Golden Globe 2026: Expert defends Amanda Seyfried's 'mean' reaction

Last Sunday night, Amanda Seyfried, a well-known star, was nominated in two categories of the 2026 Golden Globe Awards.

First was The Testament of Ann Lee for Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture, and the second was Long Bright River in Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Limited Series, Anthology Series for

She, however, lost both awards. But what caught the internet’s attention was her reaction to losing. It was a grimace, users on social media argued. But Judi James, a body-language expert, believes otherwise.

She tells the Daily Mail, "There are two contrasting ways to react to losing when you know you're on split screen. The old-school way is to overact joy, scream, and smile as if you’ve won. But lately, celebs lean into humor instead."

The brief forced smile, in Judi's opinion, seems playful instead of hostile. 

"She doesn't prep a fake-smile face. She looks down before the winner’s announced, and then makes a comedy grimace. It’s more honest than the whooping and clapping."

However, the body language expert admits there were signs of tension in Amanda. 

"She blinks hard as the winner is named, which suggests it hit her. But she pivots to clapping and chatting quickly, her version of the 'good loser' face."

Unlike this loss, Amanda has been a recipient of a Golden Globe and has been nominated for the Emmy and the Academy Awards.