Celebrity Extra: Lily Gladstone
By Dana Jackson
Q: I recently saw the movie “Killers of the Flower Moon,” which is based on a true story. Who is the lead actress in it? Is she of Native American heritage? -- L.I.
A: Yes, actress Lily Gladstone is of Blackfeet and Nez Perce indigenous ancestry and grew up on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation. She earned her bachelor's degree of fine arts in acting/directing at the University of Montana with a minor in Native American Studies. "Killers of the Flower Moon," the newest film by acclaimed director Martin Scorsese, isn't her acting debut, but it will very likely lead to her first Oscar nomination, as she has wowed audiences with her performance in a film that also stars Robert De Niro and Leonardo DiCaprio.
According to an article in Entertainment Weekly, what cemented Gladstone's decision into taking the role in "Flower Moon" was the fact that Scorsese "sought out input from the Osage community." The movie, which is based on the book by David Grann, is about a series of real murders in the 1920s that took place on the oil-rich land of Oklahoma's Osage Nation, which led the newly formed FBI to jump on the case.
Before landing this high-profile role, Gladstone auditioned but never won roles on the hit series "Yellowstone," a show she calls "delusional" in its portrayal of her native people. She has appeared in several critically acclaimed series, however, including Showtime's "Billions" and FX on Hulu's "Reservation Dogs."
Actress Lily Gladstone ("Killers of the Flower Moon"). Photo Credit: Depositphotos
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Q: With all the delays because of the strikes, what is the latest on the upcoming "Snow White" movie? Will it be in theaters or just on TV? -- H.O.
A: The live-action Disney film "Snow White," starring Rachel Zegler ("West Side Story"), has postponed its release date. Originally planned to debut in theaters in March 2024, it's been pushed back to March 21, 2025. It'll be directed by Marc Webb and co-star Gal Gadot ("Wonder Woman") as the Evil Queen.
The original animated "Snow White" film was released in 1937. While the upcoming release is technically live-action, the seven dwarfs will be digitally enhanced with CGI.
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Q: Whatever happened to actress Bridgette Wilson? I remembered that she was in the first big Adam Sandler movie "Billy Madison," but I haven't seen her in anything lately. -- K.J.
A: Bridgette Wilson won the Miss Teen USA pageant in 1990 before making a name in Hollywood over the next couple of decades. After playing Sandler's love interest in the hit comedy "Billy Madison," she starred in the action film "Mortal Kombat," the horror flick "I Know What You Did Last Summer," and the romantic comedy "Love Stinks."
In 2000, she married tennis champion Pete Sampras and changed her name to Bridgette Wilson Sampras. The couple has stayed under the radar since Pete retired in 2002 and has been raising their two sons in California. Sadly, Pete recently announced that Bridgette has been battling ovarian cancer and asked for "good thoughts and prayers for our family as Bridgette continues to thrive on her healing journey."
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