Conducting a Zoom interview with Hailee Steinfeld feels like FaceTiming an old friend — a cool, confident, humble, down-to-earth friend you’ve known forever. A whole generation grew up with her, after all. She was a coming-of-age story staple, leading moving gems like The Edge of Seventeen and appearing in cultural phenomena like the Pitch Perfect franchise. Though the past decade has mostly seen her take on awkward but lovable (not to mention deeply relatable) teens in critically acclaimed dramedies, her newest project, Sinners, is a 180 in many ways. A decidedly more adult turn, the film is a supernatural horror set in the 1930s South and showcases sides of Steinfeld you’ve never seen before — helping her discover some new sides of herself, too.
Hailee Steinfeld’s ‘Sinners’ Character Is Caught Between Two Worlds — and One Great Loss
Steinfeld takes on the role of Mary, a woman who’s as smart as she is sultry, funny as she is fiery, complex as she is confident. When the film starts, her beloved mother — her only real remaining connection to her culture, considering she’s been pressured into marrying a white man — has just passed away, leaving her to deal with unimaginable loneliness and grief. The fact that her childhood friends Stack and Smoke (both played by Michael B. Jordan in a career-best performance) coincidentally arrive back in town shortly after creates conflict and opportunity for connection alike, made even more complicated by the fact she feels Stack — the true love of her life — abandoned her against her wishes.
“She’s very delicately living in two worlds,” Steinfeld explains during her press tour for the Warner Bros. horror film. “She’s very open about the fact that one of them is not for her. And while Stack pushes her in a certain direction to protect her and give her the life he feels she deserves, she doesn’t want anything but to be with who she feels she can be herself around. I so love that about this character Mary — that she wants to be with the people who accept her for who she is…because while she’s living this, call it a ‘beautiful life,’ she’s so unhappy.”
Despite the hardships that come with craving true connection, there are, of course, numerous societal advantages Mary inherently has by being white-passing. Steinfeld feels honored to get the chance to play someone fully aware of her power and understands her privileges, noting that Mary is “constantly learning how to move through her two worlds without hurting anyone.” Even if that’s inevitably not always possible, there’s never any malice in her actions. “Everything Mary does is rooted in love. Anything and everything she does — it’s not selfish. It’s coming from a place of wanting to be connected and wanting to be understood.”
‘Sinners’ Brought Hailee Steinfeld Closer to Her Roots
Photography by Stephanie Diani for Collider
When preparing to play Mary, Steinfeld found a connection to her own family and roots. “This role and this project pushed me, inspired me, motivated me — if you will — to look inward and understand more of my lineage,” Steinfeld shares. She recalls having extensive conversations about her late grandfather, who was half-Black. “I sat and talked for hours with my mom about him and what his childhood might have been like, and his parents and their parents and so on and so forth.” What she learned helped her immensely, though the information she couldn’t get firsthand was valuable to her process, too. “I took what I knew — and all the questions I wish I could call him and get answers to — with me and put that into Mary.”
The process of filming Sinners was a creatively exciting one for Steinfeld, though it was equally fulfilling on a personal level because of her intimate connection to the material. “It brought me so much closer to myself and to my family and my family history,” she says. “I am forever grateful to this movie and to this role for pushing me to do that, especially at this point in my life. The more I think about it, with my grandfather being gone, we only have what we have, and we have to hold on to that. We have what we have, and we have who we are. I carry my heritage with such pride, and I’m so grateful to this character for opening up a conversation for me within myself and within my family that we hadn’t quite had before.”
Steinfeld credits those conversations with her mother with helping her form Mary, much like she credits Mary’s mother for helping her form her sense of self. “She mentions her mom almost every time we see her,” she notes, adding that Mary’s mother and the music — the bluesy soundtrack that’s so integral to the film it feels like a character all its own — are undeniably linked and, despite her relationship with Stack, the primary force that’s driving her to the juke that fateful night.
“She will never not grieve the loss of her mother, but she’s looking for that sense of comfort that you do when you lose someone. In this case, it’s the music. Mary says [to Stack], ‘I’m not here to see you — I’m here for the blues. I’m here to hear my mom. I’m here to hear the thing that’s gonna bring me closer to her right now. I’m not here for any other reason.’ The music is her home. The music is her safe space.”
We only have what we have, and we have to hold on to that. We have what we have, and we have who we are.
Not only is Mary’s mother the person who brought her to the juke that night, but she’s the reason she stays, too — despite everything that happens. “To carry that — the grief and the loss of her mother — it pushed Mary to really feel her weight on the ground in that space and not budge. If it was written any other way, it wouldn’t have played in the sense that no one wants to feel unwanted, right? I can tell you that, if I’m going to a party, I could want to be there more than anywhere else in the world, but if someone looks at me and says, ‘We don’t want you here. Leave’…I’m probably gonna leave. There’s something about Mary in that moment that it doesn’t matter who’s there. She knows she can beat up anybody that gets in her way. She says it all — she’s not going anywhere. And that’s her mom that’s keeping her there.”
Mary is the kind of character who doesn’t back down from a challenge, no matter what, and boy, does Sinners throw some challenges her way. Even through the film’s wildest twists, Steinfeld notes that Mary’s personality stays shockingly consistent. After the big moment arrives (trust me — you’ll know it when you see it), Steinfeld teases that the audience will simply be treated to “a heightened version of Mary. Same Mary, same desires, same wants, same needs — just heightened.”
Sinners is an unpredictable film that’s sure to keep you on the edge of your seat, but it’s also a dense one that explores an array of complex themes. “There are all of these things that are being told to us while watching this movie that we may or may not pick up on that first time,” Steinfeld warns. “This entire movie will have you thinking.” No spoilers here, but I tell her that the film’s post-credit scene — a substantial one that recontextualizes some things — was one I was going to have to sit with for a while, and she agrees. “I had a very similar feeling after seeing the movie for the first time as I did reading the script for the first time, where I was like, ‘I, too, need a moment.’”
After ‘Sinners,’ Hailee Steinfeld Might Direct — and Coogler’s to Blame
In addition to her family, Steinfeld gives major props to writer-director Ryan Coogler for helping bring Mary to life, whom she spoke at length with about developing her backstory. “Sometimes, you do that work, and you’re like, ‘God, if only people could [see this] — this is its own movie in and of itself.’ But I feel like everything we spoke about…it’s there. I loved so much what a collaboration working on the role of Mary felt like with Ryan. The conversations were endless, the questions were flowing constantly both ways and every time I felt like I couldn’t have a clearer understanding of a particular scene, Ryan would come and throw something in there that just broke the whole thing open all over again, whether it was a blocking thing or a line. The process of developing this character didn’t end.”
That sense of collaboration and respect extended into filming. “What I loved so much about working with him was it’s like he was an actor in another life. The way that he speaks to actors, the way that he works with them, the way that he writes for them — there’s a difference.” That difference, she says, is what allows him to get the best out of his actors. “He also makes it look incredibly easy.”
With all the multi-hyphenate star has achieved so far, I wonder if working with Coogler has inspired Steinfeld to try her hand at directing. “Absolutely,” she responds. “Directing has always been something I’ve been intrigued by, and you work with someone like Ryan, and it’s impossible not to feel like you have to do that… I’m like, ‘Yeah, there’s no question.’” There’s the smallest beat. “But then I think to myself, ‘There’s Ryan Coogler, so why would I?’ I’d just have to call him for everything — to have him do it all.’”
I reassure her that I think she’d make a great director, especially considering all of her experience acting and producing (which is something she wants to continue doing more of), and ask what genre she could see herself taking on. “It’d be tough to pinpoint one,” she admits. “With Sinners fresh on my brain, it’s been made possible in my eyes…that you can have a million things in one and have it feel so cohesive and grounded. I’m inspired at the thought of not feeling like it has to be one thing.”
Michael B. Jordan’s Dual Performance in ‘Sinners’ Left Hailee Steinfeld in Awe
Photography by Stephanie Diani for Collider
Speaking of not being one thing, Jordan takes on twins in this movie — something Steinfeld is still in awe of to this day. “[He] was working double time, overtime, all of the above with playing two roles in this — and not just two roles, but two of the most complex and nuanced characters that have ever been written,” Steinfeld gushes. “How do you do that? How do you do that and go to sleep at night and move on?” Though I don’t believe she intends the vampire pun, it is quite funny that she admits the pressure of juggling the roles would “eat [her] alive.”
Steinfeld recalls just how different Jordan managed to carry himself as both characters, down to the energy he emitted. “He and I actually talk about this all the time, how there was this natural connection and draw that I would have with Michael as Stack, and then, when he’d come on set as Smoke, I didn’t really interact with him very much. He was with Wunmi [Mosaku]. One thing that I was fascinated by the entire time was that he would walk on the set as one twin, and it was clear as day who he was and what we were doing.”
It couldn’t have been an easy task, but Steinfeld says that didn’t stop him from taking care of his castmates. “He is one of the most generous actors I’ve ever worked with,” she praises. “He is constantly giving and constantly checking in with me, with us, with everyone around him to make sure that we’re getting what we need. That support makes you feel like you can do it all. He’s so, so, so talented. A lot of people have been asking us how challenging it was — it was, don’t get me wrong — but he made it so easy for all of us. I don’t know how he did it.”
This is incredible. This is our ancestors. This is everything that Ryan has ever thought of with this movie coming to life right before our eyes.
Steinfeld notes that one of the film’s biggest themes is “be careful who you let in,” but luckily, she didn’t have to worry about that when it came to the rest of the cast either. When you’re on an extended shoot like the one Sinners required, “you have to sort of create your home away from home,” Steinfeld says. In the past, that primarily had to do with her physical space, but as she’s gotten older, it’s more about the people she’s surrounded by. “I’ve never been a part of a cast quite like this one,” she admits. “I think what bonded us — one of the many things — was that we had a lot of night shoots, and when you get to know somebody at 4 a.m., you’re getting to know the real them.”
Beyond the challenging schedule, the environment — although undeniably stunning, especially when captured by Autumn Durald’s cinematography — presented its own set of challenges. “We were in New Orleans in the middle of the summer. It was hot. Everyone was getting eaten alive by bugs. You have nothing but the people around you to lean on and to help get you through. We were all in it together.” Still, even through that, there was an undeniable sense of joy permeating the set. “We were talking as a cast a few days ago about how we spent the entirety of the making of this movie in that juke, and you’d walk on, and you’d look forward to hearing the creaking wood floors under your feet because it felt safe. It felt familiar.”
RelatedLet’s just hope no one invites the vampires inside…
In addition to Coogler and Jordan, Steinfeld also built strong relationships with the women on set. “I mean, Wunmi, Jayme [Lawson], Lola [Kirke], Li [Jun Li] our hair and makeup, Ruth Carter, wardrobe — you’re talking about some of the most powerful, strong, talented women, and to be a part of that room was so special.” She notes that they not only shared their personal connections to the project but their hopes and dreams for their careers and personal lives as well. “We covered the bases when we were out there doing this thing together. I feel like they helped me grow as a human and as an actor.”
If night shoots and sweltering New Orleans heat weren’t enough, there was also the matter of shooting on IMAX and film — an experience Steinfeld bluntly calls “so wild.” On top of the juke’s loud music and group dance choreography, there are loud cameras and complex camera movements to add to the mix. “It was so intricate.” The most challenging element for Steinfeld, however, wasn’t hitting her mark or timing things right but rather trying not to look amazed while in character — especially during a particularly breathtaking sequence in which the audience sees the juke move through time. “The hardest part about shooting that surreal montage was that Stack and Mary…weren’t noticing the surrealism happening around us. The worst part for me was not being able to just look at everyone and everything. I was so in awe between every take. I was like, ‘This is incredible. This is our ancestors. This is everything that Ryan has ever thought of with this movie coming to life right before our eyes.’ I had so many moments on this movie where I was reminded why I do this and why I love this.”
Sinners definitely defies simple categorization, but there’s an undeniable horror element to it, which made me wonder — is Steinfeld a fan of the genre? Well… kinda. “It’s not yes, not no,” she says, admitting she can be a bit of a scaredy-cat. “If I’m watching a horror film, it has to be under certain stipulations. Can’t be at home, can’t be alone…depending on the movie and situation, sometimes it has to be in broad daylight.” Still, she does enjoy the occasional horror flick, and she says Sinners helped her become a bigger fan. “I appreciate them a lot more now than I ever did, understanding what goes into it and having a level of respect and appreciation for the story. I would love to do more in this genre. I think I’m a bigger fan than I was for sure.”
Hailee Steinfeld’s Oscar Nomination Changed Her Life in One Big Unexpected Way
At age 28, Steinfeld has already been an Oscar nominee for half her life, having earned the distinction at age 14 for True Grit. “I remember it like it was yesterday,” Steinfeld says when I ask her to reflect on the highly unusual experience. “We wrapped that movie, and then, months later, we were on a press tour. It was so much going on, and I loved every second of it. It was so amazing. I was so supported by my cast and the studio, and I had my family there.”
It’s those very castmates that Steinfeld credits for helping keep her calm and grounded during a period where — let’s face it — it could be easy to crack under pressure or let the fame go to your head. “Josh Brolin, Matt Damon, Jeff Bridges — they all…had come to me. I think it was their way of preparing me for what was to come with all the press and all the interviews and [the fact we were] gonna travel and it [was] gonna be crazy. They had all said to me, in their own way, ‘Don’t get wrapped up in all of this. Have the most fun. Don’t take it too seriously.’ I’m so grateful for that experience as a whole. I think it taught me a lot.”
RelatedThe writer of ‘Hellboy: The Crooked Man’ is also involved.
Among the lessons she learned is the importance of taking breaks, making intentional career choices, and looking after her well-being. “You [don’t] — and I think this goes for any workhorse — realize how much you’re doing until you stop or take a step back or just slow down for a second. And so, at 14, the movie had come out, and I remember waking up the next day being like, ‘Where do I have to be? What’s going on? What do I do with my life now?’”
I’m so grateful to be a part of the projects that I’ve been a part of. I feel like they each have represented me in a time in my life and have pushed me to where I am now and to wherever the heck I’ll go.
Realizing this pattern inspired her to not only enjoy the journey and live in the moment but to take a beat as she figured out the right next move for her as well. “It was never a matter of, ‘Oh, I’m gonna take a year off now.’ I was just like, ‘Step back. Pause, and let’s get specific and decisive as far as what we do next with our time.’ Having a better understanding of what this required of me, I think I equally understood — thank god, at that young age — that in order to do that and perform and deliver, I have to look after myself. I have to take care of myself, and I have to pace myself.”
They’re wise words that people far older than 14-year-old Steinfeld could benefit from hearing — 28-year-old Steinfeld included, as she admits slowing down is something she says she still often has to make a conscious effort to do. “Don’t get me wrong, there are moments where I forget about this or I don’t put myself first…but it’s reminded me to just take my time … There are so many elements of this job that feel sort of out of body a lot of times, and it’s hard to go from one to the other to the other to the other and not come down.”
Hailee Steinfeld Is as Much a Fangirl of Her Work as You Are
Photography by Stephanie Diani for Collider
True Grit is far from the only iconic film on Steinfeld’s resume. She also played legacy a capella star Emily Junk in the last two films in the Pitch Perfect trilogy — a franchise that continues to have an active fandom and lasting legacy nearly a decade after it ended. “I remember seeing that movie — that first movie — in the theaters. I was with a friend and my parents and we sat in our own row, and I remember, when the movie ended, I turned around and looked at my mom, and I was like, ‘If there is ever another movie like that’ — not even thinking that there could or would be a sequel — ‘I’ve gotta be in it.’ I walked into that one a huge fan of the movie myself, so to be a part of that was incredible.”
Though more of a hidden gem, The Edge of Seventeen is another film close to Steinfeld’s heart. The directorial debut from Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret.’s Kelly Fremon Craig, the film saw her starring alongside Woody Harrelson, Kyra Sedgwick, and Haley Lu Richardson. “The Edge of Seventeen was a movie that meant so much to me — still means so much to me — but that was a movie I needed,” Steinfeld says. Still, she admits that it is difficult to pick favorites in her career. “I feel that way about all the things I’ve done, all the roles I’ve played. I’m so grateful to be a part of the projects that I’ve been a part of. I feel like they each have represented me in a time in my life and have pushed me to where I am now and to wherever the heck I’ll go.”
One might wonder if Steinfeld ever gets tired of talking about projects from years ago, but she doesn’t seem the least bit annoyed. In fact, she goes out of her way to say how much she appreciates the fact that her films and shows have touched so many. “It’s the coolest thing to be able to connect with people through what I love.”
Kate Bishop? Gwen Stacy? Hailee Steinfeld’s Keeping Secrets and Owning Both Worlds
Image via Marvel, Disney+
Steinfeld has already accomplished so much before 30, and she shows no signs of stopping anytime soon. She’s pulling double-duty in Marvel’s playground, as she will soon reprise the role of Gwen Stacy in Sony’s Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse and Kate Bishop… well, somewhere in the MCU. Probably. I tell her I know these things are notoriously secretive but that I’m legally obligated to ask for what little she can tell me about what we may see our beloved archer get up to next. “These get me in trouble, these questions!” Steinfeld says. “I wish I could say it all. I wish I knew it all. I think one of the greatest parts about being in the Marvel Cinematic Universe is that you yourself are along for the ride, and this is another character that I love so, so, so much and understand. I’m so grateful that Kate is a character that is so widely loved. I, as a fan, am so excited to see where she goes and to be a part in any and every way that is in store for her.”
While she has to be pretty tight-lipped about the future of the character, she can dive into her past — namely, Hawkeye, where we were first introduced to her. One of the most memorable parts of the series is undoubtedly the chemistry between Bishop and Florence Pugh’s Yelena Belova, who will be seen in Thunderbolts* next month. “She is a powerhouse,” Steinfeld says of working with Pugh. “It’s not particularly easy for someone to come in as a recurring or a guest starring role in that episode when you have built the foundation, and you’re there every day, and you have your shorthand with people,” she notes, though she recalls that Pugh didn’t struggle with that at all. “That was no problem for Florence, nor do I think that ever has been or will be,” she says, remembering her staking her claim and holding her own immediately and without issue. “She is such a force.”
The people that it has connected me to, the places in the world that my music has taken me — I’m forever grateful.
In addition to being an award-winning actress, Steinfeld is also an acclaimed singer best known for singles like “Love Myself,” “Starving,” and “Most Girls.” If you’ve been missing Steinfeld’s music, you’re not alone — she’s been missing it, too. “I had taken a bit of a break from music, which was a very difficult decision to make, but I wanted to focus on my acting and was happy to be doing that,” Steinfeld shares. “It goes without saying, but… music is a love of mine and a huge passion and something that has played a very strong role in my life in more ways than one, and having had the opportunity to make music through the years of my own is something I will never take for granted.”
Steinfeld has since revealed that she will be making her return to music by singing a song on the Sinners soundtrack called “Dangerous” — something she couldn’t be more excited about. “I felt so, so lucky to be a part of a movie like Sinners where music is such a huge part of it. This is the dream — for me to be acting in a film that is so driven and moved by music. I was able to open the door again to work on something that I’m very, very, very excited about and can’t wait to share more with people. It’s been a long time, and I didn’t realize how much I missed it.”
One of the most exciting things about Steinfeld’s character in Sinners is that she is allowed to be a little bit of everything. She’s much like Steinfeld in that way — full of complexity and layers, some of which the world and even she almost certainly haven’t discovered yet. I, for one, can’t wait to see even more facets of Steinfeld emerge as her career progresses and she accumulates more and more roles that reflect where she is in her life. That is when she’s not taking a moment to look around and enjoy her numerous accomplishments. I have a feeling 14-year-old Steinfeld would be very proud.
Photography: Stephanie Diani | Location: Baccarat Hotel, New York City
