Amanda Seyfried reveals how 'discomfort' drives her to take action

Amanda Seyfried has opened up about what truly drove her to take on the titular role in The Testament of Ann Lee.

Reflecting on the project, the actress admitted that once she committed to the role, one overwhelming emotion stayed with her throughout the process.

“Fear,” she revealed.

Seyfried went on to explain that her hesitation stemmed from stepping into material that felt far removed from the present day, something she has grappled with before. 

This feeling was similar to the one she encountered after portraying Marion Davies, the mistress of media tycoon William Randolph Hearst, in David Fincher’s Citizen Kane-adjacent drama Mank.

“Anything that feels far away from the contemporary-ness of the world scares me,” she shared, before adding that this discomfort is precisely what makes the experience worthwhile. 

“Which makes it a thousand times more worthwhile,” she added.

Despite any lingering nerves, Seyfried’s performance has already drawn high praise. An anonymous Academy voter recently told Variety that the actress was “astounding … I haven’t seen a better performance this year,” even while admitting they “didn’t really like the movie.”