Lily Gladstone & Emma Stone have dominated the Awards Season in the actress category, leading to a final showdown at the 96th Annual Academy Awards
By - Ubong Ekpo
Without a shadow of a doubt, the best two acting performances by actresses in 2023 were Lily Gladstone as Mollie Burkhart in Killers of The Flower Moon and Emma Stone as Bella Baxter in Poor Things
. Both of these performances couldn’t be any more polar opposites from each other; Gladstone showcases a subtle, but powerful performance as the Osage woman who endures a tragic romance, as her husband, Earnest Burkhart, played by Leonardo DiCaprio, over the years schemes with his uncle, played by Robert De Niro, to systematically murder her sisters & mother to gain the rights to her headright, i.e. her wealth, such as land, money. Emma Stone gives an out-of-this-world, colorful, explosive performance as the Frankstein-like creation of Bella Baxter, a woman who has the brain of her unborn child implanted into her body by a mad scientist. Both actresses have received critical acclaim throughout 2023 as their respective films made their way through film festivals to the big screen, with Gladstone and Stone being memorable standout performances alongside iconic leading men. Both women showcased masterclasses in acting that will be remembered for years to come.
Gladstone being Native American herself, of Piegan Blackfeet and Nez Perce descent, had some pressure to deliver the role of Mollie. Gladstone had to ensure she gave an accurate portrayal of the tragedy of Mollie’s family, while not making her a destitute victim and showcasing the resilience of Mollie and the Osage people.
Native Americans have historically been underrepresented in media, often reduced to stereotypes of savages. It was important to showcase Mollie’s story as accurately as possible, but at the same time not reduce her to a mere damsel in distress, which she executed magnificently. Gladstone held her own acting alongside legends like De Niro and DiCaprio, with most of her scenes being with DiCaprio and her reserved, but delightful demeanor balancing with DiCaprio’s charming, but ignorant ways as Earnest Burkhart.
There was some slight controversy over Gladstone choosing to campaign in the lead actress category, as her screen time would usually warrant a supporting nod, but I commend Gladstone. Mollie Burkhart is the heart and soul of Killers of The Flower Moon, her arc and what she goes through are shown as symbolic representations of the overall experience of Native Americans in the United States.
When I saw Emma Stone in Poor Things, I was truly mesmerized by the performance she gave. Playing a woman with the brain of her unborn child, a child woman, then going on a journey of self-discovery, was truly a groundbreaking role for her. Stone gives a realistic portrayal of someone discovering life and sexuality for the first time. Poor Things is most definitely not the easiest watch for some people, but beyond the graphic sexual elements, Poor Things was a truly liberating tale. Stone showcases the various stages of Bella’s development, giving the innocence of a child, genuinely not understanding why her actions at times were inappropriate. Stone portrays Bella with such a thoughtful comedic tone, that you can’t help but empathize and route for her. Everything Bella does is believable, not plot convenience, ultimately her autonomy is what she stays true to and is rewarded for at the end.
Throughout awards season, Stone and Gladstone have been trading awards, both women won Best Actress in a Comedy/ Musical for Stone and Drama for Gladstone at the Golden Globes. Stone then won Best Actress at the BAFTA Awards and Critics Choice Awards. Gladstone won the most recent televised award, SAG Best Actress, which is voted by the actors, who make up the largest voting block at the Academy Awards, which could possibly signal a Gladstone win. Lily Gladstone would make history as the first Native American person to win an Academy Award and only the third woman of color to win the Best Actress Oscar besides Halle Berry in 2002 for Monster’s Ball and last year’s 2023 winner, Michelle Yeoh for Everything Everywhere All at Once.
Regardless of who wins, I would be fine with either outcome, I find both women to be deserving equally, but I would love to see history be made with a Lily Gladstone win. Killers of the Flower Moon & Poor Things with ten and eleven Oscar nominations well deserved overall are remembered ultimately by the performances of their main actresses. Mollie Burkhart and Bella Baxter, just as their actresses Lily Gladstone and Emma Stone are two who wouldn’t usually be paired together, but as both dominate through the award season it gives a better appreciation for the art of acting and medium of film, which has linked both women together. Oscar night on Sunday will be the final showdown and the winner of bragging rights over who gave the best performance of 2023 and I and every other movie fanatic cannot wait.
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