Paulina Alexis

Paulina Alexis
Born
Alexis Nakota Sioux Nation Reserve, Alberta, Canada
Other namesWagiya Cizhan/Young Eagle
OccupationActress
Years active2020–present
Known forReservation Dogs, Bones of Crows, Ghostbusters: Afterlife, Beans

Paulina Jewel Alexis, also known as Wǎgíyaŋ Čížaŋ or Young Eagle, is a First Nations (Alexis Nakota Sioux) actress best known for her role as Willie Jack in Reservation Dogs (2021–2023).[1] She won the Independent Spirit Award for Best Ensemble Cast in a New Scripted Series in 2022[2] and in 2023 and 2024 was nominated for the Critics' Choice Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series.[3][4] The series won a Peabody Award.[5]

Alexis was raised on a Alexis Nakota Sioux First Nation reserve in Alberta. As a child, she played hockey and attended school in Edmonton. At age 18, she landed her first professional film role as a minor character in Ghostbusters: Afterlife (2021), and later featured in the 2020 Canadian film Beans. She had her breakout role as the tomboyish girl Willie Jack on Reservation Dogs, a performance which garnered critical attention.

  1. ^ Allaire, Christian (March 14, 2022). "Paulina Alexis's Critics Choice Awards Look Was a Display of Indigenous Pride". Vogue. Archived from the original on July 27, 2023. Retrieved July 27, 2023.
  2. ^ "History". Film Independent. Archived from the original on April 20, 2023. Retrieved July 27, 2023.
  3. ^ Panaligan, E. J.; Earl, William (January 16, 2023). "Critics' Choice Awards 2023 Full Winners List: 'Everything Everywhere All at Once,' 'Abbott Elementary' and 'Better Call Saul' Take Top Honors". Variety. Archived from the original on January 16, 2023. Retrieved July 27, 2023.
  4. ^ Brathwaite, Lester Fabian (January 14, 2024). "Oppenheimer, Barbie, The Bear lead 2024 Critics Choice Awards: See the full winners list". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on May 17, 2024. Retrieved January 15, 2024.
  5. ^ "Reservation Dogs". The Peabody Awards. Archived from the original on August 6, 2023. Retrieved July 27, 2023.