After Reese Witherspoon won her Best Actress Academy Award for “Walk the Line” (2005) and solidified her standing as one of Hollywood’s leading ladies, a spot opened up for Hollywood’s newest wide-eyed and blonde ingénue. Amanda Seyfried had the talent, looks and charm to fill that role, with scene-stealing appearances in teen blockbusters, edgy Indies, and compelling TV series. But it was her breakout leading role of Sophie, a girl in search of her real dad, in the big screen translation of “Mamma Mia!” – a 2008 musical film inspired by the songs of pop super group ABBA – that truly put the young actress on the Hollywood map.Amanda Louise Seyfried grew up in Allentown, PA on Dec. 3, 1985. She began modeling at 11 and took singing lessons until she was 17 – all in preparation for a career in the arts. Seyfried also started acting while she was attending William Allen High School. In 2000, the budding star played Lucinda Marie on “As the World Turns” (CBS, 1956- ), followed by a recurring appearance from 2002-03 as Joni Stafford on “All My Children” (ABC, 1970- ). The actress also appeared on the cover of three of Francine Pascals books, the author of the bestselling teen series Sweet Valley High.
Following her high school graduation, the actress enrolled at Fordham University in New York, but had to put her education on hold when she got cast as Karen Smith, the ditsy member of “the Plastics,” in the 2004 hit high school comedy “Mean Girls,” along with Lindsay Lohan and Rachel McAdams. Seyfried initially tried out for the roles Lohan (naïve Cady) and McAdams (queen bee Regina) played, yet there was something about taking on the loveable airhead role that made Seyfried a major standout in the film. “Mean Girls” became such a hit that Seyfried could have gone after lighthearted roles that were similar to the dumb blonde routine she nailed in the film. Instead, she went after intricate, character-driven projects including a leading role in “Nine Lives” (2005), an interwoven story about nine women that also starred Robyn Wright Penn and Academy-Award winner Holly Hunter.
After making appearances on the big screen, Seyfried returned to television, playing Lilly Kane – the title character’s murdered best friend – on “Veronica Mars” (UPN/CW, 2004-07). The actress’ role involved flashbacks and visions, and it was often compared to the tragic Laura Palmer character in “Twin Peaks” (ABC, 1990-91). Coincidentally, Seyfried also auditioned to play Veronica, but the role eventually went to Kristen Bell. Guest appearances on “House” (FOX, 2004- ), “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” (NBC, 1999- ) and “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation” (CBS, 2000- ) kept Seyfried busy throughout 2006, yet she still had time in her schedule for “Big Love” (2006- ). In the hit HBO drama about polygamy, Seyfried blew critics and audiences away with her emotionally-charged performance as her polygamist father Bill Paxton’s eldest daughter, Sarah.
In 2007, Seyfried appeared in “Alpha Dog,” a violent drama inspired by the true story of Jesse James Hollywood, a drug dealer who became one of the youngest men ever on the FBI’s Most Wanted List. The film boasted a cast of Hollywood up-and-comers, including Emile Hirsch, Ben Foster, and Justin Timberlake, along with veteran screen actors Bruce Willis and Sharon Stone. That same year, it was announced that Seyfried was to star as Sophie, the lead role in “Mamma Mia!” a lavish film version of the long-running Broadway production, opposite Meryl Streep, Colin Firth, and Pierce Brosnan. “I was the least freaked by the singing,” Seyfried said. “I knew how to sing and dance and I was basically playing myself in these circumstances.” The actress also appeared in the films “Boogie Woogie” (2008), and “Jennifer’s Body” (2009), a comedic horror flick from “Juno” (2007) screenwriter, Diablo Cody.