Though she is still a young actor with a long career ahead of her, Hailee Steinfeld‘s best movies and TV shows serve as a reminder of how much she has already accomplished. Born in Los Angeles, California on December 11, 1996, Steinfeld began acting at the age of 10 with a number of appearances in short films. However, it didn’t take her long to get real recognition in the industry as her movie debut in True Grit earned her an Oscar nomination and launched her very successful career.
Steinfeld has grown in popularity over the years with her roles in big franchises, including Transformers movies, Spider-Man movies, and the MCU. However, she has also proven her versatile talent in smaller, more grounded roles such as The Edge of Seventeen and Dickinson. Steinfeld’s career continues going strong with her new role in Ryan Coogler’s Sinners as well as reprising her role as Gwen Stacy in Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse, but Steinfeld’s work thus far deserves a look.
10
Pitch Perfect 2 (2015)
As Emily Junk
Pitch Perfect 2
6/10
- Release Date
-
May 15, 2015
- Runtime
-
115minutes
- Director
-
Elizabeth Banks
Following the success of Pitch Perfect, this fun sequel quickly came together, adding the charm of Hailee Steinfeld to the cast. Pitch Perfect 2 follows the Bellas as they once again find themselves the underdogs as they attempt to face off with the more experienced European teams in a global a cappella singing competition. Steinfeld joins the team as Emily Junk, the newest Bella recruit who quickly proves herself a big part of the team.
Steinfeld’s own musical career likely helped prepare her for the role and she is excellent in the singing sequences. However, she is also very funny as the inexperienced member of the team. She fits into the established ensemble effortlessly, adding to the movie’s light and fun energy. While not quite as memorable as the original film, Pitch Perfect 2 delivers just what fans wanted from a follow-up.
9
Bumblebee (2018)
As Charlie Watson
Bumblebee
8/10
- Release Date
-
December 15, 2018
- Runtime
-
114 Minutes
- Director
-
Travis Knight
Given all the other blockbuster franchises that Hailee Steinfeld has appeared in, some fans might have forgotten she is in one of the best Transformers movies to date. Bumblebee is a prequel to Michael Bay’s 2007 Transformers and details Bumblebee’s first adventure on Earth. Set in the late 1980s, Steinfeld stars as Charlie, a young girl who is mourning the loss of her father when she meets this robot in disguise and forms a bond with him as he is hunted by humans and other robots.
After the bombastic and overindulgent nature of Bay’s Transformers movies, Bumblebee was a nice change of pace with a smaller-scale story that was more like an ’80s Amblin film than a giant sci-fi action project. Steinfeld is a key part of grounding the story as she gives a funny, charming, and surprisingly emotional performance as this lost young girl who finds an unexpected connection. However, fans can rest assured the movie still delivers on the action, including a terrific opening sequence set on Cybertron.
8
Hawkeye (2021)
As Kate Bishop
Hawkeye
7/10
- Release Date
-
2021 – 2020
- Writers
-
Don Heck, Jonathan Igla
Jeremy Renner’s original Avengers hero finally gets his own story, only for Hailee Steinfeld to steal the show. Hawkeye is a holiday-themed MCU series on Disney+ that finds Clint Barton spending some time before Christmas in New York City, only to get roped into a situation with some of the city’s organized crime elements. Steinfeld stars as Kate Bishop, a young aspiring hero with some archery skills of her own who becomes the very excited partner to Clint after posing as Hawkeye to save the day.
Kate Bishop is a beloved Marvel character and Steinfeld does not disappoint in bringing her to life with plenty of humor and the kind of excited fan energy that worked so well for Tom Holland’s Spider-Man. She is really the heart of the show, but the series is also a fun and wisely small-scale adventure with plenty of laughs and big surprises to please fans. While Steinfeld was not included among the announced cast of Avengers: Doomsday, it feels like only a matter of time before Kate Bishop returns.
7
Arcane (2021-2024)
As Vi
Arcane
9/10
- Release Date
-
2021 – 2024-00-00
- Showrunner
-
Christian Linke, Alex Yee
- Directors
-
Pascal Charrue, Arnaud Delord
Along with her incredible work in live-action projects, Hailee Steinfeld has delivered some great performances in the animated world, with Arcane being one of the best. The adult animation action series is set in a steampunk society within Riot Games’ League of Legends universe. The series explores the complex and combative dynamic between the rich and affluent society of a city and the crime-ridden underbelly with two sisters caught in the ensuing battle.
Yet in the midst of these big ideas, the central story between Vi and Jinx provides real heart.
Steinfeld voices Vi, the older of the two sisters who finds herself fighting against injustice and for a place in this world while also feeling the need to protect her sister Jinx, who has taken a darker path. The animation style is vibrant and engrossing, but it is the world-building of this sci-fi story that is really impressive. Yet in the midst of these big ideas, the central story between Vi and Jinx provides real heart.
6
Begin Again (2013)
As Violet
Begin Again
- Release Date
-
September 7, 2013
- Runtime
-
104 minutes
- Director
-
John Carney
Hailee Steinfeld got another chance to embrace her love of music in the underrated rom-com Begin Again. Following up his Oscar-winning low-budget musical romance Once, John Carney returns to the genre with this bigger-budget Hollywood rom-com that stars Mark Ruffalo as Dan, a struggling record executive who is looking for the next breakthrough artist, only to accidentally stumble onto aspiring singer-songwriter Gretta (Keira Knightley). Seeing potential in each other, the two lost souls begin a collaborative relationship.
Steinfeld has a great supporting role as Violet, Dan’s daughter. While their relationship is somewhat strained, it is beautiful to see them bond as he gives her a chance and the confidence to sign herself. While not quite up to the level of impact of Once, Carney once again delivers a beautiful mix of romance and music while also ensuring it doesn’t fall into the typical clichés of the genre.
5
Dickinson (2019-2021)
As Emily Dickinson
Dickinson
- Release Date
-
2019 – 2020
- Showrunner
-
Alena Smith
- Directors
-
Alena Smith
After already establishing herself in the movie world, Hailee Steinfeld made the move to television and delivered one of her most acclaimed performances. The Apple TV+ series Dickinson sees Steinfeld taking on the role of famed and ground-breaking American poet Emily Dickinson as she struggles with pursuing her passion in an era that would not accept big ideas from women. It also deals with Emily’s family relationships, her sexuality, and her fascination with death.
The show’s unique style allows Steinfeld a looseness in the role, but she also keeps Emily grounded as a real and layered character.
Though the series is a period piece, Dickinson boldly incorporated modern language and ideas to make it stand out as a unique entry into the genre. Steinfeld has always been excellent at juggling comedy and drama, and his role makes for the perfect example of this. The show’s unique style allows Steinfeld a looseness in the role, but she also keeps Emily grounded as a real and layered character.
4
Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse (2018)
As Gwen Stacy / Spider-Woman
Before joining the MCU, Hailee Steinfeld brought another Marvel character to the big screen in a memorable way. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse is an animated adventure that follows young Miles Morales, who is bitten by a spider and becomes the latest incarnation of Spider-Man. However, he soon finds that he is just one part of a multiverse of versions of Spider-Man, including Gwen Stacy (voiced by Steinfeld).
Coming out during a time when the MCU Spider-Man movies were incredibly popular, Into the Spider-Verse delivered something fresh and exciting for the iconic hero. The animation style is vibrant and unique, making the entire movie visually stunning. It is also a laugh-out-loud comedy with Steinfeld adding to that humor with her charming yet awkward relationship with Miles, which was set up to continue in the future of the franchise.
3
Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse (2023)
As Gwen Stacy / Spider-Woman
While Steinfeld made her debut voicing Gwen Stacy in Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, the sequel, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, was an even bigger movie that also focused a lot more on Gwen as the co-lead of the film. The movie finds Gwen forced to flee her own reality and finds herself being exposed to the larger truth of the multiverse, with that truth threatening to destroy her friendship with Miles Morales.
She makes the character heroic, vulnerable, angry, and guilty as she deals with introducing Miles to the dark complexities of the multiverse.
Steinfeld delivers a full and nuanced performance as Gwen, which can be very difficult in an animated movie. She makes the character heroic, vulnerable, angry, and guilty as she deals with introducing Miles to the dark complexities of the multiverse. The sequel is a wonderful celebration of Spider-Man’s legacy while also being a funny and exciting superhero adventure. However, it is the stunning animation that really makes me excited for what will come next in Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse.
2
The Edge Of Seventeen (2016)
As Nadine Franklin
The Edge of Seventeen
8/10
- Release Date
-
November 18, 2016
- Runtime
-
104 minutes
- Director
-
Kelly Fremon Craig
Hailee Steinfeld proved her comedic abilities along with her dramatic skills in the underrated teen movie The Edge of Seventeen. Steinfeld stars in the comedy-drama as Nadine Franklin, a high school outcast who is struggling with dealing with a past loss while also going through the typical awkward teenage anxieties. However, she finds herself particularly lost when her best and only friend begins a relationship with Nadine’s older brother.
Steinfeld carries the film effortlessly with her complex and entertaining performance. She sheds the movie star aura she had earned over the years and perfectly plays an awkward and insecure teenager. The film deals with teen struggles in an authentic way, showing some of the more serious troubles Nadine faces mixed with the hilarious ones. It is a true gem in Steinfeld’s filmography and features one of her best performances to date.
1
True Grit (2010)
As Mattie Ross
True Grit
9/10
- Release Date
-
December 22, 2010
- Runtime
-
110 minutes
- Director
-
Ethan Coen, Joel Coen
Hailee Steinfeld made one of the most impressive movie debuts in recent memory with her Oscar-nominated turn in Joel and Ethan Coen’s True Grit. Steinfeld takes on the starring role of Mattie Ross, a young strong-willed girl in the Old West who takes it upon herself to hire a notorious US Marshal named Rooster Cogburn (Jeff Bridges) to hunt down the man who killed her father and bring him to justice.
Less of a remake of the John Wayne Western, 2010’s take on True Grit is a new adaptation of Charles Portis’ novel with the Coen Brothers’ style and humor fitting perfectly into the author’s writing. Steinfeld more than holds her own on screen with Bridges, Matt Damon, and Josh Brolin with a performance that is inspiring, funny, and commanding. It made for a stunning launch to her career and remains her best work to date.