Hailee Steinfeld‘s latest role in the film “Sinners,” set to premiere on April 18, has resonated with her on a deeply personal level. Despite playing an undead character, she found a profound connection to her role, which has sparked significant personal reflections. Steinfeld shared with People, “It had such an impact on me personally. Therefore, I feel like the least it can do is make an impact on those that watch it.”
Playing Mary, a multi-racial vampire in a 1930s southern horror, Hailee Steinfeld, who is part-Black and part-Filipino on her mother’s side, drew on her own family history to connect with her character. The movie, directed by Ryan Coogler, explores complex themes and posed numerous questions for Steinfeld, connecting her with her ancestry. She expressed gratitude, saying, “I’m so grateful for the deeply personal connection that each of us have [to the material], mine being with my family history.”
The film stars Michael B. Jordan as twin brothers, Smoke and Stack, World War I veterans who return home to start a blues club in Mississippi, only to encounter a supernatural force. Coogler’s inspiration for the film stems from personal family experiences, particularly the passing of his Uncle James. “He was, for a long time, the oldest man in our family, and he lived close enough that I could walk to it as a kid,” Coogler recounted, highlighting the deep family ties interwoven into the narrative.
Ryan Coogler further elaborated on how these experiences influenced the creative process, recalling the influence of blues music on his connection to his uncle. “If the room was dark enough, I would feel like he was right there listening with me,” he described. The emotional intensity portrayed in “Sinners” resonates with this personal storytelling, creating a bridge between Coogler’s memories and the film’s unfolding drama.
Hailee Steinfeld’s engagement with Sinners reveals the film’s potential for audience impact. As the release date approaches, viewers can anticipate a powerful cinematic experience enriched by Steinfeld’s genuine connection to her role. The film’s exploration of personal identity and familial bonds offers audiences a thought-provoking and moving depiction, promising to deliver both thrills and emotional depth.
