Hailee Steinfeld, an actress and singer who has navigated the transition from Oscar-nominated child star to a versatile leading woman in film, television, and pop music. Turning 29 today, Steinfeld has built a phenomenal career on the strength of her early dramatic prowess and her subsequent ability to command major modern franchises.
From the rugged plains of the Old West to the vibrant streets of the MCU, here are 7 roles that prove Hailee Steinfeld’s enduring talent and versatility.
True Grit (2010)
At just 14 years old, Steinfeld earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress in the Coen Brothers’ Western masterpiece. She starred as Mattie Ross, a fierce, tenacious teenager determined to avenge her father’s death. Her performance was praised for its maturity, sharp wit, and refusal to be overshadowed by co-stars Jeff Bridges and Matt Damon.
The Edge of Seventeen (2016)
This role cemented her status as a leading actress. Steinfeld starred as Nadine Franklin, an awkward, cynical, and deeply relatable high school junior navigating the chaos of modern adolescence and friendship drama. The performance earned her a Golden Globe nomination and is widely considered one of the most honest portrayals of the teenage experience on film.
Pitch Perfect 2 and 3 (2015 & 2017)
Steinfeld joined the beloved musical comedy franchise as Emily Junk, a freshman singer and aspiring songwriter who becomes a key member of the Barden Bellas. The role showcased her musical talents and gave her a major platform in a massively successful franchise.
Bumblebee (2018)
In the Transformers spin-off, Steinfeld starred as Charlie Watson, a teenage mechanic who discovers the Autobot Bumblebee hiding in a junkyard. Her heartfelt, grounded performance was the emotional center of the film, earning praise for successfully balancing large-scale sci-fi action with genuine character depth.
Dickinson (2019–2021)
In this highly acclaimed, anachronistic Apple TV+ series, Steinfeld took on the role of the legendary poet Emily Dickinson. She served as an executive producer on the show, using her contemporary sensibility to explore Dickinson’s life, genius, and struggles with societal constraints.
Hawkeye (2021)
Steinfeld officially entered the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) as Kate Bishop, a highly skilled archer and obsessive Hawkeye fan who becomes Clint Barton’s (Jeremy Renner) protégé. Her confident, charismatic portrayal of the sharp-witted hero immediately established Kate Bishop as a central figure in the next generation of Avengers.
Sinners (2025)
In Ryan Coogler’s genre-bending 1930s Southern Gothic horror film, Sinners, Steinfeld took on the dark and complicated role of Mary. Mary is a multiracial woman in the Jim Crow-era Mississippi Delta who passes as white to navigate the deeply segregated society. She is the resentful ex-girlfriend of one of the lead twin brothers, Stack (Michael B. Jordan), who abandoned her years ago out of fear of persecution.