A decade after the release of The Edge of Seventeen, Hailee Steinfeld is revisiting not just the film, but the emotional reality that surrounded it. Now 30 years old in 2026, and stepping into a new chapter of life as a mother alongside her husband Josh Allen, Steinfeld reflects on a simple yet powerful piece of advice that transformed her understanding of anxiety: “It is only a matter of time.”
When she first took on the role of Nadine—a sharp, emotionally volatile teenager navigating isolation, insecurity, and identity—Steinfeld found herself deeply connected to the character’s internal chaos. At the time, the overwhelming feelings portrayed on screen were not entirely fictional. Like many young people, she was grappling with the intensity of adolescence, where every setback feels permanent and every emotion seems all-consuming.
The filming process required her to immerse herself in that mindset, amplifying emotions that were already close to the surface. High school, both in reality and in the film, was depicted as a storm of confusion and heightened sensitivity. For Steinfeld, stepping into Nadine’s world meant confronting the fear that these feelings might never pass—that anxiety could define who you are indefinitely.
It was during this period that her mother offered a quiet but profound perspective. The phrase “It is only a matter of time” cut through the noise of teenage angst. It did not dismiss the intensity of what she was feeling, but reframed it. Instead of seeing anxiety as something permanent, it became something temporary—an experience that moves, shifts, and eventually fades.
That realization marked a turning point. It challenged the belief that difficult emotions are fixed traits rather than passing states. Over time, Steinfeld began to understand that growth is ոչ linear, and that even the most overwhelming moments are part of a larger process. The advice did not eliminate anxiety, but it gave her a way to contextualize it—to step back and recognize that no feeling lasts forever.
Now, as she navigates the early stages of motherhood, that same lesson has taken on new meaning. Sleepless nights, uncertainty, and the constant demands of caring for a newborn can feel just as overwhelming as the emotional turbulence of adolescence. Yet Steinfeld finds herself returning to those same seven words, using them as an anchor in moments of exhaustion and doubt.
Motherhood, much like adolescence, is filled with intense, fleeting phases. By applying her mother’s wisdom, she approaches these challenges with patience rather than panic. She understands that difficult nights will pass, that uncertainty will give way to confidence, and that each phase—no matter how chaotic—has its own timeline.
This perspective also reflects a broader emotional maturity. Where teenage angst often feels infinite, adulthood brings the ability to recognize patterns and trust in change. Steinfeld’s journey illustrates how a simple shift in mindset can have lasting impact, shaping not only how we experience hardship but how we move through it.
Ultimately, her story is not just about overcoming anxiety, but about redefining it. By embracing the idea that emotions are temporary, she has replaced fear with resilience. What once felt like an endless storm is now understood as a passing season.
And in that understanding lies a quiet kind of power—the ability to endure, knowing that whatever you are feeling, it truly is only a matter of time.