Hailee Steinfeld Reveals Some of the Changes to Her Character's Look and Role in 'Across the Spider-Verse'

Dickinson star and True Grit Oscar-nominated actress Hailee Steinfeld, 26, returns to the Spider-Verse with the second film in the trilogy, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (June 2 in theaters), reprising her role as Gwen Stacy, aka Spider-Woman of Earth-65. The sequel presents new challenges for both Gwen and Miles Morales (Spider-Man) as they visit several different dimensions, meet new characters and face surprising plot developments while staying true to the emotional core of the story.

Parade sat down with Hailee to discuss the new film.

Walter Scott: Spider-Man has been both animated and live action. What do you think the animated version allows you to do that the live action doesn’t? 

Hailee Steinfeld: Each Spider-Man film is so unique and so different than the last, just based on who's in it and what they bring to the characters and their interpretation of it. With this, I've been lucky enough to be a part of this world that was created by so many incredibly genius and creative people that I'm able to live in this world where the impossible actually can happen and does happen, but yet it feels so grounded. What blows me away so much about this film is that you do feel like when watching it, you yourself are being teleported into another dimension and yet you're still so engaged in the emotion and in the heart of each character’s storyline in the midst of all this action-packed chaos. It's pretty special.

Do you think what also makes it special is the first film introduced a multicultural version of a classic Marvel superhero, so that added something extra to the mix? 

Absolutely. I feel so grateful and so honored to be a small part of something that feels so groundbreaking in that sense. It's so diverse and it's life as we know it and as we see it. Now, it's on the big screen and that's a very cool thing to be a part of.

How much more complex is the relationship between Miles and Gwen in the sequel? 

Gwen is definitely dealing with a lot of conflict. Where the first film might have been about finding her purpose, this one is about how we wear the mask and what it is that we’re capable of. Gwen is in a place where she sees Miles’ potential. She believes in him more than most people and she wants him to go off and be his own person and do what she knows he's capable of, yet she wants to do it together and that's not really an option. She is trying to hide from her own father, who is a cop, whose current life mission is to track down Spider-Gwen, and so that makes for their interesting dinner conversations. But she's going through a lot. She's just trying to figure it all out.

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Gwen has a much bigger role to play in this story. How has she grown? 

One of the coolest parts is that not only has she grown, I've gotten to grow with her. Because this process has taken place over many years now, there's a part of Gwen in this film, and Miles as well, that is about that time that we all go through in life where we become our own person and we want to break away from our foundation and create our own. That's where I think this film is particularly special in that it will resonate with people of all ages, kids and parents, specifically in this case, understanding that their kids have gotten to a place in life that they've raised them and prepared them to be, where they get to take things on themselves and become their own person. So, that's a big part of her growth in this film, just becoming her own person, stepping into her own, and really learning how to be herself unapologetically.

How much of yourself do you see in Gwen? Either in the way she’s drawn or who she is? 

I definitely do see parts … I guess it goes both ways. I'll never forget—and this goes back many years now, but seeing the first sketch of Gwen, and even seeing in this film, there's been some little new touches to her outfit, to her hair, it’s a bit of a different energy and that's definitely emulated in how we see her, but I definitely see parts of myself in her and am inspired by her and her ambition, her drive and her desire to do good in the world and help people. I love that about her.

You’re 26 now. Are you ready to stop playing high school students? Are you looking for those more adult roles now?

I just love that I'm able to play these characters that I guess, yes, happen to be in a very similar age range, but yet, they are all very powerful young women who have a strong point of view in life and a purpose. A lot of the roles I've played have been in that coming-of-age time, where it's about finding it, but once it's found, they're a force to be reckoned with. I feel so lucky to even be considered to play the roles that I’ve played.

Actors always say they love doing voice-overs because they can show up in their pajamas. But acting is reacting, and with so much of animation done in isolation, do you miss interacting with castmates?

Absolutely. There's nothing like real-life, real-time interaction. Although, the talent in this film is so beyond that even if the actors aren't in the room and you just have their read in your ears, it’s as if they are there. But I was lucky enough this time around to have sessions with quite a few of the actors actually, which again is just a dream, because there’s nothing like banter in real time. But, of course, there's nothing like being in front of someone and playing something out.

You also have another aspect to your career. You’re a singer. In March, you released your latest single “Sun Kissing.” How big a role does music play in your career?

I would say music has always been such a huge part of my life and a part of who I am. It's been a huge part of my process as an actor. So, to be able to create music with people who have become my friends is the most insane thing to me, really. I love it and it's exciting to me. I wouldn't say one over the other. I couldn't. I love that I'm able to do both.

You came to success so young. How did you know that acting was what you wanted to do at such a young age? You were only 13 when you starred in True Grit.

It was the idea of performing and entertaining that was of interest to me, and when I fell into it, I went from one thing to another, learning one skill to another skill, and I was traveling the world and I just fell in love with that aspect of it. Before I started acting, I was always very indecisive with what I wanted to do. One month it was dance, the next month it was basketball, then it was horseback riding. Within acting, I found I could still live out my 7-year-old dream of doing all these crazy, fun things every couple of months, but under one umbrella.

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Do you have a long-term goal?

Absolutely. I find that every time I'm on set, I want to do everyone's job because I'm lucky enough to work with some of the best and I'm so inspired by the people around me and the people I get to learn from and have as a firsthand example of what it looks like be great at that particular role. I, of course, would love to explore behind the camera some more.

You did the three seasons of Dickinson, which was a period piece. What was the appeal?

I had never come across anything like that project ever before. It just felt so different, so fresh and unique, and the tone of it specifically was so interesting to me. It wasn't until I spoke to Alena Smith, our writer and creator, that I that I fully understood it and I just fell in love with the whole concept and everything that she had in mind. She was about to give birth to twins, and we had a conversation via phone and yet she in some way articulated perfectly what this show would look like, what she wanted it to feel like, and what it was supposed to be. I just got it and ever since then, I felt like we have been on the same page.

It was an incredible journey of three beautiful seasons that I feel so grateful to have been a part of. It was very bittersweet when it came to an end. I gained a family out of that show and that’s what I feel will last a lot longer than our three seasons. The great thing about the show and having done it with Apple TV+ is that it lives on that platform and people can revisit or discover it if they wish, which is pretty cool.

Catch Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse only in theaters starting June 2.

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