As the Native American star of a major Hollywood movie, Lily Gladstone, who will be starring in “Killers of the Flower Moon,” will be in rare company. But just how rare is it for Native Americans to have leading roles in Hollywood films?
The Annenberg Inclusion Initiative sought to answer this question in their latest research brief. They analyzed data from the 100 highest-grossing theatrical movies from 2007 to 2022 and found that out of the 1,600 films studied, there was only one Native American lead character. Blu Hunt played Dani Moonstar in the 2020 superhero ensemble film “The New Mutants.” It’s worth mentioning that the 2022 film “Prey,” in which Amber Midthunder stars as a young Comanche woman defeating the Predator, was not included in the research as it had a streaming-only domestic release.
Native Americans make up just 1.3% of the real-life population, according to the U.S. Census. However, their representation onscreen is even lower, with only 0.25% of speaking characters being Native American. Out of the 133 Native American movie roles analyzed, only 99 were played by actual Native Americans. These roles included 45 men and 19 women. Furthermore, 49 of these 64 Native actors appeared in just one movie over the past 16 years. Only two women were cast more than once, and they were part of the “Twilight” franchise, which accounted for 29.3% of the Native characters in the study.
The findings clearly show that there is a lack of career sustainability for Native actors in Hollywood. Working once in 16 years does not provide consistent income or opportunities for creative and fulfilling work that can build a resume or reel. This limitation of roles for Native actors hinders their ability to establish successful careers in the industry.
Related Post
Stacy L. Smith, the lead author of the study and founder of the Annenberg Inclusion Initiative, highlighted the issue by stating, “By limiting the number of roles for Native actors, Hollywood is closing the door to the careers that these talented actors want to have.” The lack of representation not only limits the opportunities for Native actors but also perpetuates stereotypes and reinforces the underrepresentation of Native American stories and perspectives in mainstream media.
Fortunately, there have been some recent efforts to increase Native American representation in Hollywood. Films like “Killers of the Flower Moon,” which casts a Native American actress as the lead, are steps in the right direction. Additionally, the success of films like “Prey” and the “Twilight” franchise demonstrates the audience demand for diverse Native American stories.
However, more needs to be done to address the underlying systemic issues that contribute to the lack of Native American representation in Hollywood. This includes challenging stereotypes, increasing collaboration with Native American communities in the storytelling process, and providing more opportunities for Native writers, directors, and producers.
Film studios, casting directors, and filmmakers have a responsibility to ensure that Native American stories are authentically and inclusively portrayed onscreen. This means actively seeking out and supporting Native actors, investing in projects that showcase diverse Native American narratives, and promoting diversity and inclusion behind the scenes.
To truly achieve equity and representation, it is crucial that Native American voices and perspectives are given the opportunity to shape and tell their own stories. By doing so, Hollywood can move towards a more inclusive and accurate portrayal of Native American experiences, and provide Native actors with the career sustainability they deserve.
