(3 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)
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Movies
A Woman of No Importance (2011) (in production)
The Girl with the Red Riding Hood (2012) (pre-production)
Albert Nobbs (2011) (pre-production)
Big Love (53 episodes, 2006-2011)
Letters to Juliet (2010)
Dear John (2010)
Chloe (2009)
Jennifer’s Body (2009)
Boogie Woogie (2009)
Official Selection (2008)
Mamma Mia! (2008)
Gypsies, Tramps & Thieves (2006)
Alpha Dog (2006)
American Gun (2005)
Nine Lives (2005)
Mean Girls (2004)
Biography
Amanda Michelle Seyfried (born December 3, 1985) is an American actress, singer-songwriter and former child model. She began her career as a child model when she was eleven and when she was fifteen she began her career as an actress; starting off with an uncredited role and going on to have a recurring role on a television series, which expanded into her having a successful television career.
In 2004, Seyfried made her film debut in Mean Girls playing Karen Smith, the ditziest of the so called ‘plastics’. She then went on to other films including Nine Lives (2005) and Alpha Dog (2007). In 2008, after landing a lead role on HBO’s popular television series, Big Love, in 2006, Seyfried appeared as Sophie Sheridan in the musical feature film Mamma Mia!. Other recent notable appearances include lead roles in Jennifer’s Body and Chloe in 2009, and one of the two lead roles in Dear John the following year. She currently has three films in production.
Seyfried was born Amanda Michelle Seyfried in Allentown, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, United States on December 3, 1985. Seyfried’s mother, Ann (née Sander), was an occupational therapist, and her father, Jack Seyfried, was a pharmacist. Seyfried has one older sister; Jennifer Seyfried, who is a musician in the Philadelphia organ-driven rock band Love City. Amanda graduated in 2003 from Allentown’s William Allen High School.
Career
Early Work
In 1995, Seyfried began her acting career at the age of nine. In Allentown, she took classes at Civic Theatre of Allentown, and eventually signed with Image International Agency (IIA) in Allentown, Pennsylvania, where she lived at the time, before switching over to work at Bethlehem’s Pro Model Agency and eventually signing with Wilhelmina agency in New York City, New York. Seyfried’s modeling career ended when she was seventeen. During her modeling career she appeared in print ads for clothing companies; including Limited Too with Leighton Meester.
While modeling, Seyfried took voice lessons from eleven to seventeen. She trained with a Broadway voice coach for nearly five years. From there she began acting as an extra in the daytime drama television series Guiding Light; her role on the show was uncredited. In 2000, she originated the role of Lucinda Marie “Lucy” Montgomery #2 on the television show As the World Turns; appearing on the show as a recurring character, her role on the show lasted until 2001. After appearing in twenty-seven episodes, Seyfried left the show as a result of creative conflicts. From 2002 to 2003, Seyfried played the recurring role of Joni Stafford on the American Broadcasting Company (ABC) broadcasted show, All My Children.
In 2008, Seyfried auditioned to play the mean-girl role of Regina George in the Mean Girls; the role eventually went to Rachel McAdams, but the producers of the film picked Seyfried to play one of Regina’s two dim-witted “plastic” friends and sidekicks, Karen. The film, in which Seyfried co-starred alongside McAdams and Lindsay Lohan, centered on Cady trying to ‘take down’ the “plastics” at her high school. Mean Girls was a block-buster box-office success, making over $129 million in its theatrical run. Seyfried’s performance in the film earned her, along with Lohan and McAdams, an MTV Movie Award in the category of “Best On-Screen Team.” Mean Girls was Seyfried’s feature film debut.
Continuing her television career in 2004, Seyfried auditioned to play the title character on UPN’s popular television show Veronica Mars. Although the role eventually went to Kristen Bell, Seyfried portrayed the title character’s murdered best friend, Lilly Kane. Although her character was only shown in flashbacks, Lily was vital part of the first season’s plot and made Seyfried one of the show’s ‘familiar faces’. Seyfried appeared in ten episodes from 2004–2005. In 2005, she played the lead character, Samantha, a role written specifically for Seyfried, in one of the nine parts in the film Nine Lives, comprising nine short films with different themes and an ensemble cast. For her performance in the film, Seyfried won an award from the Locarno International Film Festival, for Best Actress, which she shared with the film’s other female leads. The same year she played supporting character Mouse in American Gun. In 2006 Seyfried appeared in five episodes on Wildfire as Rebecca and had lead role as Chrissy in Gypsies, Tramps & Thieves as well as a minor role as Julie Beckley in Alpha Dog. From 2004 to 2006, Seyfried made multiple guest appearances on television series, including House, M.D., Justice, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and CSI: Crime Scene Investigation.
Career Success
Seyfried’s break-through role was in the HBO television series Big Love, which centers on a fictional fundamentalist Mormon, where Seyfried plays Sarah, Bill and Barb’s first daughter who is struggling with her family’s polygamous faith. Big Love premiered in the United States on March 12, 2006 and HBO confirmed that the show was renewed for a fourth season – which was filmed in August 2009, and premiered on January 10, 2010. As of March 2010, Seyfried has appeared in all thirty-five episodes of the show’s three seasons. In December 2009, HBO confirmed that Seyfried would return for the show’s fourth season, but that it would be her last, as Seyfried wished to focus on her film career and up-coming projects.
Following the success of Big Love, Seyfried had a supporting role as Zoe in the 2008 horror drama film Solstice. That year, Seyfried also co-starred alongside Meryl Streep in Mamma Mia!, a romantic comedy film adaptation of the 1999 musical of the same name. Mamma Mia! was Seyfried’s first leading role as Sophie. With worldwide revenue of $609 million – compared to its $52 million budget, the film was the fifth highest grossing film of 2008 and, as of March 2010, is the 49th highest grossing film of all time. Wesley Morris of the Boston Globe commented that “what Seyfried lacks in emotional range is compensated for in luminousness”. Her musical performance in Mamma Mia! was released on the film’s soundtrack, for which she recorded five songs. As part of promotion for both the film and its soundtrack, Seyfried recorded a music video of the song, entitled “Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)”. On February 22, 2009, Seyfried presented an award and performed alongside her boyfriend, Dominic Cooper, and actors Hugh Jackman and Zac Efron along with musicians Beyoncé Knowles and Vanessa Hudgens at the 2009 Annual 81st Academy Awards ceremony. In March 2008, Seyfried signed on to co-star alongside Megan Fox and Adam Brody in the black comedy horror film Jennifer’s Body, written by Diablo Cody. In the film Seyfried was cast as Anita “Needy” Lesnicki, the title character’s best friend. The film, which premiered at the 2009 Toronto International Film Festival and was released to theaters on September 18, 2009, received mixed reviews from critics. In early March 2009, director Zack Snyder had tapped Seyfried to portray the lead role, “Baby Doll” in Sucker Punch. Seyfried was due to co-star alongside Vannessa Hudgens, Abbie Cornish and Jena Malone; though, within the same month, she had to drop out of the film due to scheduling conflicts with Big Love. Emily Browning was later cast in the role.
Seyfried co-starred alongside Channing Tatum in the film adaptation of the novel of the same name that was written by Nicholas Sparks, entitled Dear John. The film was released on February 5, 2010, and received generally negative reviews. Seyfried has written and recorded a song titled “Little House”, one of the official soundtracks of Dear John. Melissa Anderson of LA Weekly praised Seyfried and Tatum’s on screen chemistry. Next, Seyfried appeared as the title character in the erotic thriller Chloe, theatrically released by Sony Pictures Classics on March 26, 2010. Chloe, in which Seyfried co-starred alongside Liam Neeson and Julianne Moore, had originally premiered at the Toronto Film Festival in September 2009. In the film, Seyfried played Chloe, a woman who was hired to ‘test’ a husband because his wife feels that she cannot trust his fidelity; negative consequences ensue after the beginning of the arrangement.
In September 2009, Seyfried became attached to Marmaduke, a film based on a popular comic strip and co-starring George Lopez and Fergie. The film will be a mix of live action and CG-animated creatures. Seyfried was cast as the voice of “Mazie”. The movie was filmed in mid 2009 and is scheduled for release on June 4, 2010. Seyfried is also set to appear in the film Letters to Juliet, a film adaptation of the book by Lise and Ceil Friedman. The film centers on a couple (Seyfried and García) who discover a letter written to Juliet Capulet. The film is set to be released on May 7, 2010. In late January 2009, Seyfried became attached to appear in Myriad Pictures’ adaptation of Oscar Wilde’s comedy “A Woman of No Importance”. The film, in which Seyfried co-stars alongside Annette Bening and Sean Bean, is set to be released in 2011. Seyfried will play the love interest to the womanizer Lord Illingworth at an “awfully posh upper-class party at the family’s pile in the English countryside.”
Personal Life
In 2006, Seyfried began a relationship with actor and musician Jesse Marchant; the relationship ended after two years in 2008. In 2008, Seyfried began dating her Mamma Mia! co-star, Dominic Cooper. In 2008, Seyfried was ranked #65 on the list of “The Annual Independent Critics List of the 100 Most Beautiful Famous Faces From Around the World” and was also placed #5 in Moviefone’s “25 Under 25: Hollywood’s Hottest Young Stars”. The following year the British Glamour.com (of Glamour magazine) ranked Seyfried at the #17 spot as one of the “30 Hottest and Sexiest Stars Under 30″. In 2009, People Magazine ranked Seyfried #4 in the Most Beautiful 2009 – Beautiful at Every Age.
Trivia
Appeared on the cover of three Francine Pascal books.
Grew up in Allentown, Pennsylvania
Put attending college on hold (it was to be Fordham University in New York) to film Mean Girls (2004).
Was considered for the roles of Regina and Cady in Mean Girls (2004). These roles eventually went to Rachel McAdams and Lindsay Lohan, respectively.
She began modeling at age 11.
Good friends with American Gun (2005) co-star Nikki Reed.
Correct pronunciation of her last name is “Sigh-Frid.”.
In May 2008, she dressed up as “Alice” of “Alice in Wonderland” for a seven-page spread for Vogue Italia. That same month, she was also featured in the promotional poster for her movie musical Mamma Mia! (2008).
Originally auditioned for the title role on “Veronica Mars” (2004) but lost the part to Kristen Bell. Instead of playing “Veronica”, she was offered the role of “Lilly”, Veronica’s dead best friend. She was so popular in this role, she was brought back more often than ever expected.
As a child model, she initially signed with Image International Agency in Allentown, Pennsylvania before working under Bethlehem’s Pro Model Agency and eventually with Wilhelmina agency in New York.
Graduated from William Allen High School in Allentown, Pennsylvania in 2003.
Missed 70 school days during her senior year in high school due to her acting commitments.
If she were not into acting, she would have liked to study meteorology. She admits being fascinated by weather.
Trained in classical opera for two years and studied under a Broadway voice coach for almost five years.
While living in Allentown, Pennsylvania, got to see musicals in Manhattan such as Cats and Les Miserables, which is her all-time favorite musical.
Her special skills and interest include dancing, singing and tennis.
Beat several actresses for the role of “Sophie” in the film Mamma Mia! (2008). One of the actresses was fellow co-star Rachel McAdams who acted alongside Seyfried in the film Mean Girls (2004). In this film, McAdams beat Seyfried for the role of “Regina George”.
Auditioned for the lead role of “Kelli” for the horror remake Black Christmas (2006), but lost out to Katie Cassidy.
Met boyfriend Dominic Cooper on the set of the movie Mamma Mia! (2008).
Lost the part of “Babydoll” in Sucker Punch (2010) because she was committed to her HBO show “Big Love” (2006).
One of People Magazine’s 100 Most Beautiful People in the World (2009).
Personal Quotes
I love low-rise, boot-cut, perfect fitting jeans.
I collect jeans. I don’t care how expensive they are.
I have jeans with holes in them and I have nice jeans. I have casual and I have dressy jeans. I’ve got all kinds.
Jeans are just so sexy, there’s something about them that turns me on, you know?
(on plans for the future) If I came out with a club hit, if I were singing duets with Jesse McCartney, I think people would get the wrong idea. I’m not interested in fashion design. I’m an actress, and that’s all I want to focus on. For me, that’s just more fulfilling.
(About the 2008 film Mamma Mia! (2008)) I had never seen the stage show. When I first heard about the audition, I was like, “Damn, I’m not Greek!” I thought it was about this big Greek family.
I do feel like I’ve grown up. Living by yourself in two cities, having a relationship, the Hollywood stuff. It forces you to deal with things as an adult.
I just love to act and be on the set. I want to make acting my life and get really good roles.
I’m not really into clubbing, I like to go to parties after events, and those do end up at clubs or bars. But in my free time I go grocery shopping or to the gym, or I talk on the phone.
At 11, I had a crush on Leonardo DiCaprio. Actually, it was not a crush. It was an obsession! I was also obsessed with Richard Dean Anderson from MacGyver and Indiana Jones.
I have jeans with holes in them and I have nice jeans. I have casual and I have dressy jeans. I’ve got all kinds.
(On playing the lead role in Mamma Mia! (2008)) It doesn’t really get better than this. I’m afraid I’m going to just have to beg Meryl to do another movie with me. She’s so in touch with herself. I know that comes with age, but I’m really excited to figure out who I am.
I’ve auditioned for roles that involved voice, but I don’t like it. I feel like, I can’t do this in front of you. It seems so separate – I don’t share it with a lot of people. And I’m not into public performances.
(about being in a polygamous marriage) I don’t think I could share, no. I don’t think I would trust. I want to be the most important thing in my husband’s life. It’s just weird. It’s not natural.
It’s really easy to avoid the tabloids. You just live your life and don’t hang out with famous people who are in the tabloids. Don’t do anything controversial and be a normal person. Have friends. And get a job and keep working.
People do judge you, and there are stupid rivalries. You have to wear the right things, because there are all these girls my age competing for the same roles. They’re judging me and I’m judging them. I try not to be that way, but sometimes I am.
