As Hailee Steinfeld celebrates her sudden Hollywood success, the young “True Grit” star admits she had a less-than-successful run-in with an acting peer – “Glee’s” Lea Michele.
“When I was auditioning for ‘True Grit,’ I was on the Paramount lot,” the 14-year-old said in a recent interview with J-14 magazine. “I was wearing clothes from the 1800s that were big and uncomfortable. ‘Glee’ also films on the lot and I love the show.
“I saw Lea Michele just walking to her trailer and I was like, ‘That’s the girl from ‘Glee.’ I’ve got to go ask for her autograph!’ So I walked up to her and asked for her autograph, but she walked by and a guy came and said, “Sorry, now’s not a good time!” Hailee continued.
Though the embarrassing snub left the SAG Award nominee deflated, Hailee still counts herself a “Gleek.”
“I had to walk all the way back to the car wearing what I was wearing. I was practically crying on the way home. I was so sad!” she told the mag. “But she’s beautiful and she has an amazing voice.”
In addition to her obvious acting chops – the ingenue held her own in the Coen Brothers’ western opposite veteran Oscar winners Jeff Bridges and Matt Damon – Hailee enjoys spending her free time helping those in need.
“My mom and I are involved in the Mother/Daughter Organization — national charity work,” Hailee told the mag. “Whenever I get free time, we volunteer. It’s an organization so mothers and daughters can spend time together while volunteering.”
As previously reported on AccessHollywood.com, Hailee is earning rave reviews from critics all over town for her portrayal of Mattie Ross in “True Grit” opposite Matt Damon, Josh Brolin and Jeff Bridges. The young actress has been nominated for a Critic’s Choice Award and a Broadcast Film Critics Award, as well as a SAG Award for Outstanding Performance By A Female Actress in a Supporting Role.
The Thousand Oaks, California native beat out 15,000 other girls to land the role of Mattie.
“It’s always when I go up for things my mom and I [and my family], we are always trying to stay positive through all of the times of being rejected. If it’s not this one, it’s something bigger and better and that’s kind of what’s always pushed me through… and I’m exactly where I want to be and this is amazing,” Hailee told Access Hollywood at the film’s press junket.
“True Grit” took the No. 1 spot at the box office this weekend, pulling in $15 million in its third week of release. This is the first movie to pass the $100 million mark for the Coen Brothers.
Reps for Lea were not immediately available for comment when contacted by AccessHollywood.com on Sunday.
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