‘The Dropout’ Star Amanda Seyfried Talks First Emmy Nominee And Her Relationship With Elizabeth Holmes

Amanda Seyfried had a two-year career change. The movie star is one of the most versatile actresses in Hollywood, from her roles in franchises like Oh my God! and his scene-stealing supporting performances in comedies like forest girls His refined and sophisticated works at art house prices. first remodeled. But in 2021, in David Fincher’s film with the portrait of Hollywood star Marion Davis. addictionSeyfried received his first Oscar nomination. And now with Hulu abandonmentSeyfried takes on her fullest role (and earned her first Emmy nomination) as the charismatic, chameleonic and morally compromised Elizabeth Holmes.

Playing Holmes was far less intimidating for Seyfried than playing Davis, he explains. THR. Seyfried has previously produced a podcast about Holmes (the Hulu limited series is based on an ABC News podcast of the same name) and absorbed Alex Gibney’s HBO documentary. Inventor. When the offer came to play Theranos founder and CEO in disgrace, it seemed like a no-brainer. A big intimidating factor, of course, was Holmes’ characteristically low voice.

Seyfried spoke THR On Holmes’ process of perfecting tone while working on his farm in New York, how award recognition changes his skills, and the sometimes hectic filming process. abandonment.

It looks like he’s entering this new era of his career in terms of the recognition his work is getting, especially after his first Oscar nomination. addiction.

This business is so fickle and strange. Awards are rare things. It’s a circumstance: David Fincher said, “You can play Marion Davis.” And this opportunity was given to me directly to participate abandonment. I’ve been working for a long time without waiting. I work because I want to work. Longevity is important, right? But there is always a hierarchy, as in any industry. So you keep doing it and all of a sudden good work is recognized, for whatever reason, I take it. So there is a snowball effect. But do I need it? Not. You feel good. Did it help me get better roles? It’s surprising. I am truly grateful. I get amazing opportunities because of it. abandonment.

How did the project come about and what were your first impressions?

I have the script. She knew Kate McKinnon was no longer a part of it. My agent read it and said, “Shit. Do you want to play Elizabeth Holmes? I was like, “Yes. I got this podcast, I watched it Inventor. It’s surprising. This is a great opportunity. I spoke to the producer, Catherine Pope, on the phone. I asked questions about where to shoot, how to shoot, what we were going to do. He gave me all the answers. I read the pilot script and I read the second episode and I was like, “Oh my God, this is so, so well written. Quality, thoughtful. ” [The script] She found a very good balance between the Elizabeth Holmes she felt she knew and the Elizabeth Holmes she wanted to know. s [creator and co-writer Elizabeth Meriwether] Added splashes, amazing moments of humor. I was reading, “I’m reading something that is very satisfying to me.” I felt like she wasn’t as intimidating as Marion Davis was to me. [With Marion]I asked him, “Can I do this?” So I said, “I can do this, it’s perfect for me. It’s going to be tough. I need a lot of preparation. And I’m ready for it. I have time and energy. That’s really what I want. ” and that was it.

It’s very interesting because he’s such a recognizable person with a different voice.

The voice was as if it had said, “Am I getting away with this? It wouldn’t be good for the show.” But it’s not that everything depends on one thing. There’s something about weightlifting, and it’s not the way you move, it’s the way you talk. I can do your gestures, I I watched him long enough. I really already knew him. That was really the voice where I was like, ‘I really need to work hard on this.’ I would send you the videos [director and executive producer] Michael Showalter every few days. I live on a farm full time. I would feed the animals, I would work on it. In my car, I talk like him, saying what he said in his TED Talk.

Is that why it felt more natural than Davis, because you already knew him well from watching the podcast?

absolutely. Being able to watch someone and imitate them is incredibly satisfying. I didn’t have that with Marion and also Elizabeth Holmes is modern. We’re essentially the same age, so he was a lot easier to get along with in general. We were both on the dance team.

So on your first day on set, when they say ‘Action!’, you have to pick up the voice and adapt to the character. Did you think it was a career from there?

No, I had to find him. Find him with costumes, makeup and hairstyle. All sections were essential. I needed hair, I needed hair. I needed nails. And a suit, flat shoes. I moved in when he was 17, when he was 28, 29… it involved a lot. And from the beginning I felt like I was playing an imaginary version of him because we didn’t know much about him when he was in college. And it was cool to go and evolve with that black turtleneck sweater and red lipstick.

Was it fired or was it completely useless?

No! It was terrible! Damn television! We made three blocks. We did the first four episodes, not in order. Sometimes it was so difficult. But we always had a lot of fun. I mean, nothing is ever right. But it was the most out of order thing I’ve ever received.

When you finished filming, did you think, “Okay, we have something special, I can’t wait for the world to see it”? Or were you not sure how the final product would look? Where were you when you finished work?

Well that was a little misleading because a few days later I was watching The Wounds with Michael Showalter. In the beginning, the first four episodes, he filmed all of them. I saw them cut together. So I knew the magic was happening. I felt it too. I worked with some really brilliant people: writers, directors, everyone was on their A-game. We even lost our film crew. [who left when Showalter did, as sometimes happens] In the middle of the road, which was devastating. I definitely had a moment where I was like, “What is this show about?” Michael Showalter is over. Francesca Gregorini came in, I didn’t know her well. I mean, I enjoyed meeting you. But it felt like the next phase of her relationship with Shaw. And I feel like, “I feel a little supported, but I also feel completely lost at sea,” because our film crew was halfway through and I felt like I was losing the people that helped me make this. We all do this together. And it felt like, “Wait, what if you guys leave?” And some badass heroes come in, and they shoot beautifully, and we get a new DP, and it’s amazing. But it was really scary. I put a lot into this business. I saw mixed scenes and we also lost team members. It’s a well-oiled machine and all of a sudden, “Hello, what’s your name? Well, amazing. Thank you.” This can be really tricky. And I’m literally talking about making movies. I know my job. I know what I’m doing and how things work. And then he felt like he’d stopped working for a minute.

That must have been so disgusting. Have you heard from Elizabeth Holmes since the show aired? (Holmes now awaits sentencing on fraud-related charges and faces up to 20 years in prison.)

Not. Now that his trial is over, if he calls me, which I don’t think will happen, we could talk, I think. But there was so much litigation, Disney lawyers were all over us in terms of what we could and couldn’t say. So I couldn’t connect with him and I think it probably wouldn’t have worked for either of us.

Is there a TV show that you particularly enjoyed this year?

Caitlyn Dever [in Dopesick]. Holy shame. I was lucky enough to be in the room with him one day. Colin Firth [in The Staircase]. Colin is extraordinary. I know he’s a great actor. I worked with him. Emmy [Rossum] inside angelina. We haven’t worked together yet, but he’s the same age: we’ve both worked since childhood. I always thought he was incredibly talented and I’m excited to work with him. [on an upcoming project].

Do you have someone you’re going to welcome to the Emmy?

I will find a husband [Thomas Sadoski]. If I could take my dog ​​like Glenn Close did, I would, but I can’t. No, I’ll take Thomas. He couldn’t go to the Oscars. [But] Here’s the problem: it looks like it’s debuting [for the upcoming Devotion at the Toronto International Film Festival] Same night as the Emmy. We found this out a while ago and said, “Obviously you’re going to the Emmys,” but I feel bad because it’s a great war movie. I think it’s coming out on Thanksgiving. So he’s going to another premiere.

The interview has been edited for length and clarity.

This story first appeared in the separate July issue of The Hollywood Reporter magazine. To receive the magazine, click here to subscribe.