Native Americanactors have been getting their much-deserved dues in recent years in Hollywood, with younger and older Indigenous actors benefiting from more opportunities. Native Americans, Indigenous peoples, and First Nations peoples are all names for the peoples who can trace their origins to the original tribes, confederations, and communities that called America home long before any Europeans came ashore. Persecuted from the outset, even modern Hollywood is not free from the sin of disrespecting and disenfranchising Native American actors. There’s a long, sad history ofHollywood whitewashing Indigenous roles, that is when they’re even included at all.
But the story has been changing in the 21st century.Native American movies andTV shows are telling real stories of Indigenous peoples, made by and starring those closest to them. With shows likeReservation DogsandDark Winds, and movies likeRez Ballproving popular with critics and audiences alike,there’s been an upswell in positive representation of Native Americans on the screen. Some of these notable Native American actors have been working for decades, finally getting the recognition they deserve, and others are breaking out early in their careers.
15Adam Beach
The Power Of The Dog (2021), Arctic Air (2012-2014)
Adam Beach is a Saulteaux Anishinaabe actor who has been working since the 1990s, when he first appeared in the TV film,Lost in the Barrensas an unnamed hunting party member. This led to increasingly more significant roles, likeLaw & Order: Special Victims Unitas Detective Chester Lake andArctic Airas Bobby Martin. His film performances include playing William Lonestar inThe New Mutants, Slipknot inSuicide Squad, and Edward Nappo inThe Power of the Dog.He earned a Golden Globe nomination for his performance as Charles EastmaninBury My Heart at Wounded Knee.
14Tanaya Beatty
Yellowstone (2018-2022), Crimes Of The Future (2022)
Tanaya Beatty first rose to prominence withThe Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1as Rachel Black. She later went on to appear inCrimes of the Futureas Berst andThe Bird Who Fear Deathas Constance. In recent years, Beatty has made a name for herself in shows likeThe Night Shiftas Dr. Shannon Rivera andYellowstoneas Avery. She often plays capable and cool characters, who are strong under even the worst types of pressure.
13Gil Birmingham
Wind River (2017), Yellowstone (2018-Present)
Though Gil Birmingham has been acting since the 80s, it’s his role as Thomas Rainwater inYellowstonethat has thrust him into the spotlight. He also playedBilly Black in theTwilight Saga, Red Knee inThe Lone Ranger, Martin Hanson inWind River, and Chief Sherman inTransformers: The Last Knight. His other notable TV roles include Bill Taba inUnder the Banner of Heaven, Sheriff Dale Bishop inSiren, and Pearce inAnimal Kingdom. Birmingham frequently plays powerful community members and officers of the law.
12Alaqua Cox
Echo (2024), Hawkeye (2021)
Alaqua Cox of the Menominee and Mohican nation is an acting newcomer whose role as Maya Lopez or “Echo” inHawkeyeandEchohas made her one of thefew Native American MCU characters. She’s only worked in the MCU in her career, but the fledgling actress’s star is likely only to rise after the MCU hit. Cox is absolutely perfect for the role of Echo, buther fierceness in the performance and emotional capacity suggests she can fit in a wider range of movie and TV roles.
11Gary Farmer
Reservation Dogs (2021-2022), Resident Alien (2021-2024)
Gary Farmer is of the Cayuga Nation and Wolf Clan of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, and he’s been acting for decades, first appearing in an episode ofAmerican Playhousein 1983. His career has taken him on a long ride, but he most excels in comedy, able to wield his stature, size, and deadpan comedic timing to maximum effect. Farmer’s recent film credits include playing Calvin inQuantum Cowboysand Moon inBlood Quantum. His notable TV credits include playing Earl inRutherford Fallsand James Toledo inThe Curse.
10Lily Gladstone
Killers Of The Flower Moon (2023), Under The Bridge (2024)
Lily Gladstone made major waves for her starring performance in Martin Scorsese’sKillers of the Flower Moonwhere she plays Mollie Burkhart. The performance earned Gladstone an Academy Award nomination, and a Golden Globe and SAG win. It’s not the only successful part she’s played in recent years.Gladstone also had a memorable run onReservation Dogsas Hotki and stars in the seriesUnder the Bridgeas Cam Bentland. Her first role came in the 2012 French drama,Jimmy P: Psychotherapy of a Plains Indianas Sunshine First Circle.
9Graham Greene
Wind River (2017), Echo (2024)
Graham Greene is an Oneida actor whose first professional screen performance came in 1981 when he played John Norton inRead All About It!He’s had plenty of notable TV roles since then, including starring inEchoas Skully,Goliathas Littlecrow, andDefianceas Rafe McCawley. Greene’s film credits include Ben Shoyo inWind River, Judge Dustin Foxman inMolly’s Game, andWarren Stokes inAntlers. A dependable actor,Greene elevates whatever he’s in, even if it’s for only just a scene or an episode.
8Blu Hunt
Lawmen: Bass Reeves (2023), The New Mutants (2020)
The part-Apache and part-Oglala Lakota, Blu Hunt, is a young Native American actor new to Hollywood. Hunt began her professional career on television, first appearing in an episode ofGirl on Girlas a character also named Blu. She then appeared inThe Originalsas The Hollow, a recurring character in season 4, andAnother Lifeas August Catawnee. Her big break came in 2020 withThe New Mutants, where she co-starred as Dani “Mirage” Moonstar, a mutant who can create illusions. Hunt has recently starred inThe Dead Thingas Alex.
7Zahn McClarnon
The Forever Purge (2021), Dark Winds (2022-Present)
Zahn McClarnon, who has Hunkpapa Lakota ancestry, has long been a representative of Native Americans in cinema and television, beginning in 1992 when he appeared in an episode ofBaywatchas a character named Bear Sutter. He later went on to have bigger roles inDr Quinn, Medicine Womanas Walks on Cloud & Red Deer,Fargoas Hanzee Dent,Westworldas Akecheta, andDark Windsas Joe Leaphorn. McClarnon’s filmcredits includeBone Tomahawkas The Professor,Doctor Sleepas Crow Daddy, andThe Forever Purgeas Chiago.
6Amber Midthunder
Prey (2022), Rez Ball (2024)
Amber Midthunder is of Hunkpapa Lakota, Sisseton Dakota, and Sahiyaiyeskabi Assiniboine descent. Midthunder has been acting since the early 2000s, first appearing in the movieThe Homecoming of Jimmy Whitecloudas an unnamed Little Girl. In recent years, she’s had some notable hits, includingHell or High Wateras Nicole Martinez,Preyas Naru, andRez Ballas Dezbah Weaver. Midthunder’s TV credits include Kerry Loudermilk inLegion, Rose Ortecho inRoswell, New Mexico, and Princess Yue inAvatar: The Last Airbender.
