Hailee Steinfeld Reveals One of the Most Important Movies in Her Career: "It Changed My Life"

Hailee Steinfeld is one of those rare actresses who has managed to overcome a tumultuous childhood. At age 14, she received an Oscar nomination for her role in the Coen brothers' True Grit and later became a pop culture icon by successfully combining film and music.

However, there's one movie in her filmography that particularly stands out to Steinfeld herself.

Hailee Steinfeld Says Kelly Fremon Craig's 'The Edge of Seventeen' Changed Her Life

In an interview with W magazine, Steinfeld admitted that she initially didn't want to read the script for The Edge of Seventeen:

“I am so guilty of having judged the book by its cover. I remember the first time reading it, I in no way felt like this was a teenage movie or a high school movie.

It's a movie about what being a teenager really feels like today. And it was sort of being talked about between my agents. When I gave it the time of day and read the script, it changed my life.”

Kelly Fremon Craig's directorial debut, in which Steinfeld starred in the main role, received rave reviews from critics and earned the actress a Golden Globe nomination.

For Steinfeld, however, it was more than just a career achievement, it was a personal turning point – she found her own fears and insecurities reflected in the character.

What Is 'The Edge of Seventeen' About?

Nadine is a high school senior who is still struggling to come to terms with her father's death several years earlier. Her life is already difficult, and it gets worse when her best friend starts dating her older brother.

Nadine feels betrayed, lonely, and angry at the world. The only person who understands her is her eccentric teacher, Mr. Bruner. To her surprise, he refuses to play by the rules.

Rather than feeling sorry for her, he provokes and teases her to prevent her from sinking into self-pity.

'The Edge of Seventeen' Is One of the Most Honest Teen Dramas in Recent Years

In a fair world, movies like The Edge of Seventeen would be hits. Instead, the film grossed next to nothing at the box office, yet it achieved cult status among its viewers.

Its success lies in its rejection of clichés – Nadine doesn't become popular, find the perfect guy, or make peace with her friend in a beautiful scene by the end. She simply learns to live with what she has.

Steinfeld plays her in such a way that you believe every breakdown, every cruel joke, and every moment of despair. Woody Harrelson shines as the teacher – his character, Bruner, is simply there when she needs him.

Together, Steinfeld and Harrelson create a chemistry that transforms a typical coming-of-age story into a statement about how the only way to cope with pain sometimes is to laugh at it.

What Did Critics & Viewers Think of 'The Edge of Seventeen'?

• The Edge of Seventeen has 94% from critics and 83% from viewers on Rotten Tomatoes.

• On IMDb, the movie has a score of 7.3/10.

• On Letterboxd, The Edge of Seventeen scored 3.5/5.0.

Where to Watch 'The Edge of Seventeen'?

The Edge of Seventeen is available to stream on Netflix.