There’s no doubt that Hailee Steinfeld is already in the Oscars buzz this season. Although perhaps a nominee for the time being. But Steinfeld is no stranger to the Academy Awards, having bagged an Oscar nod previously as one of the youngest nominees for a big acting category in the entire history of Oscar nominations. 

Now, after her striking performance in Sinners, the question lingers: will Steinfeld finally win the Oscar in 2026?

Hailee Steinfeld has never won an Academy Award before, but is now in the Oscar nods race for starring in Sinners, a 2025 period horror drama, directed by Ryan Coogler, co-starring Michael B. Jordan. The film has received excellent critical reviews and has been recognized as a strong awards contender after winning various precursor ceremonies, such as Best Picture and Best Director at the multiple Astra Film Awards, Outstanding Supporting Performance and Ensemble Tribute at the Gotham Independent Film Awards, among many others.

At the 83rd Golden Globe Awards, Sinners received seven nominations, including Best Motion Picture Drama, although Steinfeld did not get an individual Globe nomination this year. A popular discourse among critics and fans regarding her awards momentum considers her role to be impactful enough, deserving of a Supporting Actress Oscar nod. The early reactions to awards on social forums also indicate high expectations regarding her 2026 Oscar chances.

By January 2026, Coogler's vampire horror has already been classified among the major contenders for multiple Oscars, including Best Picture, screenplay, direction, and possibly acting categories. This means Steinfeld has a way of getting her first Academy Award, or another Oscar nomination, following a Best Supporting Actress nod for her performance in a major film project, True Grit (2010). With her noteworthy performance as Mary in the American phenomenon that Sinners has become, the actress' chances of earning a golden statuette seem higher than ever.

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Steinfeld's one-of-a-kind portrayal of Mary in the horror epic movie speaks a thousand times louder than critical words. 

Iconic filmmaker Ryan Coogler might have now moved on to his next highly anticipated big project, but the awards season is still sparkling with the flying colors of what he achieved and delivered with Sinners. One of the greatest elements of his narrative is the role of Mary, brought to life by Hailee Steinfeld.

Mary, a white-passing woman in Mississippi, faces heartbreak, racial identity struggles, her mother’s death, and the unexpected return of her childhood love, Stack, in the horror blockbuster. What drives this character to its fullest impact is the lack of community around her, causing a multi-dimensional perspective to her arc. 

"This character challenged me in ways I've never been challenged. And in ways I don't know, I would have been able to sort of tackle and overcome had it happened any sooner in my life," the actress told Good Morning America.

As a biracial woman herself, Steinfeld brought out the nuances of the role exceptionally as she dug deep into her own family history, her maternal grandfather’s half-Filipino and half-African American lineage, and her upbringing to capture sentiments of her character, perhaps like no page could ever, per Refinery29.

With Mary, Hailee Steinfeld is already predicted to be one of the top contenders for the Oscars 2026 this year. Stay tuned for the Oscars nominations live streaming soon.

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Will Hailee Steinfeld bag an Oscar this year? Comment your thoughts below.