Hailee Steinfeld on Recording Music for New Movie ‘Hexed’ and Becoming a Mother in the Process

Hailee Steinfeld voices the lead character in Disney’s animated film *Hexed* and also recorded a cover of The Cars’ “Magic” for its soundtrack. She said the project let her combine acting and music, while its mother-daughter story took on new meaning as she became a mother during production.

Steinfeld recorded the song with her childhood friend Demitri Lerios in Buffalo over 24 hours after Disney creative chief Jared Bush approached her close to the deadline. In the film, her teenager discovers magical powers and enters a realm of witches with her cautious mother, voiced by Rashida Jones, while Jodie Foster plays Queen Celeste. Foster said the role appealed to her partly because the story presents witches as communities that empower women.