Oscar-Nominee Hailee Steinfeld Was Bullied, "Pulled Out" of Middle School

Oscar nominee, now 16, tells Glamour she hopes "to be the person who says, 'Trust me when I tell you it will be OK'" to others

By Rebecca Macatee May 14, 2013 5:49 PMTags
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Hailee Steinfeld was nominated for an Oscar at age 14, stars in the upcoming Romeo and Juliet movie and hangs out with Taylor Swift in Paris.

Pretty cool girl, right? Absolutely, but even she was a victim of bullying.

In Glamour's June issue, the 16-year-old actress opens up about her personal experience with a struggle that many less-famous kids face.

"Bullying is something I went through, from third to sixth grade, when I got pulled out [of school]. I still go through it," the True Grit star says. "And if I can be the person who says, 'Trust me when I tell you it will be OK,' then I will be that person."

But Hailee doesn't harbor animosity towards those who were unkind to her in those formative years. "Often bullies are taking something [personal] out on others," she explains. "If they use that energy to make someone smile, we can save so many people in the long run."

Sounds like someone is already wise well beyond her years.