Hailee Steinfeld Breaks Down Racial Introspection in 'Sinners' Role

Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen might as well be the king of Western New York, beloved by the masses and one of the best players in the sport. Buffalo has become home for Allen, and part of that arrangement means accepting Allen’s family.

As such, when actress Hailee Steinfeld’s relationship with the quarterback went public, she quickly became one of the fanbase’s most cherished figures.

Recently, she starred as Mary in "Sinners," one of the biggest movies of the year. The movie is set in Jim Crow-era Mississippi, and the Buffalo faithful, like seemingly everyone else, flocked to theaters to see their fan on the big screen.

Steinfeld broke down her racial introspection that the role demanded from her in an interview with Melanie Curry, exploring her grandfather’s African-American roots.

“It's not often necessarily about yourself all the time. It's about the character,” Steinfeld told Curry. “But with Sinners, I was constantly thinking about my situation, my family, my ancestors, my grandfather in each [scene] we were in and talking about.”

Steinfeld’s father is Jewish; her mother is Filipino. She hadn’t realized that her maternal grandfather was half Black. As she prepared for her role, she learned more about herself than she anticipated.

“Steinfeld says she spent hours speaking with her mom, learning about their family history, particularly her maternal grandfather’s racial identity as half Filipino and half African American,” Curry wrote. “But it wasn’t just his identity that she uncovered; it was also his upbringing, his parents, and the broader lineage of her ancestors. It was a process she hadn’t realised she needed — one that helped her make sense of things in her own life.”

Just like Allen saw Steinfeld’s steadfast support during the season, he chimed in with praise about her role alongside Michael B. Jordan.

"It was a different world, a very cool experience," Allen said. "I'm so excited for her and so proud of her, and it's getting some great reviews. It's a fantastic movie, so go watch it."

The movie is experiencing incredible success, defining the current moment in pop culture and receiving rave reviews in the process. For Steinfeld, “Sinners” is clearly more than just a movie.

“This role has brought me closer to myself, to my family, and my family history.”