Lily Gladstone’s High School Superlative Goes Viral as She Nears Oscar Win for ‘Killers of the Flower Moon’
It’s a story that seems straight out of a Hollywood movie. Twenty years ago, a high school yearbook photo of Lily Gladstone resurfaced, with the superlative “Most Likely to Win an Oscar.” Little did anyone know at the time that this seemingly playful prediction would become a reality as Gladstone now finds herself on the cusp of an Academy Award nomination for her role in Martin Scorsese’s film, Killers of the Flower Moon.
In the viral photo, a young Gladstone is seen alongside her classmate Josh Ryder, both voted as the ones most likely to achieve greatness in the film industry. As Gladstone inches closer to fulfilling this prophecy, Ryder has nothing but praise for his former classmate. In an interview with Entertainment Tonight, he expressed his admiration, saying, “I don’t think I had the capacity necessarily to think, or the understanding of what it would take to put oneself in that position to be nominated for an Oscar, and Lily has done it.”
Ryder’s words reflect the sentiments of their former classmates, who have been brought together by the resurgence of this high school photo. “Everybody’s so excited about this,” he added. It’s a testament to the power of Gladstone’s journey and the impact she has had on those who knew her during her formative years.
For Ryder, if Gladstone were to win the Oscar, it would be a storybook ending. He believes that this is just the beginning for her and envisions a future filled with more accolades. “She’s – we’re not even 40 yet. If she stays in the game, she might be able to rack up, you know, a few [Oscars],” he said.
Gladstone herself has been touched by the support she has received from her former classmates. In an interview with USA Today, she revealed that her co-star Leonardo DiCaprio had texted her the high school photo after her nomination was announced. Additionally, she has been in contact with Ryder, who has been a pillar of support throughout this award season. “He told me, ‘I don’t know if you know this, but all of this greatness in your life has brought our whole class back together,'” Gladstone shared. “They’re having an Oscars watch party. They already scheduled it to happen in our old high-school theater, so I’m happy that I didn’t disappoint there.”
As a Native American actor, Gladstone’s nomination holds significant historical importance. In an interview with Deadline, she expressed her frustration at being the first Indigenous North American to receive such recognition. “Why am I the first? Why did it have to take this long for me to be the first Indigenous North American?” she questioned. Gladstone highlighted the irony that many films nominated in these categories are shot on Indigenous land in North America, yet it took this long for representation to be acknowledged.
As we eagerly await the outcome of the upcoming award season, Lily Gladstone’s journey serves as an inspiration to aspiring actors and a reminder of the power of dreams. From a high school superlative to the brink of an Oscar win, her story is a testament to talent, perseverance, and the enduring impact of childhood friendships.