Hailee Steinfeld was bullied at school

Hailee Steinfeld needed all the True Grit she could muster growing up in the California school system - she was mercilessly bullied as a child.

Life has changed dramatically for the well-spoken teen since she landed the role of a vengeful orphan in the Coen Brothers western, and she landed a Best Supporting Actress honour at the Academy Awards on Sunday (27Feb11) - but she admits life hasn't always been kind.

She tells Parade magazine, "I was teased really bad. I just happened to be that kid everyone picked on. It’s the worst."