and the increasing recognition and appreciation for indigenous narratives. She encourages audiences to seek out and support films that uplift and showcase native voices and experiences.
Lily Gladstone visits Google to discuss her journey, her career, and to celebrate Native American Heritage Month.
Lily was raised on the Blackfeet Reservation in Northwestern Montana and is from the Blackfeet and Nez Perce Tribal Nations. Lily stars in Martin Scorsese’s critically acclaimed film “Killers Of The Flower Moon”, opposite Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert DeNiro. Her breakout role in Kelly Reichardt's “Certain Women”, earned her multiple nominations, including Best Supporting Actress at the Independent Spirit Awards and Best Breakthrough Actor at the Gotham Awards. She was named Best Supporting Actress of 2016 by the Los Angeles Critics Film Association.
She also appeared as ‘Hokti’ in Sterlin Harjo’s acclaimed FX series “Reservation Dogs” and will soon star in Samir Mehta and Quinn Shephard’s limited series “Under the Bridge.”