Mamma's girl
Five minutes with … Amanda Seyfried
We know 22-year-old Amanda Seyfried (pronounced Cy-fred) best for her role as Mean Girls' ditzy 'plastic', Karen, but she's also starred in Alpha Dog(alongside JT), TV's Veronica Mars, and nabbed the lead role in the upcoming flick Mamma Mia!. Cosmo's features and entertainment writer Sarah Reid hauled herself out of bed on a Saturday morning to chat weddings, babies, and 'plastics' with the American actress.
As the star of Mamma Mia! how would you describe the plot?
It's about a girl who wants to find out who her father is before she gets married, so, after finding her mum's diary, she invites three guys (who could possibly be her father) to her wedding.
Can you relate to your character, Sophie?
I can definitely relate to her enthusiasm for figuring out who she is, but I wouldn't get married at her age!
Did you pick up any acting tips from Meryl Streep (who played Sophie's mum)?
There were moments when I had trouble with parts of the script and she helped me work through them.
We hear you're filming horror flick Jennifer's Body, where you play the best friend of a cheerleader on a killing rampage. Details?
It's horrifying! There's a lot of prosthetics and fake blood. We're supposed to be all serious and it's hard not to burst out laughing. There was one scene where there was an explosion, and I was really nervous about keeping a straight face because you can only blow something up once, you know? But I pulled through it.
Your breakout role was Mean Girls' token bimbo, Karen. Do people still ask you if your boobs are predicting rain?
All the time; I've accepted that it's probably going to happen forever.
Were you worried about being typecast after that role?
Yeah, I was worried I'd just get roles as the 'dumb blonde', 'sexy blonde' or 'slutty blonde'. I was offered a few of those kind of scripts but I turned them down in favour of different roles; I've been really fortunate that I didn't go down that [token bimbo] road.
Were you a 'plastic' at high school?
No, I stayed out of the drama. I tried to separate myself from being involved in all that.
You started your career as a model. How did that morph into acting?
I would come to New York [from her family home in Allentown, Pennsylvania] on the weekends to model [following in the footsteps of her older cousin], and when I was around 11 my agent suggested I try out for acting roles. My first job was a two-day stint on a soap opera and I was terrible. I cried on the bus on my way home!
And then it got better?
Yeah, I just needed experience. I'm still learning now.
We hear you went on a training camp with Justin Timberlake for Alpha Dog. Spill.
It went for a month; we'd exercise for around two-and-a-half hours a day. I think it was more of a bonding experience than anything. It was really fun and most of the time we were all like "why are we here again?"
Who's your favourite designer at the moment?
Miu Miu and Zac Posen. I can't afford it but I love Posen's stuff.
He just did a diffusion line for Target in Australia, you know?
No way! You guys are so lucky!
What's your all-time favourite outfit you've worn on the red carpet?
At the Mean Girls premiere I wore a black Moschino dress with polka dots I bought myself for about $800. It was all wrong; I was 18 and had no idea so I wore a black thong and white bra; but I just loved it.
What would we find in your handbag at a special event?
My credit card, tampons, and my Bobbi Brown lip gloss. My agent bought the lip gloss for me and I reapply it like every second. I also carry my Bagpuss everywhere; it's like a little stuffed cat.
Which celeb have you been most star struck by?
Goldie Hawn, but I haven't actually met her! She walked past me in a restaurant when I was talking to my friend recently and I didn't see her! She's had such a great career and I'd love to meet her one day.
What's the most important lesson you've learned about the industry?
To stay as connected as you can possibly be to the real world, especially your family. It's so easy to get caught up in the craziness.
Like some other young starlets I won't mention …
Yeah, I mean, a lot of young women are extremely insecure, and they take drugs to make them feel better. And then it gets ugly.
So what do you do in your down time?
I play guitar and sing to myself. I'm addicted to Facebook and I do a lot of sleeping and exercising!
At your home in LA?
Amanda: Yep, but I'm moving back to New York soon. I love it there.
Tell us three things most people wouldn't know about you?
I'm not very well-mannered. I've never done drugs and I want a baby and a dog!
So, is there a boyfriend in the picture?
No, just dating, which is the coolest thing ever! I won't be having that baby any time soon.
So what's next for you, apart from motherhood?
Amanda: I'm working on Big Love [a US drama about a polygamous family living in Utah] and I have a few opportunities in the pipeline, but I don't know what I'm going to do yet!
Stay tuned …
By Sarah Reid