Hailee Steinfeld 'recalls True Grit audition'

Hailee Steinfeld has revealed that she was forced to audition several times for the role of Mattie Ross in True Grit.

The 14-year-old star told Flaunt magazine that the thought of winning the part from thousands of other actresses was daunting.

"I heard 15,000 [girls auditioned during an open call], but that's a big number, so I don't know," she said. "It was huge. A lot of girls auditioned for it."

Steinfeld also explained that her hopes of winning a part in directors Joel and Ethan Coen's western drama were almost dashed when she missed their open casting session.

She explained: "I heard about it through my mum's cousin. We went to my agent about it and she said the Coen brothers had already gone back to New York and it was down to three girls.

"But then I got a call to put together a tape and two days later I got called back to read with [the casting director] and then a month later with the Coen brothers."

Earlier this week, Steinfeld received a 'Best Supporting Actress' Oscar nomination for her debut acting performance in True Grit.