"True Grit" Reveals a New Star to Watch in Hailee Steinfeld

Hollywood is a strange place to grow up. Sadly, the bodies and detritus of far too many young stars litters the roads of Hollywood. There number of impressive young men and women who have dazzled movie fans and critics and then either failed when they became an adult or turned to drugs and alcohol is far too great. Hollywood is the kind of place that chews up and spits out the younger stars and starlets.

Still, sometimes, as a movie-goer, you see someone that stops you in your tracks. There they are, up on the screen, performing right next to some of the biggest names and most-famous legends and they are not only holding their own, but they are stealing the movie right out from under there. Such was the case with the Coen brother's remake of True Grit and the performance of Mattie by Hailee Steinfeld.

When the movie was made, originally, starring John Wayne, the role was played by a much older actress. The character, as it is written in the book, is a teenager. In that earlier film, however, she was played by Kim Darby, who was about 20. Hallie Steinfeld, in real life, is about the same age as the girl in the original novel.

Steinfeld was born in December of 1996. She was born in Tarzana, a neighborhood of Los Angeles. She is the daughter of an interior designer named Cheri and a personal fitness trainer named Peter. She is an interesting mix of cultures and religions by being Filipino, African, European and Jewish descent.

If you have not heard of her before, that is nothing to be surprised about. She started her acting career at the tender age of 8, but most of those roles were on television and small supporting roles in movies that you probably had not seen. For example, one of her early roles was in a K-Mart commercial.

These days, her life has changed radically. She has gained national and international attention from critics and fans of the movie. Her role was so impressive that it has earned her nominations, awards and that has included an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress.

Of course, that has also been a source of controversy. You see, Mattie is the main character of the story. Yes, the role of Rooster Cogburn, the man Mattie hires to track down the man who shot her daddy down, is probably the showier role. That's the role the Duke had when the book was first adapted into a movie and it is the role inhabited by Jeff Bridges in the more modern version.

There is nothing wrong with Bridges' performance. However, that is to be expected with Jeff Bridges. He has been one of the most consistent actors of a generation. The fact that he only just won his first Academy Award last year is something akin to a crime. What is impressive is how well Steinfeld stands next to Bridges and Matt Damon and Barry Pepper and Josh Brolin and holds her own.

Her Mattie is one very tough young woman. She has her hair in tight braids. She tough-talks a tiny-town lawyer in order to get money back for horses that her father never lived to sell. She walks as if she owns the world and some part of you may think she might. She wants to face down the man who killed her father and shoot him face-to-face.

Cogburn himself doesn't know what to make of her. She storms into him, demanding his services, and he tries to brush her off. She doesn't take no for an answer. He tries to leave her behind, but she doesn't stand for that either. She earns his loyalty and his trust and manages to impress even a man as hard-bitten as he is.

Steinfeld commands the screen. She is in just about every scene and she commands the movie. She has earned praise and she deserves it. Now she is making the rounds of the movie awards, looking resplendent in her gowns and dresses and looking almost nothing like the drab and uptight Mattie.

Steinfeld even got the chance to announce the nominees for the 2011 Best Animated Film at the Golden Globes. She did not do it alone. No, she stood next to Justin Bieber to read them. Once again, she managed to hold her own.

Stienfeld is home schooled and has been since 2008. So far, her next film role has not been announced. Whatever it is, fans are sure to watch with interest. What may be the most amazing thing about her is how "normal" she actually seems. If she'll stay that way is up to Hollywood and her own inner nature. If her performance in True Grit is any indication, she'll do just fine.