On a historic Sunday evening, Lily Gladstone ascended the stage at the Golden Globe Awards and greeted the live television audience with words from the Blackfeet language. In a category teeming with talent, Gladstone’s win marked a significant milestone—she had become the Golden Globes’ first Indigenous best actress in a drama, sealing her achievement with an impassioned acknowledgment of her roots and the power of representation.
“This is for every little rez kid, every little urban kid, every little Native kid out there who has a dream, who is seeing themselves represented and our stories told—by ourselves, in our own words—with tremendous allies and tremendous trust from and with each other,” Gladstone expressed during the ceremony.
Gladstone’s emblematic performance as Mollie Burkhart in Martin Scorsese’s sprawling historic drama “Killers of the Flower Moon” garnered immense praise. Her character, enduring the anguish of family murder amid the Osage reign of terror in oil-rich Oklahoma, resonated deeply with a global audience.
Support for Gladstone and the film’s profound message was visually evident in the Golden Globes’ audience. Co-star Leonardo DiCaprio championed the cause, donning a pin that symbolized his solidarity with the Osage nation. “The Osage nation, we’re standing in unison with them for this movie,” he conveyed before the ceremony, an affirming gesture complementing the night’s theme of culturally reflective storytelling.
The glamour of the red carpet was shared between Gladstone and DiCaprio, who both were accompanied by their mothers, showcasing the importance of familial backing in their professional lives. After her win, Gladstone took a moment backstage to pay tribute to her parents, recognizing their unwavering belief in her pursuit of acting. She recounted her father’s enthusiasm about hosting “a big ol’ feast” in celebration and emphasized how her mother, not of Blackfeet descent herself, nevertheless tirelessly worked to ensure the Blackfeet language was taught in schools, giving Gladstone a strong cultural connection in her upbringing.
Named as one of 2023’s AP Breakthrough Entertainers, the actor, raised between Seattle and the Blackfeet Reservation in Montana, spoke of the personal significance the Blackfeet language holds for her. Regularly using it to introduce herself in significant gatherings, Gladstone described its utterance as a natural choice for her momentous speech, expressing a deeper ongoing connection to her heritage.
Feeling the weight of the broader implications, Gladstone shared thoughts on a possible future Oscar nomination with The Associated Press. She envisioned it as more than just a personal triumph, but as an opportunity to further immerse herself in and share her language with the world, amplifying its significance.
Gladstone’s recognition at the Golden Globes comes after Irene Bedard’s earlier nomination for her work in the 1995 television movie “Lakota Woman: Siege at Wounded Knee.” The significance of speaking her language at such a colossal event was not lost on Gladstone. She provided perspective on the evolution of Native actors in the industry, who historically were depicted speaking their lines in English, only for the audio to be reversed in post-production to create the illusion of Indigenous languages on screen.
Holding her award, a testament to her talents and the film’s absorbing narrative, Gladstone made sure to acknowledge the collective effort, stating: “It doesn’t belong to just me. I’m holding it right now. I’m holding it with all my beautiful sisters in the film.”
The achievement serves as a beacon, illuminating the path for future Indigenous storytellers and actors in the dynamic landscape of cinema.iste
