In the face of generative AI and economic turmoil, the animation industry faces continued production hurdles. However, studios have a saving grace in the form of Los Angeles native Hailee Steinfeld. The actor and singer has contributed to some of the biggest animated TV and film projects of the last 10 years, giving new life to a struggling sect of Hollywood.
Steinfeld, raised in LA’s Tarzana neighborhood to a physical trainer dad and interior design mom, was born in December 1996 and has been acting since she was 11 years old. Her first major role was when she was just a 13-year-old in the 2010 western film, “True Grit.” Her performance earned her nominations for an Academy Award and a BAFTA Award.
After appearing in “True Grit,” Steinfeld’s career gained significant traction. She performed in the science-fiction film “Ender’s Game” and the musical rom-com “Begin Again” in 2013. She joined the Pitch Perfect franchise two years later in “Pitch Perfect 2,” where her song “Flashlight” played a major role in the plot and landed her a record deal with Republic Records.
Steinfeld’s early acting career and subsequent music career heralded commercial and critical acclaim, but her work as a voice actor in the animation industry has given her renewed mainstream attention. Her performances have propelled previously lesser known comic book and video game characters into the media mainstream.
“Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse” was a huge success upon its release in 2018. With a 97% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes, a 4.4 out of 5 on film platform Letterboxd and $390 million in revenue, the first movie in a trilogy of animated Spider-Man films became an overnight hit. Steinfeld voiced Gwen Stacy, a.k.a. Spider Gwen, launching the character into fan favorite status.
The 2023 sequel to “Into the Spider-Verse,” “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse,” gave Gwen an even more central role. The film earned an eyebrow-raising $690 million at the box office, making it one of the highest-grossing animated films of all time. Building off of the previous work in “Into the Spider-Verse,” Steinfeld’s approach to Spider Gwen was even more emotionally complex and brought a new background to the character young people in the audience could connect and empathize with.
Spider Gwen debuted in the Marvel comics in 2014. Since Steinfeld’s performance as her in “Into the Spider-Verse,” the character has seen a jump in popularity. Gwen now has her own solo comic run, and Spider Gwen costumes are a popular cosplay and Halloween choice following the releases of the Spider-Verse movies.
While people are waiting on the third and final installment in the Spider-Verse trilogy, Steinfeld has not hesitated to jump into other animated projects. The animated show “Arcane,” based on the lore behind video game “League of Legends,” saw Steinfeld in another emotionally powerful central role as Vi.
The Netflix original’s first season hit the streaming platform in 2021 and was almost immediately met with high ratings and viewership. Steinfeld’s Vi, a criminal from the impoverished underground city of Zaun oppressed by the surface-city Piltover, is forced to fight within the corrupt system that mistreats and abuses Zaunites. After a tragic accident, she and her sister, Jinx, are thrust into a conflict between Zaun and Piltover that spans generations.
“Arcane” balances political themes with impactful representations of interpersonal relationships. Vi’s romance with Pilotver’s golden child Caitlyn is one audiences want to root for but also tangles between commitments to their opposing cities.
Season 2 of “Arcane” wrapped up in late November and followed a similar path to the Spider-Verse films Steinfeld stars in. Its distinctive animation style was praised, and it broke Netflix viewership records worldwide. Building off the already rabid fanbase that coalesced after Season 1, the second season finished with a bang and set up several future spin-off shows.
Steinfeld’s next projects are not exactly known, aside from the final installment in the Spider-Verse series. Entertainment outlets recently went on a Steinfeld-media blitz after her engagement to Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen, but she has kept a relatively low profile otherwise. It’s clear, however, that Steinfeld has no plans to stop working on animated projects and plans to keep supporting the medium despite its current problems.
