While Hailee Steinfeld’s outstanding feature debut inTrue Gritearned her an Academy Award nomination, she also appeared in two underappreciated Westerns that deserve more attention. At 13 years old, Steinfeld was chosen to play Mattie Ross in the Coen Brothers’ remake of theJohn Wayne classic Western. Alongside veteran actors like Jeff Bridges as Rooster Cogburn and Matt Damon as LaBoeuf, this trio of stars made a modern classic that surpassed the appeal of the original in many ways. As one of theyoungest Oscar nominees of all time, Steinfeld’s performance inTrue Gritwas a sight to behold.
As a star who gave perhaps her definitive performance straight out of the gate, much ofSteinfeld’s later success has been overshadowed by the tenacity of her role inTrue Grit. However, Steinfeld has consistently given great performances in acclaimed films likePitch Perfect,Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, andSinners. Also nestled in amongSteinfeld’s impressive filmographywere two Westerns that echoed much of the same appeal and power of her debut Coen Brothers role and that have been woefully underseen even by Western enthusiasts.
Hailee Steinfeld Has A Small Role In 2014’s The Homesman
A Historical Western Directed By Tommy Lee Jones
Four years after Hailee Steinfeld left her mark on cinema history with a career-defining performance inTrue Grit, she returned to the Western genre asthe young hotel maid Tabitha Hutchinson inThe Homesman. While Steinfeld’s role was brief, it was a testament to her immense talent that she shared the screen with stars like Tommy Lee Jones, Hilary Swank, and Meryl Streep in this story of a drifter helping a pious and stern woman transport three women driven mad across the country.
Steinfeld’s appearance inThe Homesmanwas a brief but impactful scene where she received a surprising proposal from Jones’s George Briggs. Although Steinfeld only had a few minutes of screen time inThe Homesman, she immediately tapped back into the Western stylings ofTrue Grit, and it almost felt like Mattie Ross had wandered into another movie.The Homesmanwas a thought-provoking and powerful look at disenfranchised women in the Wild West that succeeded due to a magnificent performance from Swank and stands as an impressive addition to Jones’s often underrated work as a director.
2014’s The Keeping Room Is A Hailee Steinfeld Hidden Gem
An Underseen Western With A Feminist Spin
Hailee Steinfeld was busy in 2014, as this year included performances in the thriller3 Days to Kill, a voice in the animeWhen Marnie Was There, her brief appearance inThe Homesman, and a standout role inThe Keeping Room. This off-kilter Western told the story of three Southern women left to fend for themselves in the dying days of the American Civil War. With Steinfeld as Louise and Brit Marling as Augusta, two white sisters, as well as Muna Otaru as the African-American slave Mad,The Keeping Roomwas a dark story of survival and hardship.
With a spare setting and three committed lead performances,The Keeping Roomshone a harsh light on social prejudices and was a stylish, slow-burning movie whose intensity built throughout. Steinfeld’s role in particular highlighted the cruel and unforgiving nature of the Civil War, as she was left ill from a raccoon bite and faced sexual assault at the hands of the soldier Henry (Kyle Soller.)
With three impressive Western roles under her belt, it’s a shame that it’s now been more than a decade since Steinfeld has returned to the genre.
The Keeping Roomwas an underseen Western that was characterized by a grim and realistic tone. With a standout performance from Steinfeld and great work from the entire cast, while this was a much different performance from her iconic role inTrue Grit, it was yet another extraordinary showcase of her suitability within the Western genre. With three impressive Western roles under her belt, it’s a shame that it’s now been more than a decade since Steinfeld has returned to the genre. Although, for better or worse, every Western role she plays will inevitably be compared to Mattie Ross.
