Lily Gladstone made history with her win for best female actor in a leading role at the 2024 Screen Actors Guild Awards on Saturday.
She won for her role as Mollie Burkhart in Killers of the Flower Moon, directed by Martin Scorsese, making her the first Indigenous actor to win in the category. Her character was an Osage woman married to a key accomplice in the systematic assassination of the Osage people in the 1920s.
After being presented the honor by Jessica Chastain, Gladstone took to the stage to share how “proud” she is of her fellow actors for getting “here in solidarity with all of our other unions” following the Hollywood strikes last year.
“I feel the good in what you have done, what you do,” she said. “This has been a hard year for all of us. Those in this room, those not in this room.”
During her speech, Gladstone (who uses both she/they pronouns) also recognized what a “gift” it is to be able to work as an actor for a living.
“The win is getting to be here. It’s getting to be on set. It’s getting to tell stories,” she added. “We bring empathy into a world that so much needs it. It’s so easy to distance ourselves. It’s so easy to close off, to stop feeling, and we all bravely keep feeling and that humanizes people, that brings people out of the shadows. It brings visibility.”
Gladstone later encouraged the audience and viewers at home to “keep telling stories to everybody in this room, to everybody watching abroad. Those of you who are not actors but have a voice, have a story that needs to be heard. Thank you for all of the compassionate souls in this room and all of the storytellers here tonight. Keep speaking your truths and keep speaking up for each other.”
Other actresses nominated in the category included Annette Bening for Nyad, Carey Mulligan for Maestro, Margot Robbie for Barbie and Emma Stone for Poor Things.
Gladstone (Blackfeet/Nimiipuu) has been making history this awards season, first with her Golden Globe win in January for best actress in a motion picture, drama. She became the first Indigenous actor to win an award in the ceremony’s 81-year history.
She also is the first Native American actor to be nominated for an Academy Award with her recent best actress nod. Gladstone scored wins at the National Board of Review and the New York Film Critics Circle as well.
Throughout the season, Gladstone had continued to advocate for Native representation on the big and small screens, using her acceptance speeches, interviews and red carpet appearances as opportunities to educate. She has also supported other Indigenous people who have chosen to opt out of viewing Killers of the Flower Moon due to its depictions of violence against the Osage, which may be traumatizing.
The 30th annual SAG Awards were held on Feb. 24 at the Shrine Auditorium & Expo Hall in Los Angeles. Find the complete winners list here.
