Hailee Steinfeld

Hailee Steinfeld, an Oscar nominee for Actress in a Supporting Role, poses at the 30th Academy Awards Nominees Luncheon in Beverly Hills, Calif., Monday, Feb. 7, 2011. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)

Actress Hailee Steinfeld arrives at the 17th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards on Jan. 30, 2011, in Los Angeles.

Actress Hailee Steinfeld arrives on the red carpet of the 68th annual Golden Globe Awards in Beverly Hills, California, on Jan. 16, 2011.

After a nationwide search involving 15,000 actresses, the filmmakers behind "True Grit" found their star in Hailee Steinfeld, who makes her feature-film debut in the remake of the western classic. Thirteen years old at the time of filming, the California native had taken acting lessons and workshops since she was 8, and appeared in the Kelsey Grammer TV series "Back to You."

Hailee plays Mattie Ross, who seeks revenge against the man who killed and robbed her father. Steinfeld demonstrates her character's precocious, forthright and unblinking nature as she seeks to hire a lawman to bring the killer to justice. The role earned her an Oscar nomination, in the Best Supporting Actress category.

Hailee with Jeff Bridges, who plays Marshall Rooster Cogburn in "True Grit."

Hailee with Matt Damon, who plays the Texas Ranger LaBoeuf, in "True Grit."

Before going on location, Hailee's dad took her to a shooting range with a friend who's an LAPD officer to learn how to handle a gun. "He kind of told me everything I needed to know," she said.

Hailee did many of her own stunts, including riding a horse across a river. When co-director Joel Coen asked her if she was afraid of heights she said no, thinking he was referring to the height of a horse. The next day, she found herself high in the treetops.

The 14-year-old actress sits with Tracy Smith of CBS News.

"True Grit" actress Hailee Steinfeld attends the 2011 National Board of Review of Motion Pictures Gala at Cipriani 42nd Street on Jan. 11, 2011, in New York.

Actors Matt Damon, Hailee Steinfeld and Jeff Bridges attend the premiere of "True Grit" at the Ziegfeld Theatre on Dec. 14, 2010, in New York.

Justin Timberlake and Hailee Steinfeld attend a screening of "True Grit" on Dec. 9, 2010, in Beverly Hills, Calif.

Actress Hailee Steinfeld arrives at the Hollywood Foreign Press Association and InStyle's Miss Golden Globe 2011 introduction on Dec. 9, 2010, in West Hollywood, Calif.

Hailee Steinfeld attends the "Tron: Legacy" U.K. premiere on Dec. 5, 2010, in London.

Hailee Steinfeld poses for a picture at the 18th Annual BAFTA Britannia Awards on Nov. 4, 2010, in Los Angeles.

Actress Hailee Steinfeld arrives at ELLE's 17th Annual Women in Hollywood Tribute at The Four Seasons Hotel on Oct. 18, 2010, in Beverly Hills, Calif.

Actress Hailee Steinfeld arrives at The 8th Annual Teen Vogue Young Hollywood Party on Oct. 1, 2010, in Los Angeles.