Amanda Seyfried says motherhood has shifted everything, especially the kinds of roles she’s offered.
The 39-year-old actress, best known for her breakout in Mean Girls, shared that since becoming a mom, Hollywood sees her differently. And she’s all for it.
“As soon as the people of Hollywood understood that I popped something out of my body, they’re like, ‘You’re a mom now,’” she told Variety. “And it comes with a lot of benefits. The roles are richer.”
Seyfried, who has two kids, Nina, 7, and Thomas, 4, with husband Thomas Sadoski, feels that motherhood didn’t just add depth to her life but also to her career. She’s taken on more emotionally complex, layered characters, like in Long Bright River, a gritty crime drama based on Liz Moore’s 2020 novel. Seyfried not only starred in the series but also served as executive producer, stepping into more leadership on set.
“It was the first time I had been away from my kids five days a week,” she admitted. “Our days were so long, I’d stay in the city and then go home on the weekends. That was a lot of, ‘I’m here for you, kids. If I end up taking a nap accidentally, you can cuddle with me.’”
Even though she initially got the producer credit through her agent, Amanda says she took her leadership seriously. “I was No. 1 on the call sheet, which was nice because you set the tone,” she said.
While her career continues to evolve, fans still tie her to her early days. She remains a pop culture icon thanks to Mean Girls, which debuted back in 2004. Amanda played Karen Smith in the teen comedy classic alongside Lindsay Lohan and Rachel McAdams.
When asked if she watches the film now, she laughed, “No. It’s on often enough, though. I love it. I really love seeing my face on people’s T-shirts. I’m a little resentful because Paramount still owes me some money for the likeness. Every store sells Mean Girls T-shirts with our faces. Don’t I get something from that? Even the girl at TSA tells me it’s her favourite movie.”
Beyond acting, Amanda values her downtime. “I sit and I crochet, or I go to the gym in the barn, or I go out to coffee with a fellow parent or a friend upstate,” she told People. One unexpected perk? Train rides. “I get like an hour and 40 minutes of alone time each way when I go to the city. And I’m always crocheting. Knitting, crocheting, that’s my lifestyle.”
From big-screen teen comedies to emotionally charged dramas, Amanda Seyfried’s journey reflects a new chapter, one where she’s not just acting but choosing roles that resonate with where she is in life: deeply rooted in motherhood, and still at the top of her game.
Jamie Wells has a knack for getting the inside scoop on Hollywood’s biggest stars and up-and-coming talent. With a sharp eye for industry trends and an ear for viral moments, Jamie covers everything from red-carpet events to behind-the-scenes drama in movies, TV, and celebrity culture.
