Patti Smith Honors Lily Gladstone During First Public Appearance Since Hospitalization

In her first public appearance since a recent hospitalization, Patti Smith shared heartfelt sentiments about Lily Gladstone, the actress in "Killers of the Flower Moon," at the National Board of Review Awards Gala. As a renowned singer-songwriter, Smith presented Gladstone with the Best Actress award, addressing the audience, which included notable figures like Bradley Cooper and Martin Scorsese. She playfully compared the gathering to the vastness of Madison Square Garden before delving into admiration for Gladstone's performance in Scorsese's film, characterizing it as a poignant exploration of human frailties like greed, cowardice, and betrayal.

Commending Gladstone's portrayal of Mollie Burkhart, Smith emphasized the seamless conveyance of the character's internal struggles. Using a metaphor, Smith likened Gladstone to a "new moon" within the film—sensed but not always visible, always attuned to her surroundings. Celebrating Gladstone's recent Golden Globes win for Best Actress in a Drama, Smith continued to praise the actress's skill in embodying Mollie, highlighting nuanced expressions, gestures, and subtle manifestations of illness that mirrored the character's challenges and resilience to love, heal, and quietly condemn.

Smith's appearance at the awards gala marked a significant return after her December hospitalization in Bologna, Italy, leading to the cancellation of a concert at Teatro Duse. In a subsequent statement, Smith expressed gratitude for the medical team's care, acknowledging the privilege of such support and recognizing those less fortunate.

Shifting the focus to Lily Gladstone, the actress spoke to Rolling Stone in a recently published profile, discussing Native representation on screen. Gladstone revealed her extensive time acclimating to the script, emphasizing the Osage people's understanding of the history depicted in the film. She expressed that the movie's production provided an opportunity for many voices to be heard, with the Osage community's reaction being of utmost importance to her.