Lily Gladstone explores new terrain with her next project, true-crime series “Under the Bridge”

Award-winning actress makes history, continues to represent Natives in media

Award-winning actress Lily Gladstone is set to captivate audiences with “Under the Bridge,” an original Hulu true-crime series set to premiere mid-April.

The series is based on acclaimed author Rebecca Godfrey’s book about the haunting true story of 14-year-old Reena Virk (Vritika Gupta), who went to join friends at a party in 1997 and never returned home. Through the eyes of Godfrey (Riley Keough) and a local police officer (Lily Gladstone), the series takes the audience into the hidden world of the young girls accused of murder, revealing startling truths about the unlikely killer.

Premiering its first two episodes on April 17, the weekly series promises to be a powerful exploration of truth and justice.

Gladstone grew up on the Blackfeet Reservation in Browning, Mont. The actress is affiliated with the Kainai, Amskapi Pi’ikani, Blackfeet, and Nimi’ipuu First Nations, Nez Perce. Gladstone is best known for her role as Mollie Burkhart in “Killers of the Flower Moon,” a western crime drama based on the 2017 nonfiction book by David Grann.

The 2023 film focuses on a series of murders that occurred in the Osage Nation during 1920s Oklahoma, when Osage citizens faced political corruption and death after oil was discovered on tribal land. Since its release in October, Gladstone has been recognized for her acting skills and talent in portraying Burkhart.

Long before “Killers of the Flower Moon,” Gladstone found her passion for acting at the University of Montana in Missoula. The now 37-year-old was cast in her first University of Montana theatrical production during her junior year by Professor Bernadette Sweeney, head of acting and musical theatre, in 2006.

In a UM Griz Chat press release, Sweeney discussed how she continued to mentor Gladstone after she graduated from the college’s School of Theatre and Dance in 2008. The professor stayed in touch with Gladstone and was there for her throughout her professional journey during moments of difficulty, when Gladstone considered a different career, to times of historic achievement.

When Gladstone made history by becoming the first American Indian woman to be nominated for and win Best Actress during Hollywood’s award season, Sweeney said she had known long before that the actress would be successful. “In a way, it’s not surprising because her talent was evident from the beginning,” Sweeney said.

Gladstone won the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture Drama for “Killers of the Flower Moon” in January. The actress won the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role in a Motion Picture and several other accolades this year. She was also nominated for Best Actress at the Oscars, but Emma Stone won the award on March 10.

Though Gladstone didn’t win the Oscar, she still made history by being the first American Indian woman to be nominated for Best Actress. The “Reservation Dogs” actress has also opened the doors for other American Indian actors.

“It is extraordinary to see Lily’s work take her to such national and international recognition. And while that is not the case for every actor, I think what it showcases is how far the work can take you,” Sweeney said in the press release. “As an Indigenous performer, she has really blazed a trail and is bringing some very belated representation all the way to the Oscars.”

Hollywood has lacked Indigenous representation in film and television since its beginnings. Throughout history, negative stereotypes and portrayals of Indigenous peoples have plagued the media. Shows like “Reservation Dogs,” written and directed by Natives, have been significant in providing realistic, modern and accurate representation.

Gladstone, who played Daniel’s mother, Hokti Sampson, adds depth to the character by handling the grief of losing her son and reconnecting with family.

“I think Lily’s success proves that as artists, it is important to remember who we are and to take pride in our origins and cultures,” said Sweeney in the press release. “Lily is paving the way for other Indigenous artists who have been marginalized for far too long.

“She also reminds us that the work of the actor involves inhabiting many different roles as an act of imagination and empathy, and that there is a wide range of possibilities available to every actor.”

Sourcing & Methodology Statement:

Chakasim, N. M. (2021, October 26). The Significance of Reservation Dogs and Indigenous Representation. The Indigenous Foundation. https://www.theindigenousfoundation.org/articles/the-significance-of-reservation-dogs-and-indigenous-representation 

Clary, F. (2024, January 7). Lily Gladstone Wins Historic Golden Globe for Best Actress. ICT. https://ictnews.org/news/lily-gladstone-wins-historic-golden-globe-for-best-actress 

Lauten-Scrivner, A. (2024, March 6). Griz chat: UM Mentor to Lily Gladstone Reflects on Oscar Nominee’s Historic Success. University of Montana. https://www.umt.edu/news/2024/03/030624bern.php 

Dateline:

BISMARCK, N.D.