Lily Gladstone | Elevating Inspired Natives | Talks at Google

TL;DR

Actress Lily Gladstone shares her journey as a Native American actress and discusses the importance of Indigenous representation in film and TV.

Transcript

[MUSIC PLAYING] GRACE PEREZ: Hello, everyone. [APPLAUSE] Yay. I'm so excited to be here. And welcome, everybody, to Talks at Google. Hi. My name is Grace Perez. I'm Nooksack and Mexican Indian, and I work at YouTube marketing. I am also a global lead for GAIN-- Google Aboriginal Indigenous Network, Google's internal employee resource group. I am so... Read More

Key Insights

• 💨 Lily Gladstone draws inspiration from Indigenous actors, like Sheila Tousey, who have paved the way for future generations.
• 📽️ Gladstone's background and upbringing in storytelling and community have shaped her approach to acting and the projects she chooses.
• 🧑‍🏭 The lack of Indigenous representation in the film industry is a barrier that Gladstone and other Indigenous actors are working to overcome.

Questions & Answers

Q: How has Lily Gladstone's background and upbringing influenced her approach to acting and storytelling?

Gladstone's Native American background and upbringing have instilled in her a deep connection to storytelling and a strong sense of community. This has influenced her approach to acting and how she portrays her characters.

Q: How does Lily Gladstone stay true to herself while navigating the challenges and opportunities of being a Native American actor in the mainstream industry?

Gladstone stays true to herself by continuing to represent her culture and community in her work. She actively seeks out roles that highlight Indigenous experiences and raises awareness about Native American issues. She also supports and collaborates with other Native American actors and filmmakers.

Q: How does Lily Gladstone use her platform as an actress to promote causes like missing and murdered Indigenous women?

Gladstone is actively involved in activism and supporting organizations like the National Indigenous Women's Resource Center. Through her work and visibility, she aims to bring attention to Native American issues, including the epidemic of missing and murdered Indigenous women.

Q: Has Lily Gladstone faced challenges in getting Indigenous stories and perspectives represented in the mainstream film industry?

Gladstone has faced challenges in getting Indigenous stories and perspectives represented in the mainstream film industry. She has encountered racism and a lack of imagination from some industry insiders who do not understand the importance of Indigenous representation.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Lily Gladstone, a Native American actress, talks about her career and being a part of the Indigenous community in the film industry.

• She discusses her inspirations in the industry, including Sheila Tousey and the next generation of Indigenous actors.

• Gladstone shares her theater background and how storytelling and performance are essential to Indigenous culture.

• She discusses her approach to acting and storytelling, including her role in "Fancy Dance" and her commitment to Indigenous causes.