Leonardo DiCaprio praises Killers of the Flower Moon costar Lily Gladstone’s acting talents and activism at Variety’s Power of Women event in LA

Leonardo DiCaprio sang the praises of his Killers of the Flower Moon costar Lily Gladstone at Variety’s Power of Women event Thursday at the Los Angeles restaurant Mother Wolf.

The 49-year-old actor was on hand to introduce Gladstone, 37, as she was honored at the event, according to Variety.

The Academy Award winner, who celebrated his birthday last week with a number of celebrities in attendance, was clad in a navy blue suit with black button-up shirt at the star-studded industry function. 

The Titanic star, in introducing Gladstone, noted the stellar work she did in movies such as Certain Women and Fancy Dance; and that she had been ‘on the verge of quitting acting altogether’ when they initially crossed paths.

DiCaprio said that Gladstone’s career path when weighed against her talents illustrate the inequities that still haunt Hollywood.

The latest: Leonardo DiCaprio, 49, sang the praises of his Killers of the Flower Moon costar Lily Gladstone, 37, at Variety Power of Women event Thursday at the Los Angeles restaurant Mother Wolf

Star power: The Departed actor was on hand to introduce Gladstone, 37, as she was honored at the event.

‘That an actor of such profound talent has found it a long and hard road to get this recognition speaks to the unfairness that still exists in our industry today,’ DiCaprio said.

DiCaprio said he ‘fervently’ hopes ‘that we’re entering a new era in which actors like Lily, who embody this authenticity and undeniable truth in their own storytelling, take center stage.

‘Because Lily’s not just an actor, she’s also an activist.’

DiCaprio called the actress a ‘wise, kind and humble soul, a tremendous talent, an incredibly important voice of change.’

DiCaprio hailed Gladstone for her efforts toward Indigenous women’s rights while working with National Indigenous Women’s Resource Center, which focuses on preventing violence against Native women.

Gladstone told Variety of the nonprofit organization: ‘Their work provides the resources necessary for grassroots cultural organizations to tackle these issues. It is very much designed for Native communities in a culturally-sensitive way that centers women, who are the backbone of sovereignty.’

DiCaprio plays the role of Ernest Burkhart in the film, while Gladstone plays Mollie Burkhart. The cast of the ensemble movie also features Robert De Niro, Jesse Plemons, John Lithgow and Brendan Fraser.

The event Thursday was attended by a number of stars, including Barbie beauty Margot Robbie, who has shared the screen with DiCaprio in films such as The Wolf of Wall Street and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. Also on hand were Oprah Winfrey, Meghan Markle and Dua Lipa, among others.

Dapper: The Academy Award winner was clad in a navy blue suit with black button-up shirt at the industry function

Speaking out: DiCaprio said that Gladstone’s career path when weighed against her talents illustrate the inequities that still haunt Hollywood

Aspirations: The Wolf of Wall Street actor said he ‘fervently’ hopes ‘that we’re entering a new era in which actors like Lily, who embody this authenticity and undeniable truth in their own storytelling, take center stage’

DiCaprio earlier this week briefly addressed his cringe-worthy and controversial rapping video while promoting his latest collaboration with feted filmmaker Martin Scorsese.

The actor has come under fire for his rapping skills in a video from his 49th birthday party in Beverly Hills last weekend, where he was seen rapping the 1994 song DWYCK from Gang Starr and Nice & Smooth.

Many on social media have compared the video to Kendall Roy’s (Jeremy Strong) awkward rap at his father Logan Roy’s (Brian Cox) birthday party in HBO‘s Succession.

DiCaprio was discussing Killers of the Flower Moon with Gladstone when the controversial video was brought up in an ET interview.

When the interviewer said it’s been known that Leo has always been a hip-hop head, Leo stated, ‘That is true.’

When asked if he was thinking ahead to the next big birthday, Leo stated, ‘Got to always think about 50.’

As for his music tastes, Leo added, ‘I have a range of musical love that goes back to our stuff from the ’20s, ’30s and ’40s with jazz and blues and things of that nature. And then hip-hop, too.’

His co-star Gladstone added, ‘That’s actually one way that we bonded early on, talking about music. We had a way to connect.’

Endorsement: DiCaprio called the actress a ‘wise, kind and humble soul, a tremendous talent, an incredibly important voice of change’

Specifics: DiCaprio hailed Gladstone for her efforts toward Indigenous women’s rights while working with National Indigenous Women’s Resource Center, which focuses on preventing violence against Native women

Jovial: The costars in the forthcoming period piece enjoyed a laugh at the industry event 

DiCaprio and Gladstone are joined in the cast of the movie by Robert De Niro, Jesse Plemons, John Lithgow and Brendan Fraser

DiCaprio added, ‘And then we talked about old jazz music too,’ and when the interviewer asked about the chemistry between them, Gladstone said, ‘I mean, I think we just get along really easy. I attribute it to my dad is a Scorpio so I know how to be around Scorpio men.’

When asked about any awards season buzz, DiCaprio said they would both be, ‘honored’ if it did pick up any Oscar nominations.

‘We are very proud of this movie, and I couldn’t be more proud of it,’ DiCaprio said of the movie, which is currently playing in theaters.

The film is DiCaprio’s sixth with iconic director Martin Scorsese, who Leo says has been, ‘a cinematic father figure to me, much like Mr. De Niro has.’

They have previously worked on 2002’s Gangs of New York, 2004’s The Aviator, 2006’s The Departed, 2010’s Shutter Island, 2013’s The Wolf of Wall Street, with Leo adding he has looked up to both Scorsese and De Niro.

He called them both, ‘the great duo of my generation, and so to be able to do six films now with Marty and 30 years after my first starring role (in What’s Eating Gilbert Grape), doing a movie with the three of them was mindblowing.’ 

DiCaprio had previously praised Lily, who is already garnering Oscar buzz for her performance, and grew up on the Blackfeet Nation reservation in Montana.

‘She brought so much not only to her character but to the entire film. She was an amazing partner to have,’ DiCaprio said of Gladstone.

Gladstone added, ‘It’s a big responsibility and it’s terrifying. It’s hard being a Native actor, having this sort of this much that you are, you can audition for. Yeah Marty showed me that it’s possible.’