{"id":2178567,"date":"2025-11-27T07:10:33","date_gmt":"2025-11-27T07:10:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/?p=2178567"},"modified":"2025-11-27T07:10:33","modified_gmt":"2025-11-27T07:10:33","slug":"11-native-actors-you-should-know","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/11-native-actors-you-should-know\/","title":{"rendered":"11 Native Actors You Should Know"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><\/p>\n<div itemprop=\"articleBody\">\n<div class=\"pull-none item-image\">  <\/div>\n<dl class=\"article-info muted\">\n<dt class=\"article-info-term\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tDetails\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/dt>\n<dd class=\"createdby\" itemprop=\"author\" itemscope=\"\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Person\">\n\t\t\t\t\tBy <span itemprop=\"name\">Kaili Berg<\/span>\t<\/dd>\n<dd class=\"create\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"icon-calendar\" aria-hidden=\"true\"\/><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t<time datetime=\"2025-11-26T18:48:56-05:00\" itemprop=\"dateCreated\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\tNovember 26, 2025\t\t\t\t\t<\/time>\n\t\t\t<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<p><em><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">This Native American Heritage Month, Native News Online is celebrating by sharing our favorite Native American actors, movies, TV shows, books, chefs, musicians, artists, and fashion designers.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">In Hollywood, Native actors are rewriting the narrative and proving that authentic representation matters.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<div><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">From historic Oscar nominations to breakout TV roles, these eleven actors are leading the way.<\/span><\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"custom nno-mc-in-article\">\n<div class=\"in-article-signupbox\">\n<p><strong>Never miss Indian Country\u2019s biggest stories and breaking news.<\/strong>\u00a0Sign up to get our reporting sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><!--End mc_embed_signup--><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>\u00a0\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Lily Gladstone (Blackfeet, Nez Perce)<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The &#8220;Killers of the Flower Moon&#8221; star made history as the first Native woman to win a Golden Globe and <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">be nominated<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> for an Oscar for Best Actress.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/nativenewsonline.net\/images\/2022\/Lily_Gladstone.jpg\" alt=\"Lily Gladstone\" width=\"800\" height=\"500\"\/><\/p>\n<p><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Zahn McClarnon (Lakota)<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Best known for &#8220;Dark Winds&#8221; and &#8220;Reservation Dogs,&#8221; McClarnon brings intelligence and intensity to every role. McClarnon&#8217;s performances have made him one of television&#8217;s most respected Native leads.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/nativenewsonline.net\/images\/2022\/Zahn_McClarnon.jpg\" alt=\"Zahn McClarnon\" width=\"800\" height=\"500\"\/><\/p>\n<p><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Mo Brings Plenty (Oglala Lakota) <\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Brings Plenty has most recently earned critical acclaim for his recurring role on Paramount&#8217;s smash hit series &#8220;Yellowstone.&#8221; He&#8217;ll reprise the role in 2026&#8217;s upcoming &#8220;Y: Marshalls.&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/nativenewsonline.net\/images\/2022\/Mo_Brings_Plenty.jpg\" alt=\"Mo Brings Plenty\" width=\"800\" height=\"500\"\/><\/p>\n<p><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Kiowa Gordon (Hualapai)<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">From The Twilight Saga to &#8220;Dark Winds,&#8221; Gordon&#8217;s range has grown from blockbuster roles to culturally rooted storytelling. Gordon continues to expand Native visibility in both mainstream and Indigenous-centered storytelling.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/nativenewsonline.net\/images\/2022\/_Kiowa_Gordon.jpg\" alt=\" Kiowa Gordon\" width=\"800\" height=\"500\"\/><\/p>\n<p><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Jessica Matten (M\u00e9tis, Cree)<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Matten&#8217;s roles in &#8220;Dark Winds&#8221; and Rez Ball spotlight strong, complex Native women. Off-screen, she advocates for Indigenous rights and greater opportunities for Native youth in entertainment.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/nativenewsonline.net\/images\/2022\/Jessica_Matten.jpg\" alt=\"Jessica Matten\" width=\"800\" height=\"500\"\/><\/p>\n<p><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Devery Jacobs (Mohawk, Kahnaw\u00e0:ke)<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">A star and writer on &#8220;Reservation Dogs,&#8221; Jacobs pushes for Indigenous stories told by Indigenous people.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/nativenewsonline.net\/images\/2022\/Devery_Jacobs.jpg\" alt=\"Devery Jacobs\" width=\"800\" height=\"500\"\/><\/p>\n<p><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Wes Studi (Cherokee Nation)<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">An Academy Honorary Award winner, Studi broke barriers in classics like The Last of the Mohicans and Dances with Wolves. His career continues to influence Native representation across Hollywood.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/nativenewsonline.net\/images\/2022\/Wes_Studi.jpg\" alt=\"Wes Studi\" width=\"800\" height=\"500\"\/><\/p>\n<p><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Tantoo Cardinal (M\u00e9tis, Cree)<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">With more than 100 film and TV credits, Cardinal is a living legend. Her lifelong career represents strength, resilience, and commitment to accurate Indigenous storytelling, especially in Hollywood.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/nativenewsonline.net\/images\/2022\/Tantoo_Cardinal.jpg\" alt=\"Tantoo Cardinal\" width=\"800\" height=\"500\"\/><\/p>\n<p><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Michael Greyeyes (Plains Cree)<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Greyeyes has earned critical acclaim for &#8220;Rutherford Falls,&#8221; <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Crazy<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> Horse, <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">and<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Woman<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> Walks Ahead, <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">bringing<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> layered portrayals of Native men to modern film and TV.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/nativenewsonline.net\/images\/2022\/Michael_Greyeyes_2.jpg\" alt=\"Michael Greyeyes 2\" width=\"800\" height=\"500\"\/><\/p>\n<p><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Kali Reis (Seaconke Wampanoag)<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">A professional boxer turned actress, Reis stars in &#8220;Catch the Fair One&#8221; and &#8220;True Detective,&#8221; bringing power and authenticity to complex Native roles.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/nativenewsonline.net\/images\/2022\/Kali_Reis.jpg\" alt=\"Kali Reis\" width=\"800\" height=\"500\"\/><\/p>\n<p><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Forrest Goodluck (Din\u00e9, Mandan, Hidatsa, Tsimshian)<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">From &#8220;The Revenant&#8221; to&#8221; How to Blow Up a Pipeline&#8221;, Goodluck is part of a new generation leading Indigenous cinema forward.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/nativenewsonline.net\/images\/2022\/Forrest_Goodluck.jpg\" alt=\"Forrest Goodluck\" width=\"800\" height=\"500\"\/><\/p>\n<p><!-- Author Info Box Plugin for Joomla! - Kubik-Rubik Joomla! Extensions - Viktor Vogel --><\/p>\n<h4 style=\"clear:both\">More Stories Like This<\/h4>\n<p><a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/nativenewsonline.net\/arts-entertainment\/11-native-actors-you-should-know\/a-native-american-heritage-month-playlist-you-can-listen-to-all-year-long\">A Native American Heritage Month Playlist You Can Listen to All Year Long<\/a><br \/><a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/nativenewsonline.net\/arts-entertainment\/11-native-actors-you-should-know\/five-native-american-films-you-should-watch-this-thanksgiving\">Five Native American Films You Should Watch This Thanksgiving Weekend<\/a><br \/><a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/nativenewsonline.net\/arts-entertainment\/11-native-actors-you-should-know\/heavy-metal-is-healing-teens-on-the-blackfeet-nation\">Heavy metal is healing teens on the Blackfeet Nation<\/a><br \/><a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/nativenewsonline.net\/arts-entertainment\/11-native-actors-you-should-know\/over-150-tribal-museums-participate-in-fourth-annual-celebration-of-native-life\">Over 150 Tribal Museums Participate in Fourth Annual Celebration of Native Life<\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"customdonate_article\">\n<div>\n<p><span style=\"background-color: #ffff99;\"><strong>Help us tell the stories that could save Native languages and food traditions<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p>At a critical moment for Indian Country, Native News Online is embarking on our most ambitious reporting project yet: &#8220;Cultivating Culture,&#8221; a three-year investigation into two forces shaping Native community survival\u2014food sovereignty and language revitalization.<\/p>\n<p>The devastating impact of COVID-19 accelerated the loss of Native elders and with them, irreplaceable cultural knowledge. Yet across tribal communities, innovative leaders are fighting back, reclaiming traditional food systems and breathing new life into Native languages. These aren&#8217;t just cultural preservation efforts\u2014they&#8217;re powerful pathways to community health, healing, and resilience.<\/p>\n<p>Our dedicated reporting team will spend three years documenting these stories through on-the-ground reporting in 18 tribal communities, producing over 200 in-depth stories, 18 podcast episodes, and multimedia content that amplifies Indigenous voices. We&#8217;ll show policymakers, funders, and allies how cultural restoration directly impacts physical and mental wellness while celebrating successful models of sovereignty and self-determination.<\/p>\n<p>This isn&#8217;t corporate media parachuting into Indian Country for a quick story. This is sustained, relationship-based journalism by Native reporters who understand these communities. It&#8217;s &#8220;Warrior Journalism&#8221;\u2014fearless reporting that serves the 5.5 million readers who depend on us for news that mainstream media often ignores.<\/p>\n<p><strong>We need your help right now.<\/strong> While we&#8217;ve secured partial funding, we&#8217;re still $450,000 short of our three-year budget. Our immediate goal is $25,000 this month to keep this critical work moving forward\u2014funding reporter salaries, travel to remote communities, photography, and the deep reporting these stories deserve.<\/p>\n<p>Every dollar directly supports Indigenous journalists telling Indigenous stories. Whether it&#8217;s $5 or $50, your contribution ensures these vital narratives of resilience, innovation, and hope don&#8217;t disappear into silence.<\/p>\n<p><strong><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/nativenewsonline.net\/images\/2022\/Levi-headshot.jpg\" alt=\"Levi headshot\" width=\"127\" height=\"127\" style=\"margin-right: 15px; float: left;\"\/><\/strong><em\/>The stakes couldn&#8217;t be higher. Native languages are being lost at an alarming rate. Food insecurity plagues many tribal communities. But solutions are emerging, and these stories need to be told.<\/p>\n<p><em>Support independent Native journalism. Fund the stories that matter.<\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">Levi Rickert (Potawatomi), Editor &amp; Publisher<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.paypal.com\/giving\/campaigns?campaign_id=REMMBSEZXP7QN\" width=\"382\" height=\"550\" title=\"PayPal donate campaign card\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"author_infobox\">\n<p>About The Author<\/p>\n<div class=\"author_infobox_image_profile\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/nativenewsonline.net\/images\/Headshots\/68475777_2308218075894267_1708832779724128256_n.jpg\" alt=\"Kaili Berg\"\/><\/div>\n<div class=\"author_infobox_name\"><span class=\"bold\">Author:<\/span> <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/nativenewsonline.net\/staff-directory\/kaili-berg\" title=\"Kaili Berg\">Kaili Berg<\/a><span class=\"bold marginleft\">Email:<\/span> <span id=\"cloak66f50bf50abd98903fbce3301fc05e84\">This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.<\/span><\/div>\n<p>Staff Reporter<\/p>\n<p>Kaili Berg (Aleut) is a member of the Alutiiq\/Sugpiaq Nation, and a shareholder of Koniag, Inc. She is a staff reporter for Native News Online and Tribal Business News. Berg, who is based in Wisconsin, previously reported for the Ho-Chunk Nation newspaper, Hocak Worak. She went to school originally for nursing, but changed her major after finding her passion in communications at Western Technical College in Lacrosse, Wisconsin. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><br class=\"clear\"\/>    <\/div>\n<p><script type=\"text\/javascript\">\n!function(f,b,e,v,n,t,s){if(f.fbq)return;n=f.fbq=function(){n.callMethod?\nn.callMethod.apply(n,arguments):n.queue.push(arguments)};if(!f._fbq)f._fbq=n;\nn.push=n;n.loaded=!0;n.version='2.0';n.queue=[];t=b.createElement(e);t.async=!0;\nt.src=v;s=b.getElementsByTagName(e)[0];s.parentNode.insertBefore(t,s)}(window,\ndocument,'script','https:\/\/connect.facebook.net\/en_US\/fbevents.js');\nfbq('init', '6281125331913536', {}, {agent: 'pljoomla'});\nfbq('track', 'PageView');\n<\/script><\/p>\n<p><em> \u2018 The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n<p><em> \u2018 Some details of this article were extracted from the following source nativenewsonline.net \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Details By Kaili Berg November 26, 2025 This Native American Heritage Month, Native News Online is celebrating by sharing our favorite Native American actors, movies, TV shows, books, chefs, musicians, artists, and fashion designers. \u00a0 In Hollywood, Native actors are rewriting the narrative and proving that authentic representation matters.\u00a0 From historic Oscar nominations to breakout [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2178568,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"jnews-multi-image_gallery":[],"jnews_single_post":[],"jnews_primary_category":[],"jnews_social_meta":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[25172],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2178567","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-entertainment"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/11-Native-Actors-You-Should-Know.png","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2178567","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2178567"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2178567\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2178569,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2178567\/revisions\/2178569"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2178568"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2178567"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2178567"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2178567"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}