by Ginny O'Keefe
Lily Gladstone at the Oscars . Screenshot from ABC
The Oscar hangover is in full effect as I write this on Monday afternoon. Endless thoughts and reflections from the night before keep circling the drain of my movie brain in a never-ending swirl. Thoughts on Cillian Murphy’s humility, Ryan Gosling’s unwavering commitment to the bit, Johnathan Glazer’s courageous words, and even John Cena’s nudity. But one giant thought seems to spin around in my mind the loudest; the thought of Lily.
Like many this year, I had huge hopes for Lily Gladstone when it came to awards season. Back in May, when Killers of the Flower Moon had its premiere at the Cannes Film festival, it had received a formidable 9-minute standing ovation. And as the festival camera did its traditional audience coverage during the rolling credits to showcase the film’s stars, it was the lingering shot of Gladstone wiping away tears while sporting a glowing smile that had me absolutely certain of one thing; this is her year...
I have been a fan of Gladstone since 2016, when I got to experience her raw talent in Kelly Reichardt’s Certain Women at the Sundance Film Festival. Her character’s vulnerability and adorable absorption easily made her my favorite performance in the film and one of the best performances I had seen in the entire run of the festival. Later, as she got up onstage with several other cast members for a talkback, wearing a white dress with red flowers in the middle of January in Utah, I couldn’t help but wonder: who is this girl? Who indeed.
Cut to February 2021. I was already well aware that pre-production for a film adaptation of David Grann’s haunting true-crime book, Killers of the Flower Moon, was underway. And like most film enthusiasts I was beyond thrilled that it would be adapted with Martin Scorsese at the helm as director with Leonardo DiCaprio starring and producing. Their star power would undeniably help make this tough subject matter appeal to and attract a wide audience. But when I had seen Lily Gladstone’s casting announcement as Mollie Burkhart, my excitement for the project reached a whole new plane of existence. The collective buzz for this unmade movie was already guaranteed to be colossal, and now thanks to this casting announcement blanketed with an unspoken promise to showcase the talent of a Native American actor, it meant that Gladstone was going to be in for a wild and long overdue ride.
With this ride came record breaking history and unstoppable luminescence to Gladstone’s star power. Said star power constantly exuding stronger light than ever before thanks to every piece of press coverage, acting nomination, positive review, vocal praise from her A-list costars and elegant red-carpet appearance. However, this light came with a heavy albeit honorable weight on Gladstone’s shoulders. Because this success wasn’t just meant for her, this was meant for, as Gladstone puts it, “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 with and from each other,” All this being said whilst holding her first Golden Globe.
There is no doubt in my mind, nor in the mind of many others, that Gladstone is the heart AND the soul of Killers of the Flower Moon. She stands proud and tall while simultaneously lying open and bleeding with collective pain and scars that come with portraying Mollie Burkhart. Her face and her eyes say so much without having to say anything at all. Her performance brought about a united sense of autonomy amongst so many Indigenous performers in the industry and a newfound respect for depictions of Native Americans and their stories in film.
Her accomplishments cannot be undermined nor dimmed. She is the first Indigenous woman to win the aforementioned Golden Globe for best female actor in a motion picture-drama. She is the first Indigenous actor to win the SAG award for best performance by a female actor. She has merged her luxurious Gucci and Valentino red carpet looks with handcrafted fashions and jewelry made by fellow Indigenous artists. She has helped open the door wider than it has ever been opened before for creatives like her, all with the intention of ripping the door right off its hinges. All of this success can be met with rejoicing, while still acknowledging the disappointment coming at the end.
Gladstone made history once again back in February by being the first Native American woman to be nominated for the Academy Award for best actress. I, like so many others, thought she had the Oscar in the bag. With a winning streak like hers, how could one not assume she would be taking the little gold man home? With the exception of Wes Studi (who won and honorary Oscar back in 2020), no Indigenous or Native American actor has ever won an Academy Award for acting in the award show’s nearly one-hundred-year existence. This could be the night where Gladstone makes history again. Bigger than ever before. At the end of the night, the announcement for best actress was about to be made with more apprehension filling this particular category than that of any others due to the tight final stretch between Gladstone and Emma Stone. The winner was announced. Apprehension that turned into excitement, then to shock, then to disappointment, then acceptance. All heavy and fleeting. Alas, Gladstone did not get to go onstage to collect the little gold man. Emma Stone’s fearless performance as Bella Baxter in Poor Things had been announced as the winner. Though the win wasn’t what many expected and it wasn’t what some (me) were hoping for, it made me come to two realizations: Emma Stone is worthy of the win, and Lily Gladstone didn’t lose.
Sure, in the literal sense she lost the award, but looking back on this year as a whole she has still come out on top still without her light being snuffed out. Starting off every acceptance speech for every award she won in customary Blackfeet greeting? Win. Acknowledging the callous and cruel treatment that Native Americans have had to face in the history of film and honoring the Indigenous performers that inspired and came before her? Win. Campaigning for Lead Actress and not settling for a campaign as a Supporting Actress? Win. Drumming up awareness to call for the safety of Native women across the country? Win. Getting to support and celebrate with the Osage Nation as they performed onstage in front of a global audience at the Oscars ceremony? Win. Becoming this award season’s darling and being the new people’s princess? Win. Becoming a source of pride to the Blackfoot Confederacy and the Osage Nation as well as an inspiration for countless Indigenous people? Win. Killers of the Flower Moon is the film that it is because of Gladstone. The film’s life blood comes from her talent and her everlasting light that just glows and glows.
And what is the best way to get her that well-deserved Oscar? Give her more roles. I had big hopes for Lily Gladstone and that hope has not waned even the slightest despite her not going home with a gold man to put on her mantle. The hope is that she continues to get her flowers in even more ways than she already has. The hope is to hear her customary Blackfeet greeting again and again. The one that goes, "Hello my friends/relatives. My name is Piitaaki (Eagle Woman). I am Blackfoot. I love you all." We love you too, Lily. We really do. Keep glowing.