Friday, June 5, 2015

TGIF FEATURE: Filipino American Hailee Steinfeld signs record deal


In Barely Lethal, Hailee Seinfeld shows she is up for action movies as well as musicals and dramas.
HAILEE STEINFELD is having quite a month: Pitch Perfect 2—which she starred in—debuted at No. 1, she played a part in Taylor Swift’s record-breaking “Bad Blood” music video, she just landed a record deal with Republic Records and her latest movie, Barely Lethal opened last weekend.

The Filipino American said she has always loved to sing but she never sang in a film until Pitch Perfect 2, in which she plays Emily Junk. Her cover of "Flashlight" got the attention of Republic Record executives.

“The moment that we met Hailee we found her commitment to music inspiring,” Republic Records’ executive vice president Charlie Walk said in a statement. “She has the vision, natural talent, and dedication to compete at the highest level. We are thrilled to be part of her musical journey.” 

“What I love about Hailee at the end of the movie is that you feel like she’s at the beginning of something,” explained director/actress Elizabeth Banks. “The message was that the Barden Bellas all-girl singing group had mentored her through the movie and now, she’s ready for whatever comes next," hinting at a Pitch Perfect 3. 


Hailee wasn't the only Filipino American in the Pitch Perfect 2 cast. She was joined by the Filharmonics, an a cappella boy-band based in Los Angeles.


Besides singing and acting, the multi-talented Hailee showed she also has some martial arts moves in the just-released Barely Lethal, in which she plays a teenage assassin who longs for a "normal" life. Mix Nikita with Mean Girls and you get the gist of the movie.

Hailee shot to fame in 2011 after starring in the western True Grit. At 14-years-old, she was nominated for a best supporting actress Oscar

Between then and now, at 18, Hailee has blossomed into a lovely young woman after playing Juliet in the 2013 version of Romeo and Juliet directed by Carlo Carlei.

Steinfeld also recently starred in Taylor Swift's celeb-packed "Bad Blood"music video, playing a group of triplets called the Trinity. The video also featured many other of Swift's high-powered BFFs, including Lena Dunham, Selena Gomez, Karlie Kloss, among others.





Her mother is interior designer Cheri Domasin Steinfeld from Bohol Province in the Philippines. Through the early years of her career, the mother-daughter practically lived in their car going from audition to audition in Los Angeles.

“My relationship with my mother is amazing,” she disclosed. “My mom and I are so close. She travels the world with me and I could not do what I am doing without her by my side. I found that the best thing when I am in a group of people, I would have one or two people come up to me and say, ‘You are Filipino!’ I am Filipino, too. And I am like ‘Yes, this is awesome!’ So it is sort of this one thing that connected me with many people that I find is really interesting.”

By all reports, this talented young lady has her head on straight. No airs, no diva-like behavior. In a lot of ways, she is like her Perfect Pitch 2 character, Emily Junk. Even though she's been in the business for a number of years  she still emanates an innocence and naivety.

Watch out for her name, Hailee Steinfeld is in high demand in Hollywood and she is heading for stardom, folks.

Have a great weekend! Go watch a movie.





###



No comments:

Post a Comment