Hailee Steinfeld: Career Study

With many Hollywood acting-newcomers often finding success without displaying any special talent, Hailee Steinfeld has proven to be a different case entirely

CREDIT: Paolo Abad/Rappler

by Jack Linsdell

Hailee Steinfeld has experienced a rapid rise to fame since she first stepped in front of the cameras in the Coen Brother's western-remake 'True Grit' as a thirteen-year-old girl in 2010. Indeed, that journey is still on the rise, as month after month brings her new achievements both personally and professionally. However, with the immense talent which she offers, but also a sense of grounding, care and passion that helps define her very likeable personality, Steinfeld deserves every success she gets, truly. 

Now, it's not always the case but very often (and especially in our modern age of cinema) many newcomers find success in Hollywood, despite lacking the rare talent that makes a select few capable of reaching emotional depth and integrity in a range of acting roles. Now, I'm not belittling these fresh-faced actors as everyone deserves a chance at the career they are most passionate about. However, what Steinfeld has clearly proven (and still continues to do so) is that those that find success almost out of nowhere can occasionally harbour a rare acting talent and ability that allows them to play a variety of roles with an excellent sincerity. 

Steinfeld's debut as an actor in the Coen's 'True Grit' was truly outstanding. She captured the childhood innocence, naivety and determination that so defined Mattie Ross's character in her performance, yet channelled it into the creation of a "strong but vulnerable" presentation of a female character which is the most respectful and realistic portrayal women can have in cinema and we are still lacking 8 years later. She spoke the Texian accent (not natural for her) in such a believable way that it felt like her natural dialect - she joins many great actors that can pull off accents in convincing ways. And, her physicality is another attribute showing, for the first time of many, that she can handle action scenes and stunt work - her horse riding skills are spot-on, as is the way she conducts herself during the action scenes like the finale shoot-out. Another notable asset was her energy, and the only way to describe it is to suggest you go back and watch her performance and see the way she bounds through every scene with tremendous energy and creative passion. It was only right that the Oscars came calling, taking everyone (especially her) by surprise, with her portrayal of Ross gaining her an Academy Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role among numerous other awards - some of which she also won. 

It would of been easy for all that "awards buzz" and critical acclaim to go that thirteen year-old girl's head and to prove another case of a "one-hit" wonder. However, she didn't and that grounded personality has helped make her a likeable face in Hollywood for her younger fans and filmmakers alike. And, that's commendable. Since then she has gone on to lead/star in numerous films like 'Ender's Game', Julian Fellowes' 'Romeo and Juliet' remake, 'Begin Again' and the Kevin Costner actioner '3 Days to Kill'. Each time, showing her capability in capturing the essence of a variety of characters with the same emotional depth, physicality and energy that so defined her unique acting style in 'True Grit'. Even if the films weren't always of the same quality, her performances remained consistent and she truly picked some very interesting and diverse roles - pushing herself out of her comfort zone. 

It was after landing the role of Emily Junk in 'Pitch Perfect 2' and having her performance of Flashlight becoming a leggy sensation from the soundtrack, that she gained an opening as a singer/songwriter as well. Indeed, soon after the films release, she signed on with Republic Records and has since released a variety of top-quality pop songs like Love Myself, Rock Bottom, Starving, Let Me Go and Capital Letters which have contained motivational and heartfelt lyrics - not like many modern day pop songs about purely one night stands. And, I'm a big fan of her music and performing abilities on stage as much as her acting finesse in front of the camera. She's an extremely talented creative artist and to manage two successful careers as both a high quality actress and popular young pop star together is an impressive achievement. 

Since then, she has returned to the role of Emily in 'Pitch Perfect 3' and continued building her music and acting careers by working with some of the industries biggest names. However, I think her performance in Kim Newman's 2014 part coming-of-age drama, part female-actioner 'Barely Lethal' is another notable career highlight. The film is surprisingly high-quality entertainment, with Steinfeld owning the coming-of-age, high school drama with an emotionally deep performance that captures the complexities and hardships of adolescence. However, she also is really impressive physically - mastering the action scenes (a stand-out car chase scene towards the end is outstanding) and the fight choreography (although I'm not surprised considering her dance background), making it a career first to play a skilled, young assassin-turned-action heroine that is capable of such physicality. The film is top quality entertainment and another example of her bringing her energy and ability to express the biggest of emotions in the smallest of actions to new roles and expanding her career. 

In 2016, she landed the leading role in Kelly Fremon Craig's directorial debut (which so also penned) 'The Edge of Seventeen'. This low-budget, teen coming-of-age drama is not only a masterpiece in terms of its writing and direction to the point that it captures the realism and emotional themes that so define the transition between teenager and adult so well that I have seen it many times already. However, her performance of Nadine is equally brilliant, to the point that she landed her second major award nomination in the form of the Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy and rightly so. Nadine is a teenager struggling with who she is, a lack of purpose and dealing with her only best friend becoming her seemingly self-obsessed brothers girlfriend out of nowhere. However, although we as the audience feel immense sympathy for her, the situation is made worse by Nadine's mantra that she is the only one going through problematic times. Steinfeld so successfully captures Nadine's innocent yet (for appearances sake) extroverted personality which makes her seem "over the top" to many, but manages to craft our sympathy and "you shouldn't throw all your eggs away because one has broken" thoughts at the same time. Truly, she is in on top form in a movie that is really well-made and passionately crafted and if you haven't seen it, do so now. Trust me on this. 

And, her career is getting bigger with her (arguably) first appearance in a "big-budget franchise offering" flick with Travis Knight's Transformer's prequel/sequel 'Bumblebee'. Indeed, I've not been keen on watching a Transformer's film before really, but she along with a more character and story driven film than the purely action spectacle approaches of the others in the series, are massive draws into Paramount securing my cinema ticket on opening day. If the trailers (and her career filmography) are to be believed, then she looks to have delivered another outstanding performance. Indeed, her energy and natural acting ability at finding and expressing her character's deep and complex emotionally problems, combined with her physicality and way of choosing a range of diverse and interesting roles to play is something that has helped turn her into a true Hollywood upcoming talent. Her career (both acting and musically wise) is really only just getting started, and I'm looking forward to seeing how she continues to shine as a rare talent. 

Indeed, in an era where many new Hollywood actors lack a natural ability and/or a grounded and likeable personality, Hailee Steinfeld is a unique talent. Although her fame and success as both an Academy Award nominated actress and a platinum-selling pop sensation may be a surprise to many (including herself probably), it is very deserved. Trust me, watch Ms. Steinfeld for the next few years as she is destined for great things.