Alana Haim has been performing with her older sisters, Este and Danielle, as one-third of the pop-rock band Haim ever since 2007. The trio has released several hit albums, including their Grammy-nominated record Women in Music Pt. III, which is currently up for Album of the Year at the 2022 Grammy Awards. Through the years, they've also collaborated with several huge names, like Taylor Swift [1] and Lorde [2], and have been featured on soundtracks for movies like The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Part 1 and The Divergent Series: Insurgent.
While the girls have done practically everything together over the past decade, in 2021, Alana embarked on a major project all on her own (well, almost entirely — but more on that later): starring in the coming-of-age drama Licorice Pizza directed by Paul Thomas Anderson. Her role as Alana Kane earned her several impressive award nominations, including Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy at the 2022 Golden Globe Awards [3], where she's up against Jennifer Lawrence [4] and Emma Stone [5].
If you're curious to know more about Alana, you've come to the right place. Here are eight fascinating facts about the singer-turned-actress.
Alana and Her Sisters Are in a Band Together
Alana was always meant to be a star. Besides being a talented actress, she's a skilled vocalist, guitarist, and pianist in a band alongside her sisters Danielle and Este Haim, fittingly called Haim. Through the years, Haim has been nominated for various awards, including three Grammys.
Licorice Pizza Marked Alana's First Major Project Without Her Sisters
Although her sisters had small roles in Licorice Pizza, Alana said she was alone most of the time while filming the movie [6]. "It was a huge growing experience," Alana told Interview on 25 Oct. about taking on a major project without Este and Danielle. "My two older siblings have carried me through life, so it was jarring to be like, 'Oh, they can't get me out of this one. I also couldn't blame them for anything, or be like, 'Danielle did it, not me.' I had to show up on set every day, know what I was doing, and hold my own."
Alana Wouldn't Change a Thing About Her "Snaggletooth"
Alana revealed she got her "snaggletooth" when she was four years old. "I was in ballet class and we were doing jumps at the bar. I hit my tooth on the bar and chipped it, but I really didn't think anything of it," Alana told Interview on 25 Oct. "When my mom picked me up after class, I smiled at her and she was like, 'What the f*ck!' I didn't care, but she flipped, so I had to go to the orthodontist to get it shaved down. Now I have a little baby snaggletooth [7] and this space between my teeth."
When John C. Reilly asked her if she would ever "fix" her teeth, Alana said, "I realised that my teeth are going to be this way, and I'm keeping them."
Alana Is Long-Time Friends With Taylor Swift
Alana and Taylor Swift [8] go way back. In January 2015, Haim posed on the Golden Globes red carpet with Swift, and a month later, the group opened up for the singer during the North American leg of her 1989 World Tour. Around the same time, Haim was pictured with Swift at the 57th annual Grammy Awards.
Since then, Haim and Swift have collaborated on the track "No Body, No Crime [9]" from Swift's ninth studio album, Evermore, as well as the song "Gasoline" from Haim's third studio album, Women in Music, Pt. III. On 13 Dec., 2021, Swift celebrated her 32nd birthday by having a joint party with Alana [10], who turned 30 on 15 Dec.
Alana’s Family Appears in her Movie Licorice Pizza
Alana's parents, Mordechai and Donna Haim, as well as her sisters, briefly appear in Licorice Pizza as her family. "There was never a discussion," Alana told Indie Wire about their roles. "Who else could play my family other than my family? [11]"
Alana Has a Unique History With Licorice Pizza’s Director
Alana surprisingly goes way back with Anderson. While speaking to Interview on 25 Oct., the star revealed her mother was Anderson's art teacher in elementary school [12]. Once Anderson grew up and became a director, he became a fan of Haim and invited the group over to his house for dinner. He had no idea about his connection to the sisters until Este revealed her mother's identity. Afterward, Haim and Anderson became friends and frequent collaborators. He's directed several of the band's videos, including "Summer Girl" and "The Steps." Eventually, Anderson reached out to Alana about starring in Licorice Pizza.
Alana Had to Go to Truck School for Licorice Pizza
In a 6 Dec. interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Alana revealed the most challenging part about filming Licorice Pizza [13] was learning how to drive a truck. "The first week, it was a lot of truck stuff. I had to learn stick shift, I had to go to truck school," Alana explained. "I was really driving that truck, which is insane when I look back [on it]. My parents were so mad. They were like, 'I cannot believe that you drove that truck and survived.'"
Alana Has Won Several Awards for Her Licorice Pizza Role
Alana has received high praise for her breakthrough acting performance in Licorice Pizza. So far, she's been recognised for Best Breakthrough Performance from the National Board of Review and Best Actress at the Boston Society of Film Critics and Atlanta Film Critics Circle. She's also nominated for Best Actress by the Detroit Film Critics Society and the 27th annual Critics' Choice Awards. Not to mention, she picked up a nomination for Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy at the 2022 Golden Globea.