Amanda Seyfried

Amanda Michelle Seyfried (pronounced /ˈsaɪfrɪd/ SYE-frid; born December 3, 1985) is an American actress, singer-songwriter and former child model. She began her career as a child model when she was 11 and when she was 15 she began her career as an actress; starting off with an uncredited roles and going on to have a recurring roles on As The World Turns and All My Children, which expanded into her successful television and film career.

In 2004, Seyfried made her film debut in Mean Girls playing Karen Smith, the ditsiest of the so called 'plastics'. She then went on to other films including Nine Lives (2005) and Alpha Dog (2006). In 2006, she landed a lead role on HBO's popular television series Big Love. After that, Seyfried appeared as Sophie Sheridan in the 2008 musical feature film Mamma Mia!. Other recent notable appearances include lead roles in Jennifer's Body and Chloe in 2009, and one of the two lead roles in Dear John the following year.
Early life

Seyfried was born Amanda Michelle Seyfried in Allentown, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania on December 3, 1985.Seyfried's mother, Ann (née Sander), was an occupational therapist, and her father, Jack, was a pharmacist.Seyfried has one older sister, Jennifer Seyfried, who is a musician in the Philadelphia organ-driven rock band Love City.Seyfried graduated in 2003 from Allentown's William Allen High School.
Career
Early work
In 1995, Seyfried began her acting career at age nine, in her hometown Allentown, Pennsylvania where she attended classes at Civic Theatre of Allentown.She signed with Image International Agency(IIA)in Allentown, before switching over to work at Bethlehem's Pro Model Agency and eventually signing with Wilhelmina Agency in New York City, New York.Seyfried's modeling career ended when she was seventeen.During her modeling career she appeared in print ads for clothing companies; including Limited Too with Leighton Meester.

While modeling, Seyfried took voice lessons from eleven to seventeen.She trained with a Broadway voice coach for nearly five years and studied opera for two years which led to her appearance in the New York stage productions, the revival of Grease on Broadwayand A Christmas Carol.From there she began acting as an extra in the daytime drama television series Guiding Light; her role on the show was uncredited.In 2000, she portrayed Lucinda Marie "Lucy" Montgomery #2 on the television show As the World Turns. Appearing on the show as a recurring character, her role on the show lasted until 2001.After appearing in 27 episodes,Seyfried left the show as a result of creative conflicts.From 2002 to 2003.Seyfried played the recurring role of Joni Stafford on the American Broadcasting Company (ABC)broadcasted show, All My Children.In2003.Seyfried auditioned to play the mean-girl role of Regina George in the Mean Girls starring Lindsay Lohan; the role eventually went to Rachel McAdams, but the producers of the film selected Seyfried to play one of Regina's two dim-witted "Plastic" friends and sidekicks, Karen.The film was a box-office success, earning over $129 million in its theatrical run.Seyfried's performance in the film earned her, along with Lohan and McAdams, an MTV Movie Award in the category of "Best On-Screen Team."

Seyfried auditioned to play the title character on UPN's television series Veronica Mars.Although the role eventually went to Kristen Bell, Seyfried portrayed the title character's murdered best friend, Lilly Kane.Although her character was only shown in flashbacks, Lily was vital part of the first season's plot and made Seyfried one of the show's familiar faces.Seyfried appeared in ten episodes from 2004–2005.In 2005, Seyfried played the lead character, Samantha, a role written specifically for her, in one of the nine parts in the film Nine Lives, comprising nine short films with different themes and an ensemble cast.For her performance in the film, Seyfried won an award from the Locarno International Film Festival, for Best Actress, which she shared with the film's other female leads.The same year she played supporting character Mouse in the critically acclaimed independent film, American Gun.In 2006 Seyfried appeared in five episodes on Wildfire as Rebecca and had lead role as Chrissy in the award winning short film titled Gypsies, Tramps & Thieves, by writer-director Andrea Janakas. Seyfried also contributed a minor role as Julie Beckley in Alpha Dog. From 2004 to 2006, Seyfried made multiple guest appearances on television series, including House, M.D., Justice, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and CSI: Crime Scene Investigation. In 2008, Seyfried also appeared and played a supporting role in the independent short film, Official Selection.Breakthrough
Seyfried's profile gained prominence due to her role in the highly acclaimed HBO drama television series, Big Love. The series centers on a fictional fundamentalist Mormon family, in which Seyfried plays Sarah Henrickson, Bill and Barb's first daughter who struggles with her family's polygamous faith.Big Love premiered in the United States on March 12, 2006. HBO confirmed that the show was renewed for a fourth season – which was filmed in August 2009, and premiered on January 10, 2010.Seyfried appeared in all 35 episodes of the show's three seasons.In December 2009, HBO confirmed that Seyfried would return for the show's fourth season, but that it would be her last, as Seyfried wished to focus on her film career and upcoming projects.

Following the success of Big Love, Seyfried had a supporting role as Zoe in the 2008 horror drama film Solstice. Also in 2008, she co-starred alongside Meryl Streep in Mamma Mia!, a romantic comedy film adaptation of the 1999 musical of the same name.Mamma Mia! was Seyfried's first leading role as Sophie. With worldwide revenue of US$609 million (of a US$52 million budget), the film was the fifth highest grossing film of 2008 and, as of March 2010, is the 49th highest grossing film of all time.Wesley Morris of the Boston Globe commented that "what Seyfried lacks in emotional range is compensated for in luminousness".Her musical performance in Mamma Mia! was released on the film's soundtrack, for which she recorded five songs.As part of promotion for both the film and its soundtrack, Seyfried recorded a music video of the song, entitled "Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)".

On February 22, 2009, Seyfried presented an award and performed alongside her boyfriend, Dominic Cooper, actors Hugh Jackman and Zac Efron, and musicians Beyoncé Knowles and Vanessa Hudgens at the 2009 Annual 81st Academy Awards ceremony.In March 2008, Seyfried signed on to co-star alongside Megan Fox and Adam Brody in the comedy horror film Jennifer's Body.In the film Seyfried was cast as Anita "Needy" Lesnicki, the title character's best friend.The film, which premiered at the 2009 Toronto International Film Festival and was released to theaters on September 18, 2009,received mixed reviews from critics.Robert Abele of the Los Angeles Times wrote in his review for the film "...but thankfully the part of Needy has been tasked to the appealing Amanda Seyfried, an actress able to reach past Cody's tone-busting one-liners and connect on a basic what-the-hell-happened-to-my-friend level."Kurt Loder of MTV wrote that Seyfried "is just right" as Jennifer's best friend Needy in Jennifer's Body.
n early March 2009, director Zack Snyder had tapped Seyfried to portray the lead role Baby Doll in Sucker Punch.Seyfried was due to co-star alongside Vanessa Hudgens, Abbie Cornish and Jena Malone, but within the same month, she had to drop out of the film due to scheduling conflicts with Big Love.Emily Browning was later cast in the role.Seyfried co-starred alongside Channing Tatum in Dear John, the film adaptation of the novel of the same name that was written by Nicholas Sparks.The film was released on February 5, 2010, and received generally negative reviews,although Melissa Anderson of LA Weekly praised Seyfried and Tatum's on screen chemistry.However, Michael O'Sullivan of the Washington Post was less enthusiastic about Seyfried's performance, stating that while she "otherwise makes a credible love interest," she could not convince him "that she had to do what she did."Stephanie Zacharek of Salon.com, describing Seyfried's character as being potentially sweet and marvelously direct, felt that those were two qualities were held in balance perfectly by Seyfried.Spotlighting her musical talents, Seyfried has written and recorded "Little House", a song which appears on one of the official soundtracks of Dear John.Despite of many negative reviews, Dear John became the first film to break up Avatar's box office reign at number one at the United States box office and went on grossing $80 million in the US theatrically.Seyfried appeared as the title character in the erotic thriller Chloe, theatrically released by Sony Pictures Classics on March 26, 2010.[38] Chloe, in which she co-starred alongside Liam Neeson and Julianne Moore, had originally premiered at the Toronto Film Festival in September 2009.In the film, Seyfried's character is a woman who is hired to test a husband because his wife feels that she cannot trust his fidelity; negative consequences ensue after the beginning of the arrangement.Although the film was in limited release, it grossed $3 million in the US theatrically and became one of the higher-grossing specialty films in the US in 2010.Her performance in the film also received favorable reviews from critics. Bill Goodykoontz of the Arizona Republic felt that Seyfried is an "outstanding actress," and wrote that her and Moore carry the film's material "further than it should go up to this point," but added that neither overplays their role, allowing the movie's story to develop patiently.Regarding the actress' portrayal as the film's title character, A. O. Scott of New York Times noted that she tries to "turn a dubious conceit into something more credible."

Later in 2010, Seyfried starred in the romantic-comedy boxoffice hit film Letters to Juliet, another film adaptation. Based on the book by Lise and Ceil Friedman, the film centered on a young woman (Seyfried) who discovers a letter written to Juliet Capulet.It was released in May 2010. In late January 2009, she became attached to appear in Myriad Pictures' adaptation of Oscar Wilde's comedy A Woman of No Importance.The film, in which the actress co-stars alongside Annette Bening and Sean Bean, is set to be released in 2011.She will play the love interest to the womanizer Lord Illingworth at an "awfully posh upper-class party at the family's pile in the English countryside."Seyfried is also set to star with Glen Close and reunite with the Nine Lives director Rodrigo Garcia in a drama movie Albert Nobbs. Close personally offered and cast Seyfried the role. The movie will also star Orlando Bloom and Jonathan Rhys Meyers.Seyfried will also play the lead role for the actor-producer Leonardo DiCaprio and Warner Brothers movie Red Riding Hood, she plays Valerie. The movie will be directed by Twilight's director Catherine Hardwicke and is set for release on April 2011.
In March 2010, Seyfried received and award was named "Showest Breakthrough Female Star of The Year".Moreover, Seyfried once again presented an award for the 82nd Academy Awards. She presented the Best Original Song category with Miley Cyrus.Recently, Seyfried won in the "Scared-As-S**T" category for her performance in Jennifer's Body and was also nominated for Best Female Performance for her movie Dear John, at the 2010 MTV Movie Awards.Seyfried proved her bankability and made a big mark in the film industry. She managed to do big movie hits in the last 2 years including Mamma Mia!, Dear John and Letters to Juliet; she was also the brand ambassador for luxury watch maker Movado. These works made her on the list of Forbes.com's "The 17 Stars To Watch".Seyfried also won at the 2009 Glamour Women of the Year Awards in the category of Best Actress in a Film.
Personal life
One of Seyfried's longest relationship and first serious boyfriend was her co-star in All My Children Micah Albertiand after their relationship, she briefly dated her Alpha Dog co-star Emile Hirsch.In 2005, Seyfried began a relationship with actor and musician Jesse Marchant; their 3-year relationship ended in 2008.In 2009 she started dating her Mamma Mia! co-star Dominic Cooper, but in May 2010 they are reportedly "on a break" in their relationship.In 2008, Seyfried was ranked #65 on the list of "The Annual Independent Critics List of the 100 Most Beautiful Famous Faces From Around the World"and was also placed #5 in Moviefone's "25 Under 25: Hollywood's Hottest Young Stars".The following year the British Glamour magazine ranked Seyfried at the #14 spot as one of the "30 Hottest and Sexiest Stars Under 30".In 2009, People Magazine ranked Seyfried #4 in the Most Beautiful 2009 - Beautiful at Every Age.Glamour magazine's April 2010 issue dubbed Seyfried as The Most Down-To-Earth and ranked #3 in the "50 Most Glamorous Women of 2010".Seyfried once again made the list of People Magazine's Most Beautiful 2010 with no make-up on.Seyfried also appeared twice in the cover and article of Vanity Fair. First was the VF's Young Hollywood's New Wave in the year 2008and the recent controversial Vanity Fair cover and article VF's A New Decade, A New Hollywood.
Filmography

Film

Year Film Role Notes
2004 Mean Girls Karen Smith Supporting role; Film debut
2005 Nine Lives Samantha Lead role
American Gun Mouse Supporting role
2006 Alpha Dog Julie Beckley Supporting role
Gypsies, Tramps & Thieves Chrissy Lead role; Short film
2008 Solstice Juliette Supporting role; Direct to video
Mamma Mia! Sophie Sheridan Lead role
Official Selection Emily Supporting role; Short film
2009 Boogie Woogie Paige Prideaux Lead role
Jennifer's Body Anita "Needy" Lesnicki Supporting role
2010 Dear John Savannah Lynn Curtis Lead role
Chloe Chloe Lead role
Letters to Juliet Sophie Lead role
2011 The Girl with the Red Riding Hood Valerie Lead role

Television

Year Title Role Notes
2000–2001 As the World Turns Lucinda Marie "Lucy" Montgomery #2 Recurring role (27 episodes)
2002–2003 All My Children Joni Stafford Recurring role
2004 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Tandi McCain Episode: "Outcry"
2004–2005 Veronica Mars Lilly Kane Recurring role (11 episodes)
2005 House M.D. Pam Episode: "Detox"
2006 Justice Ann Juliette Diggs Episode: "Pretty Woman"
Wildfire Rebecca Episodes: "A Good Convict Is Hard to Find"
"Dangerous Liaisons"
"Family Matters"
"Nothing Takes the Past Away Like the Future"
"Taking Off"
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Lacey Finn Episode: "Rashomama"
2006–present Big Love Sarah Henrickson Lead role (35 episodes)
2008 American Dad! Amy Episode: "Escape from Pearl Bailey"
[edit] Awards and nominations
Year Result Award Category Film or series
2005 Won MTV Movie Award Best On-Screen Team Mean Girls
2005 Won Locarno International Film Festival Bronze Leopard for Best Actress Nine Lives
2005 Nominated Gotham Award Best Ensemble Cast Nine Lives
2009 Nominated People's Choice Awards Favorite Movie Cast Mamma Mia!
2009 Nominated MTV Movie Award Breakthrough Performance Female Mamma Mia!
2009 Won Glamour Women of the Year Awards Best Actress in a Film -
2010 Won ShoWEST Convention Award Breakthrough Female Star of the Year -
2010 Nominated MTV Movie Award Best Female Performance Dear John
2010 Won MTV Movie Award Best Scared-As-S**t Performance Jennifer's Body