5 things you didn't know about Hailee Steinfeld

Hailee Steinfeld is no stranger to the spotlight. With a career that began at a young age, she has seamlessly transitioned from a Hollywood breakout star to a platinum-selling musician while becoming a modern pop culture icon. Best known for her Oscar-nominated role in True Grit at just 14, Hailee proved early on that she was far from an ordinary talent.

However, Hailee's story is much deeper than the red-carpet glamour and blockbuster roles. Her multicultural background, unique family connections, and off-screen ventures reveal layers that often go unnoticed.

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5 lesser-known facts about Hailee Steinfeld

1) She was almost Katniss Everdeen

Hailee Steinfeld (Image via Getty/Mike Coppola)

Hailee Steinfeld confirmed in 2011 that she was in contention for the role of Katniss Everdeen in The Hunger Games. While attending the Oscars, Steinfeld addressed the speculation in an interview with MTV. She stated,

"It's definitely something that we're taking one day at a time and making sure that everything is in place."

Steinfeld revealed that she had met with The Hunger Games director Gary Ross to discuss the role. Her candidacy was no surprise to many, given her performance as Mattie Ross in True Grit—a determined, no-nonsense young woman navigating dangerous circumstances, similar to Katniss.

At the time, she competed for the role alongside actresses like Chloe Moretz, Kaya Scodelario, and Malese Jow. Ultimately, Jennifer Lawrence was cast, but Steinfeld's audition and rising profile proved crucial in solidifying her status as one of Hollywood's most promising young talents.

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2) She is a certified multi-talented

Hailee Steinfeld (Image via Getty/Amanda Edwards)

Hailee Steinfeld is truly multi-talented, excelling as an actress, singer, and songwriter. At just 14 years old, she received critical acclaim with an Academy Award nomination for her breakout role as Mattie Ross in True Grit. She also earned a Golden Globe nomination for her performance in the coming-of-age film The Edge of Seventeen (2016).

In music, Steinfeld's debut single, Love Myself, was certified double platinum in the United States, showing her ability to craft empowering pop hits. Her collaboration with Grey and Zedd on Starving achieved triple platinum status that cemented her success in the music industry.

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3) She has a famous uncle

Hailee Steinfeld (Image via Getty/Christina House)

Hailee Steinfeld's uncle, Jake Steinfeld, is a famous fitness coach and business owner. He created the Body by Jake fitness brand. This brand has workout tools, videos, books, and TV shows. It helped make working out at home popular in the 1980s and 1990s. Jake also started a professional lacrosse league, showing his important presence in both fitness and sports.

Besides fitness, Jake has been in movies and TV shows like Coming to America and Ratatouille. Hailee looks up to her uncle and says he inspired her to enter the entertainment business.

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4) Hailee is part of the Spider-Verse

Hailee Steinfeld (Image via Getty/Rich Fury/VF22)

Hailee Steinfeld is the voice for Gwen Stacy (Spider-Woman) in the popular animated movie Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse from 2018. She also reprises the role in Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse in 2023.

In the first movie, Gwen is a strong and sure hero from another place. She becomes important friends with the main character, Miles Morales. Hailee's voice acting portrayed all of Gwen's sides very well, which the audience liked.

In the new movie, viewers learn more about Gwen's life and her work as a hero. Hailee will continue to lend her voice to Gwen again in a third movie, Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse.

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5) Her heritage is diverse

Hailee (Image via Getty/Jesse Grant)

Hailee Steinfeld's diverse heritage reflects a rich cultural background. Her father, Peter Steinfeld, is of Ashkenazi Jewish descent, with roots tracing back to Russia and Romania.

Her mother, Cheri (née Domasin), has a multifaceted background, including Filipino, African-American, English, German, and Scots-Irish/Northern Irish ancestry. Specifically, Hailee's maternal grandfather, Ricardo Domasin, was half Filipino (from Panglao, Bohol) and half African-American.

She has expressed a deep connection to her Filipino roots, particularly after visiting the Philippines, where she felt a strong sense of belonging and pride. In a 2016 interview with Pep.Ph, she shared,

"As little as there is in me, I really do feel so connected to the culture and to being here."

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Hailee's latest film is the upcoming horror thriller Sinners, directed by Ryan Coogler and scheduled for release on March 7, 2025.