Lily Gladstone, the talented Native American actress, is not holding back when it comes to expressing her views on Hollywood’s portrayal of the American West and the hit show Yellowstone. In a recent interview with New York magazine, the star of Martin Scorsese’s upcoming epic, “Killers of the Flower Moon,” had some strong words to share.
Gladstone, at 37, has experienced the challenges of navigating Hollywood’s casting choices and acknowledges the limited opportunities available to Native American actors. She explained her perspective on why many of her peers end up on Taylor Sheridan’s Western drama series, Yellowstone, without mincing words.
“In no way do I want to discredit the Native talent involved in that,” Gladstone remarked. “I, too, auditioned multiple times. That’s what was available.”
While Indigenous stories and actors have found their place in recent television offerings like “Reservation Dogs” and “Rutherford Falls,” there has historically been a glaring absence of these voices in mainstream media. Native characters accounted for only 1 percent of all roles during the 2019-2020 television season, and a mere 1.1 percent of TV staff writers were Native.
Sheridan, a white creator, holds significant control over Yellowstone, featuring Kevin Costner as the central character. The show has faced criticism for its portrayal of violence against Indigenous women, a demographic that experiences disproportionately high rates of violence and murder. It has also raised concerns about cultural appropriation and the authenticity of Indigenous heritage claimed by certain cast members, including Kelsey Asbille.
Gladstone, who plays Leonardo DiCaprio’s wife in “Killers of the Flower Moon,” admitted to initial reservations about accepting the role, as the story delves into a dark chapter of Osage history. However, a script rewrite transformed the narrative from a white-savior storyline to one that places the experiences of Indigenous characters at the forefront. Furthermore, Scorsese actively sought input from the Osage community, solidifying Gladstone’s decision to take on the role.
“It became evident that I wasn’t just there to be a silent player,” explained Gladstone, who has Blackfeet and Nez Perce heritage from her father and is of white heritage from her mother. “I was expected to contribute significantly.”
Based on David Grann’s 2017 book, “Killers of the Flower Moon” is anticipated to make a big splash in the upcoming awards season. The film is set to hit theaters on October 20, with a streaming release on Apple TV+ to follow at a later date. The shift in the release date is possibly due to restrictions on high-profile cast members participating in press and red carpet events during an ongoing actors’ strike.