Hailee Steinfeld has delivered standout performances throughout her career, earning acclaim from a young age. At just 14, she was nominated for an Academy Award for her role as Mattie Ross in True Grit. Since then, she’s portrayed complex characters in films like The Edge of Seventeen, Bumblebee, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, and Sinners. Among her most compelling and underrated performances is her portrayal of Emily Dickinson in the Apple TV+ series Dickinson.
Dickinson Is a Standout Series on Apple TV+
Premiering in 2019, Dickinson was one of Apple TV+’s first original comedies and remains one of its most distinctive offerings. Set in 19th-century Massachusetts, the show follows the early life of poet Emily Dickinson as she resists societal pressure to conform, particularly the expectation to marry. She secretly harbors feelings for her best friend, who is engaged to her brother.
Despite its historical setting, the series uses modern language and music, blending period visuals with a contemporary tone. It offers a fresh and progressive look at Emily’s identity, creativity, and inner world. Creator Alena Smith designed the show to feel like a modern teen drama set two centuries ago, creatively subverting both teen drama and historical drama conventions.
Steinfeld’s Performance Is a Highlight
As the lead, Steinfeld brings depth, charm, and vulnerability to the role of Emily Dickinson. Portraying a historical figure of such literary importance is no small feat, but she manages to make the character both iconic and relatable. Her performance captures not only Dickinson’s poetic brilliance and sharp wit but also her emotional struggles—unrequited love, societal pressure, and artistic frustration.
Dickinson spans three seasons and is available to stream on Apple TV+. For fans of Steinfeld’s other work in Arcane, Hawkeye, Sinners, or the Spider-Verse films, this series is an essential watch.
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