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Jeff Bridges as Marshall "Rooster" Cogburn; Matt Damon as La Boeuf.
(Photo: Mary Ellen Marks; Courtesy of Paramount Pictures) |
The actress (whose highest-profile role prior to this was talking about �blingitude� in a Kmart ad) made a point of seeing all the films of Bridges and Damon before shooting began, �so I’d know what they’re talking about if they’re talking about one of their movies, you know?� But they ended up behaving more like surrogate parents; both are well tested in raising daughters (Damon has four, Bridges three). The Coens, on the other hand, became Steinfeld’s all-time favorite teachers: �They were always asking if I needed explanations and giving me encouragement.� She was most impressed by the relationship of the notoriously private brothers. �Joel and Ethan were so cool with each other,� she says. �I love my [16-year-old] brother to death, and he’s my best friend, but I don’t know that I could ever direct a major motion picture with him. I mean, they’re just so easygoing�always agreeing with each other and making sure that the other’s happy with whatever happened.�
Did she take anything away from the original film? �The main thing that inspired me about Kim Darby’s performance was that she held her own next to all these guys and the Duke,� says Steinfeld. �And I felt that I wanted to bring that to the role of Mattie Ross: holding my own next to the Dude.�