Hailee Steinfeld’s family background is filled with rich cultures, professions, and personal stories that have shaped her into the versatile actress and musician she is today. Born on December 11, 1996, in Tarzana, Los Angeles, Hailee was raised in the nearby suburbs of Agoura Hills and Thousand Oaks, California.
Her dad, Peter Steinfeld, and mom, Cheri Domasin-Steinfeld, come from strikingly different yet equally fascinating backgrounds, giving Hailee a multicultural identity she proudly embraces.
Who Are Hailee Steinfeld’s Parents? All About Her Ethnicity and Race
Her father, Peter, is a personal trainer with deep Ashkenazi Jewish roots, tracing back to Romania and Russia. He’s not just any fitness coach, he’s the founder of Better Shape-Up, a wellness company that has trained high-profile clients like Madonna and Larry David. Before dedicating himself to fitness, Peter dabbled in acting, appearing in shows like Married… with Children and Curb Your Enthusiasm. His influence on Hailee’s career extends beyond genetics as he personally trained her for physically demanding roles, including her archery-heavy performance in Hawkeye.
Hailee’s mom, Cheri Domasin-Steinfeld, is where the family’s multicultural story truly unfolds. Cheri, a former flight attendant turned interior designer, managed Hailee’s career in its early stages, ensuring her daughter took acting seriously by making her “study for a year” before pursuing it professionally. Cheri’s own heritage is a blend of Filipino, African-American, and European ancestry.
Her pops, Ricardo Domasin, Hailee’s maternal grandfather, was half-Filipino from the island of Bohol and half-African-American. This mixed heritage became a point of pride for Hailee, especially when she took on roles that resonated with her roots. Cheri’s ma, Hailee’s maternal grandmother, brought European ancestry into the mix, with English, German, Scottish, and Irish lineage. This diverse background meant Hailee grew up celebrating both Jewish traditions from her dad’s side and Christian influences from her mom’s, creating a household where cultural diversity was the norm.
The significance of Hailee’s heritage became even more personal when she starred in the 2025 film Sinners, where she played Mary, a biracial woman with 1/8 Black ancestry. This role mirrored her own family history in ways she hadn’t anticipated. Preparing for the film led her to dig deeper into her genealogy, particularly the story of her grandfather, Ricardo Domasin, who passed away when she was young.
She has spoken about how this research brought her closer to her mother and helped her understand her own identity in a new light. The role wasn’t just another job, it was a journey into her past, one that she described as something she “didn’t know she needed so bad.”
A Look Inside Hailee Steinfeld’s Family and Siblings
Beyond her parents, Hailee’s family includes her older brother, Griffin, a former racecar driver who stepped away from the sport to pursue other interests. Though not in the spotlight like his sister, Griffin has been a supportive figure in Hailee’s life. The Steinfelds’ dynamic is tight-knit, with both her mom and dad playing active roles in Hailee’s career and personal growth. Peter, despite his tough-love approach to fitness, has been her biggest cheerleader, while Cheri’s hands-on management in Hailee’s early years set the foundation for her disciplined work ethic.
Hailee’s connection to her Filipino roots has been particularly strong. She has visited the Philippines, including her grandpa’s hometown of Panglao in Bohol, and has spoken about feeling a deep sense of belonging there. Her African-American ancestry, though less publicly discussed, is another layer of her identity that she acknowledges with pride. In interviews, she has emphasized how growing up in a mixed-race household taught her to appreciate different cultures, something that has influenced both her acting choices and her music.
What makes Hailee’s story stand out is how seamlessly she weaves her heritage into her career. Whether it’s through roles like Sinners that reflect her biracial background or her music that often touches on themes of identity and self-discovery, she doesn’t shy away from her roots. Even her fashion choices sometimes nod to her heritage, such as wearing traditional Filipino designs on red carpets. Her family’s story, from her Jewish father’s Eastern European ancestry to her mother’s diverse African-American lineage, is symbolic of the melting pot that is modern America.
