LOS ANGELES, California—Amanda Seyfried, Hollywood’s newest star—thanks to her glowing performance in “Mamma Mia! The Movie”— was a mass of blue eyes and wild blonde curls when we first met her during a visit to the movie’s Pinewood Studios set outside London last year.
We saw what the film’s director, Phyllida Lloyd, and producer, Judy Craymer, wanted in Amanda—a girl who was credible as having grown up on an island: Free-spirited, impulsive, and with a bit of a “wild” streak in her. Still, since it was probably one of her first big interviews, Amanda, whose last name is pronounced sigh-frid, was almost shy. She stuck close to costar Stellan Skarsgard, whom she sat with during the press con.
Flash forward to a year later, when the movie was about to be shown. Amanda was ready for her media closeup at the Lagonissi Grand Resort in Greece. Wearing a tight strap dress and with those curly locks elegantly brushed into a bun, the girl who plays Sophie looked stunning. Her blue eyes matched the nearby Aegean Sea.
Amanda has the smarts to go with the charming package—just like in the movie, she’s just as engaging as her veteran costars, Meryl Streep, Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth and Stellan Skarsgard, who preceded her in the individual interviews. Often punctuating her answers with an infectious laugh, Amanda said about being raised in Allentown, Pennsylvania: “My father was a pharmacist—so, I had free vitamins! I grew up in a very normal, middle-class, suburban household, with two parents who are still completely in love with each other and a big sister who treated me like crap and who now absolutely loves me!”
Anecdotes
The actress was brimming with anecdotes and sentiments that could only come from someone who hasn’t done a million and one interviews. When Amanda said the following sentences, this parent of two girls could only nod in appreciation: “When I wanted to be a singer, my mom kept paying $25 per week for lessons. She and my dad never asked too much. They just knew. My mom trusted that, in my heart, I was a creative little girl. I was very ambitious. Now, she’s glad that she didn’t get in the way.”
The parents’ trust in their daughter’s drive and ambition led to modeling jobs, roles on the TV soaps, “As the World Turns” and “All My Children,” and eventually, bigger stints, like guest appearances on various TV drama series, a starring role on HBO’s “Big Love,” a breakthrough appearance with Lindsay Lohan in “Mean Girls,” and an acting stint opposite Justin Timberlake in “Alpha Dog.” She will next be seen in “Jennifer’s Body,” a film written by this year’s Oscar winner for “Juno,” Diablo Cody.
As expected, she’s drawing accolades for singing and acting, opposite her time-tested costars. Listening to Amanda sing (with an appealing vibrato) Abba tunes by Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus, especially “I Have a Dream” and “Thank You For The Music” (a soundtrack CD bonus), we could only commend her mom—the $25 checks for the weekly singing lessons were certainly worth it! Excerpts:
How exciting was it to act with Meryl Streep?
First of all, it was quite shocking to have gotten the role. So, coming into a movie where I’m supposed to be playing opposite her, it was really intimidating. Because, Meryl is, quite possibly, the greatest actress. I didn’t think I could be capable of performing at her level, so instead of expecting that of myself, I just allowed her to take me into her zone.
Most fulfilling
When you’re acting opposite this most incredible actress, she makes you better (laughs). For the first time, I was able to get completely lost in the scenes. That is most fulfilling for an actor—to be able to completely forget where you are and play a character so purely. —And she allowed me to do that!
It was incredible to meet her because she completely took the intimidation factor from 100 to zero. She was like, “I’m so nervous to sing Abba! What if I can’t do it? I have so many songs!” That, of course, made me feel like I should make her feel better. I said, “Don’t worry because Martin (Lowe, the musical director), will be there and it will be fine.”
When I saw that she was scared, I thought, Meryl is scared, and I’m scared. It’s okay—we’re all scared together. We’ll be able to knock it out in some way, because we have people supporting us.” Unfortunately, the movie’s over, and God knows when I’m going to work with her again.
What will you remember most about working with Pierce, Colin and Stellan?
I had one of the most ridiculous experiences of my life with Pierce, Colin and Stellan—and that was having to jump off a cliff! A lot of people would love to do that, but that was the scariest thing I’ve ever done. And I got to experience it with them. We developed camaraderie because we were all horrified at the thought of having to free-fall off a cliff in Greece.
The night before
I remember the night before when we had dinner. We were like, “Are you scared?” “I’m scared!” We practiced the day before for 45 minutes. We stood there and then finally, each one of us jumped off.
When we finally filmed the scene, I felt so proud of myself, and so proud of the three men. Pierce played James Bond several times. He never had anything more complicated to do. He’s never been so fearful of anything. We bonded through that experience. Being in Greece with these three very charming gentlemen was amazing. I’m sad that it’s done.
Talk about the pressure of having to audition for the role before Abba’s Benny and Bjorn.
I have a singing background, so I just sang their songs, and the tape was sent to Benny and Bjorn. I did what I could. Luckily, they happened to like my interpretation of their songs. I think it was good for them to see these songs performed by someone who wasn’t around when they were so massive. I can’t believe that they tell me these things. It was the most flattering thing in the world!
When I went into the studio to sing in front of them, I just knew that I had to do it. I let them give me direction. They didn’t give me much—I sang exactly how I did it before. It’s nice when you’re not affected by someone’s fame. I just know them as Benny and Bjorn, I don’t really know them as Abba. I think they appreciate that, as well.
What was it like for you, being the youngest in the group, to be with those older actors in spandex in that curtain-call scene?
It was almost like spandex got them drunk! I know Colin wasn’t happy about the costume (laughs). But, the thing is, I was the most serious one of all of them, because I was up against these ridiculously talented older people. I was trying to fit in. They were really like children.
View
The film’s story revolves around the coming wedding of your character, Sophie. What’s your own view of marriage?
As far as marriage goes, it’s a beautiful idea. It has worked for a lot of people. But, it scares me, too, because I have also seen marriages that didn’t work. In Sophie’s case, she’s very impulsive, and she’s so in love. I know from experience that when you’re in love, you want to get married. But, some of these loves don’t last.
I’ve had two in my life so far that have not worked at all. But, each experience was incredible. Marriage is a great idea when you’ve met so many people in your life; you’ve had so many life experiences that you know who you are—you know that this person is likely to stay in your life forever.
In that case, why not get married, solidify it and have that beautiful ceremony that makes you feel so much more connected? When I was 20, which was only two years ago, I wanted to get married to my boyfriend. I’m so glad I didn’t!
How did your parents influence you?
They never pushed me, because that’s not who they are. But, they did question what I was doing. When I was young, I wanted to go to New York and model. So, they said, “Are you sure you want to do this?” I was like, “I’m having a great time!” My mom saw the joy on my face when I was doing all those fun, glamorous things as a child. I was 12 years old. She didn’t take it seriously. But, she knew that I was. So, she supported it. I kept my grades up, so she allowed me to do it. It was a big deal to get good grades—especially because all my friends were gifted academically.
But, my dad has the instinct for acting. He’s kind of living through me now, but he never pushed it. Sometimes, he even gives me acting advice, which is annoying and, at the same time, beautiful, because he never did it and never pursued it.
My parents allowed me to be what I wanted to be. There was a time when I wanted to be a meteorologist. They didn’t laugh at me when I dressed like Helen Hunt and went outside looking for tornadoes.
When I wanted to be a singer, my mom kept paying $25 per week for lessons. They never asked too much—they just knew! My mom trusted that, in my heart, I was a creative little girl. I was very ambitious. Although she never took it seriously, because I kept changing my mind all the time. Now, she’s so glad that she didn’t get in the way!
E-mail rvnepales_5585@yahoo.com, and read his blog, “The Nepales Report,” on http://blogs.inquirer.net/nepalesreport.
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