We’ve been seeing a lot more Hailee Steinfeld recently, especially after her head-turning appearance in Sinners (2025). So let’s take a look at some of her other historical film and television roles!
True Grit (2010)
Romeo and Juliet (2013)
The Homesman (2014)
The Keeping Room (2014)
Dickinson (2019-21)
Sinners (2025)
The list is short, but our love for Hailee Steinfeld is great! What’s your favorite role of hers? Tell is in the comments!
Hated Romeo & Juliet. Hated it. Which is a shame because I wanted to like it but why would they film in Italy, have such gorgeous period costumes and then chuck 99% of Shakespeare’s original text for approximations of the dialogue that sound both clunky and out of place? Also while Steinfeld and her co-star Douglas Booth were great, Ed Westwick was so miscast – far too smarmy for Tybalt when you compare him to the likes of Michael York (serious) or John Leguizamo (camp).
I read the novel “True Grit” when I was about the age of its protagonist, then felt deeply disappointed when I finally saw the 1969 film adaptation on TV. Kim Darby seemed stiff and wooden and I didn’t believe her as a bereaved kid for a moment. I finally got my Mattie Ross with Hailee Steinfeld, ably matched by Jeff Bridges, Matt Damon and a chilling Josh Brolin.
Whilst I believe both adaptations have their virtues, it’s harsh but fair to say that Ms Steinfeld is streets ahead of Ms Darby.
Interestingly TRUE GRIT: A FURTHER ADVENTURE (A TV film from AD 1978) produces a surprisingly solid Miss Mattie – Ms Lisa Pelikan, who definitely gets across the infuriating and admirable elements of the inimitable Miss Ross – and Reuben Cogburn (As played by Mr Warren Oates).
… whilst I can’t fault the THE HOMESMAN’s eye for a precious natural resource, one suspects that the sheer breadth of this particular age gap would have attracted not a few unfavourable remarks back in the day, as well as in the 21st century.
Also, la Belle Steinfeld can sing AND act, so if she can dance too then I would dearly love to get the number of her fairy godmother, should I ever have a daughter of my own.
She was amazing in Sinners. Love to see her taking on roles which acknowledge her mixed heritage too.
She’s been a busy (bumble)bee given her age, looking at her filmography!
As well as live-action acting and singing, she’s also done some noteworthy voice work, e.g. as Gwen Stacy in the Spider-Verse movies and as Vi/Violet in the Netflix animated series Arcane (which is sort of steampunk fantasy, so “frock flick” if you squint, not that her character wears any frocks! Other characters do, though).