Monday, April 18, 2011

...the teen actress

Fil-Am Hailee Steinfeld plays Juliet, Sleeping Beauty next

 
By KAYE VILLAGOMEZ
April 17, 2011
Manila Bulletin
 
 
MANILA, Philippines -- Filipino-American actress Hailee Steinfeld, who was nominated Best Supporting Actress in the 2011 Oscars, scored two blockbuster-positives as follow-up to her “True Grit” performance. The 14-year old Hollywood upstart will take on the title roles in new “Romeo and Juliet” and “Sleeping Beauty” films.



Steinfeld recently signed on to play “Sleeping Beauty” in another fairy tale given big-screen-spin project. And unlike the comatose princess who practically snoozed off her part while she waited for her prince’s true love kiss and rescue, Steinfeld’s version will be told from Sleeping Beauty’s dream world point of view, Deadline reported.

“Sleeping Beauty” is the third fairy tale granted modern Hollywood angle after “Red Riding Hood” featuring Amanda Seyfried in the title role and two more versions of “Snow White” with Kristen Stewart and Lily Collins each playing the lead in separate adaptations.



Two “Peter Pan” projects and “Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters” are also underway. Credits are in order for Tim Burton’s “Alice in Wonderland,” which made over a billion dollars, for this current Hollywood obsession.

For “Romeo and Juliet,” Steinfeld is once again in good company with Italian director Carlo Carlie (of the 1993 crime drama “Flight of the Innocent”) and screenwriter Julian Fellowes (“Gosford Park,” “The Tourist”) who is co-producing the immortal Shakespeare love tale with Garbiel Muccino (director of “Seven Pounds”). New Line Cinema execs-turned-producers Ileen Maisel and Mark Ordesky are also part of the producing cast.

Prior to Juliet, Steinfeld was considered to play Katniss Everdeen in the big screen adaptation of “The Hunger Games.” Ironically, the part went to Oscar batch-mate nominee Jennifer Lawrence, who scored a Best Actress Academy nod for “Winter’s Bone.”

According to http://www.thefablife.com/, Steinfeld resembles Olivia Hussey who played Juliet in 1968. Steinfeld’s age at 14 also matched Juliet’s age in the classic play.

News from The Hollywood Reporter (THR) said $15 million has been allocated for the new “Romeo & Juliet” film. Shooting starts soon in Italy.

“Snow White” actress Lily Collins was at one point certain that she would be this film’s Juliet but found the role of the fair Disney princess more appealing.

Producers of “Romeo and Juliet” have yet to announce who will play Romeo opposite Steinfeld.

Steinfeld – whose maternal grandfather is Filipino – rose to mainstream buzz after her first role as Mattie Ross in “True Grit” received widespread acclaim that critics later referred to the young actress as this year’s Oscar Supporting Actress dark horse before Melissa Leo took home the award for her role in “The Fighter.”

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