Sacheen Littlefeather, the Native American actress who famously turned down Marlon Brando’s Best Actor Oscar for The Godfather in 1973, thinks the action ruined her career in Hollywood.

Sacheen’s Oscars speech in 1973 did not age well. In her documentary Sacheen: Breaking The Silence, the actor recently discussed how the incident halted her career.

The White Mountain Apache actress and activist, now 74, claimed that while her performance thrilled Brando, she felt abandoned by the Apocalypse Now star in the public backlash that followed.

Apache activist Sacheen Littlefeather speaks to the press after rejecting the Academy Award in place of Best Actor winner Marlon Brando. (Bettmann Archive)

As head of the National Native American Affirmative Image Committee at the time, she stated that the actor could not receive the prize because “of the treatment of American Indians today by the film industry and on television in movie reruns.”

In the documentary, Littlefeather states, “It was the first time anyone had made a political statement at the Oscars. It was the first Oscars ceremony to be broadcast by satellite all over the world, which is why Marlon chose it. I didn’t have an evening dress so Marlon told me to wear my buckskin.”

Buckskins are garments manufactured from soft suede leather derived from deer hide. They were initially worn by Native Americans owing to their practicality — sometimes finished with fringe, the garment can absorb rain and dry quickly when wet. They can also be used as camouflage.

As she walked onto the platform, Littlefeather said she could “hear the boos and jeers.”

“I later learned six security guards had to hold back John Wayne, who was in the wings and wanted to storm on to the stage and drag me off,” she alleged.

Sacheen Littlefeather at Museum Of Tolerance on November 20, 2010 in Los Angeles, California. (FilmMagic)

She stated that Marlon Brando had sent her to the award ceremony with a lengthy statement that she couldn’t read due to time constraints but would share with the press afterwards. She then disclosed that Marlon Brando will be unable to accept the prize due to the abuse of American Indians in the film business. She urged the audience, which had begun booing her, to please excuse her. After a brief pause, she concluded her remarks by expressing her hope that Native Americans will be treated with respect in the film business.

After the ceremony, Littlefeather traveled to Brando’s residence, where “he told me I’d done a great job,” she remembers.

Although Brando congratulated her, Littlefeather claimed the public backlash made his praise bittersweet.