'Truly a gift': 'Killers of the Flower Moon's' Lily Gladstone wins best actress at SAG Awards

Adding to her already historic cinematic awards season, "Killers of the Flower Moon" star Lily Gladstone won Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role Saturday night at the 30th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards.

"It's truly a gift that we get to do this for a living. That's the win: It's getting to be here, it's getting to be on set, it's getting to tell stories. We bring empathy into a world that so much needs it," Gladstone said while accepting the award.

"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. 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."

It was another groundbreaking moment for Gladstone: She is the first Indigenous performer to win in the best film actress category at the SAG Awards, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Filmed in and around Osage County in 2021, "Killers of the Flower Moon" has brought to light a dark and often-overlooked chapter of Oklahoma history: The 1920s "Reign of Terror," a series of brutal murders of oil-rich Osage Nation citizens.

The breakout star of "Killers of the Flower Moon," Gladstone, who is NiMíiPuu, or Nez Perce, and Siksikaitsitapi, or Blackfeet, has made history throughout this awards season for her powerful lead turn as Mollie Kyle Burkhart, a real-life Osage woman who was marked for death in the Reign of Terror.

Last month, Gladstone became the first Indigenous person to ever win the Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Drama at the 81st Golden Globe Awards.

She also is the first Native American to be nominated for the best actress Oscar in the nearly 100-year history of the Academy Awards.

'Killers of the Flower Moon' star receives standing ovation at SAG Awards

Streaming live for the first time on Netflix, the SAG-AFTRA union's awards show honors the best in film and television performances from the previous year. Gladstone was one of several stars who took the stage Saturday night to reference last year's 118-day SAG-AFTRA strike.

"My friends, fellow actors, I feel the good in what you have done, in what you do. It has been a hard year for all of us. Those in this room, those not in this room, I'm so proud that we've gotten here in solidarity with all of our other unions," said Gladstone, who again incorporated the Blackfeet language into her acceptance speech, just as she did at the Golden Globes.

Gladstone seemed to fight back tears as presenter Jessica Chastain read her name as the best film actress winner. The star-studded crowd at Shrine Auditorium & Expo Hall in Los Angeles rose to give Gladstone a standing ovation.

"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. ... Have a good one. See you again," Gladstone finished her SAG Awards speech.

Who else won at this year's SAG Awards?

"Oppenheimer" continued to prove an awards season juggernaut Saturday night. Christopher Nolan's historical drama won the top film prize — Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture — at the SAG Awards.

The film's titular star, Cillian Murphy, took home The Actor trophy for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role, while Robert Downey Jr. continued to dominate the supporting actor category.

Da’Vine Joy Randolph continued her triumphant run of the best supporting actress category with her breakthrough turn in "The Holdovers."

On the TV side, "The Bear," "Beef," "Succession," "The Last of Us" and "The Crown" were among the winners at this year's SAG Awards.

Legendary actor, singer, producer, writer, and director Barbra Streisand accepted SAG-AFTRA’s highest tribute, the SAG Life Achievement Award, during the show.

Lily Gladstone's SAG Awards win brings added attention to closely watched Oscars race

Gladstone's big win at the SAG Awards draws even more attention to what's already one of the most closely watched contests at this year's Academy Awards: The best actress race between Gladstone and "Poor Things" star Emma Stone is thought to be too close to call.

Both performers emerged victorious at the Golden Globes, with Gladstone winning Best Actress in a Drama and Stone winning Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy.

Stone went on to win the best actress prizes at the Critics Choice Awards and Britain's BAFTA Awards, while Gladstone won at the SAG Awards.

Last year, all four SAG winners went on to win Oscars, according to Gold Derby.

The 96th Academy Awards are scheduled to air March 10 on ABC.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: 'Killers of the Flower Moon' star Lily Gladstone wins at SAG Awards