Amanda Seyfried

1996–2005: Early work

While attending William Allen High School in Allentown, Seyfried began modeling. She appeared in several print ads for clothing companies, including Limited Too with Leighton Meester, and was featured on three covers of the Sweet Valley High novel series.^[4][9] At age 17 she stopped modeling^[4] and started a job as a waitress in a retirement community.^[10] While still a teen, she took vocal lessons, studied opera, trained with a Broadway coach, and began her acting career as an extra in Guiding Light, a daytime television drama.^[11] From 2000 to 2001 she played the recurring character Lucy Montgomery on the CBS soap opera As the World Turns^[11] and, from 2002 to 2003, Joni Stafford on the ABC soap All My Children.


In 2003, Seyfried auditioned to play Regina George in Mean Girls, but the role eventually went to Rachel McAdams. While she was initially considered for the lead role of Cady Heron, ultimately played by Lindsay Lohan, the film's producers decided that Seyfried should play Karen Smith, Regina's dim-witted "plastic" friend and sidekick.^[11] The film was a box office success, grossing over $130 million in its theatrical run.^[12] Seyfried's performance in the film earned her, along with Lohan, Lacey Chabert, and McAdams, an MTV Movie Award in the category of "Best On-Screen Team".


Seyfried then auditioned to play the title character on UPN's television series Veronica Mars.^[11] The role eventually went to Kristen Bell, and Seyfried portrayed Veronica's murdered best friend Lilly Kane.^[11] Her character was only shown in flashbacks.^[11] In 2005, she played the lead character Samantha, a role written by director Rodrigo García specifically for her, in one of the nine parts of the film Nine Lives, composed of nine short films with different themes and an ensemble cast.^[13] For her performance, Seyfried, along with the film's other female leads, won the role Best Actress at the Locarno International Film Festival. That year, she played the supporting character Mouse in the independent film American Gun. In 2006, she appeared in five episodes of Wildfire as Rebecca and played the lead role Chrissy in the short film Gypsies, Tramps & Thieves, written and directed by Andrea Janakas. She also contributed in a minor role as Julie Beckley in Alpha Dog. From 2004 to 2006, she made multiple guest appearances on several television series, including House, Justice, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, American Dad! and CSI: Crime Scene Investigation.^[11]