Emmy Awards 2024: Lily Gladstone and Kali Reis Pave the Way As They Become First Indigenous Women to Bag Nominations

Lily Gladstone and Kali Reis have both received their first Primetime Emmy nominations, bringing them reason to celebrate. Their nominations in the supporting actress category for limited series roles in Hulu’s Under the Bridge and HBO/Max’s True Detective: Night Country mark a significant milestone. These nominations are noteworthy as they represent the first time Indigenous women have been recognized for acting at the Emmys. They are only the second and third Indigenous actors to receive such acknowledgment in the 76-year history of the awards.

Lily Gladstone: Trailblazing Native American actress, makes Emmy and Oscar history

The only other Native American to receive a nomination in any acting category was August Schellenberg for his role as Sitting Bull in the HBO movie Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee in 2007.

Joining Lily Gladstone and Kali Reis as nominees are Dakota Fanning for Ripley, Jessica Gunning for Baby Reindeer, Aja Naomi King for Lessons in Chemistry, Diane Lane for Feud: Capote vs. The Swans, and Nava Mau for Baby Reindeer.

In Under the Bridge, Gladstone plays the role of Cam Bentland, a police officer investigating the murder of a 14-year-old girl named Reena Virk. Earlier this year, Gladstone made history by becoming the first Native American actress nominated for Best Actress for her performance as Mollie Burkhart in Martin Scorsese’s crime drama Killers of the Flower Moon. She joins the ranks of Indigenous women nominated for Oscars, such as Yalitza Aparicio for Roma (2018) and Keisha Castle-Hughes for Whale Rider (2004).

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Kali Reis makes TV debut as detective in ‘True Detective: Night Country’ amid Emmy success

In the fourth season of True Detective: Night Country, Kali Reis portrays Evangeline Navarro, a half-Dominican state trooper investigating the mysterious disappearance of scientists in a fictional town called Ennis, Alaska. Reis, a former world boxing champion in two weight classes, made her acting debut in the 2021 thriller Catch the Fair One. Night Country marks her first television performance.

Alongside Reis, Night Country received 19 Emmy nominations, including Outstanding Limited Series, Outstanding Supporting Actor for John Hawkes, and Outstanding Actress for Jodie Foster. In contrast, Lily Gladstone is the sole nominee for Under the Bridge, which also secured a nomination for Theo James under the movie title.