Top 10 Best Native American Actresses

Tinseltown harbors a notorious habit of obscuring phenomenal talent right in plain sight. For over a century, major studios have largely sidelined Indigenous performers. Directors routinely banish them to the backdrop or peddle tired tropes that completely insult their actual range. A staggering metric exposes the sheer gravity of this exclusion. Across 1,600 top-grossing films spanning sixteen years, less than one-quarter of one percent of all speaking roles went to Native American characters. That figure is not a mere statistical anomaly. It is a systematic cinematic blackout. Yet against this oppressive current of invisibility, a fierce vanguard of brilliant women continues to shatter the celluloid ceiling. These artists are actively reclaiming hijacked narratives and delivering absolute masterclasses in acting.

This is your opportunity to elevate the artists who are radically reshaping the entertainment landscape. The performers featured here bring incredible emotional texture to the screen while carrying the heavy weight of authentic representation. Vote for the choices you think deserve to be at the top of this list, as other people have. Every single click helps amplify voices historically muffled by out-of-touch studio executives. Your participation actively rebels against the dismal casting trends of bygone eras. It loudly signals to industry gatekeepers that audiences demand genuine Indigenous storytelling.

1. Tantoo Cardinal

   Tantoo Cardinal is a Canadian actress of Cree and Métis descent who has worked in film and television for several decades. She portrayed Black Shawl in the acclaimed 1990 western film Dances with Wolves. In recognition of her contributions to the arts, she was appointed as a Member of the Order of Canada in 2009.

   Love this woman's acting skills and that voice! For whatever reason, I seem to be able to recognize her voice. It always grabs my attention. One remarkable actress.

   Excellent lady! Excellent actress! Love her work. Sorry, I see none better than this woman! Tantoo, you are excellent!

   My 1st choice for the protagonist if my book gets made into a movie! The role should only be played by a mature Native American actress!

2. Irene Bedard

   Irene Bedard is an American actress born in Anchorage, Alaska with Inupiat and Cree ancestry. She provided the speaking voice for the titular character in the 1995 Disney animated feature Pocahontas. She also starred as Suzy Song in the independent film Smoke Signals alongside Adam Beach and Evan Adams.

   Ever since I first saw the movie "Smoke Signals", I was smitten by Ms. Bedard. When I was in Oklahoma, I got to meet her at the Comanche fair. She spoke with me and signed a picture as well. She is not only beautiful but very sweet and did not put on any airs. I love how the light in her eyes dances and her beautiful smile.

   For one, Megan Fox is not as experienced an actor as Irene, and I gotta show love to another classy Inupiaq woman like me.

   Irene! Megan only claims Native out of convenience and doesn't qualify in my opinion.

3. Tina Keeper

   Tina Keeper is a Cree activist, producer, and former politician from Manitoba, Canada. She gained national recognition for playing Royal Canadian Mounted Police officer Michelle Kenidi on the drama series North of 60. She later served a single term as a Member of Parliament for the Churchill riding representing the Liberal Party.

4. Elaine Miles

   Elaine Miles is an American actress who was raised on the Umatilla Indian Reservation in eastern Oregon. She secured the role of Marilyn Whirlwind on the television show Northern Exposure despite having no prior acting experience. Following the conclusion of that series, she appeared in independent feature films such as Smoke Signals and Skins.

5. Jude Herrera

   

   Jude Herrera is an American actress who has worked across film, television, and stage productions. She made her onscreen debut playing Bonnie Tsotsie in the 1996 television movie Blue Rodeo. Her television credits include guest appearances on network broadcast programs like ER and Walker, Texas Ranger.

6. Kimberly Norris Guerrero

   Kimberly Norris Guerrero is an American actress and screenwriter with Colville, Salish-Kootenai, and Cherokee heritage. Television audiences often recognize her from a guest role on Seinfeld where she played Jerry's girlfriend Winona. She later portrayed the first female Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation, Wilma Mankiller, in the biographical film The Cherokee Word for Water.

7. Jennifer Podemski

   Jennifer Podemski is a Canadian film and television professional of Saulteaux and Jewish descent. She began her on-screen career starring as Sadie Maracle in the 1994 feature film Dance Me Outside. She subsequently transitioned into production by founding Redcloud Studios to develop Indigenous programming like the paranormal series Rabbit Fall.

8. Alex Rice

   Alex Rice is a Mohawk actress born on the Kahnawake reserve in Quebec, Canada. She played the recurring character of Navajo tribal police officer Janet Pete in three PBS television film adaptations of Tony Hillerman novels. Her big screen appearances include a supporting role in the 2005 historical drama The New World directed by Terrence Malick.

9. Karina Lombard

   Karina Lombard is an actress who spent much of her childhood attending boarding schools in Switzerland. She secured a prominent role portraying the character of Isabel Two in the 1994 epic historical drama Legends of the Fall. She later joined the cast of the television drama The L Word to play the character Marina Ferrer during its first season.

10. Jeri Arredondo

    Jeri Arredondo is a Native American actress who has appeared in multiple independent films over the course of her career. She portrayed the character Cora Smallhill in the 2007 coming-of-age drama Four Sheets to the Wind. She also played the role of Velada McCree in the 1993 western Silent Tongue and appeared in the 2001 movie The Doe Boy.