Amanda Seyfried prefers independent projects over big studio productions. She talks about being a part of comedy-drama While We’re Young and Ted 2, which promotes equal rights for women
How did you become a part of While We’re YoungIJ
I auditioned. Noah (film’s director) used to live a block away from me in lA. I was on tape with the casting director. It’s like a process. And then I went to see Noah and he directed me through it. I just didn’t think I was going to get it. He’s an important guy, he has a very specific voice. I don’t like when things are sugar-coated. I like the way he articulates himself and the world we live in and our interpersonal relationships. He just has a good eye and I wanted to be a part of something with him.
Does he like to go into backstory, discuss how your character met Jamie and things like thatIJ
We had a good little story going on. God, I don’t remember exactly how it was. We did a lot of rehearsals. He likes to see how things are blocked. He likes to block things ahead of time, which is always helpful for the actor.
Tell us about working with Adam Driver. Did you have any preconceptions about himIJ
No, I haven’t really watched Girls. I did see an episode four times, one episode that was always on. It’s the one where Allison Williams and Chris Abbott are in the café and they break up and then they’re outside. Adam is an interesting guy. Someone mentioned to me that he seems extroverted and funny. He’s not. He’s introvert I think. He is not a man of many words. He’s funny and unpredictable and I love that.
What happens when you don’t share a good chemistry with your co-starIJ
I have never had that experience. It sounds weird. People are cool. I think chemistry comes from respecting someone, liking them, enjoying their company and respecting what they do and where they come from, getting along and having things in common.
How well do you relate to your character, DarbyIJ
I more relate to Naomi and Ben’s character in the movie. I still feel like I am trying to catch up with technology and I’m not as ambitious as Jamie. They’re such go-getters and that’s just not how I am wired. I have a lot of worries that they don’t. It’d be nice to not worry so much because worry is just a useless way to live.
How was it to work with Seth MacFarlane in Ted 2IJ
It wasn’t that different. It was more fun. I had the best time working on that movie. It’s so weird, I don’t do huge, big studio movies very often. I prefer doing independent movies. The paycheck is not great on either, so that’s never a factor, but the studio trusts him and there was so little pressure and so much time to shoot, it was great.
How about your characterIJ We know she’s a lawyer from the trailer, but what’s she like on a personal levelIJ
She’s a stoner. She’s not like super serious. She did go to law school. She does have her degree. She’s from a law family so she just knew that’s what she was going to do. She likes to help people. She’s on the good side of the law. She’s not that ambitious. She wants to have a job, she works at her uncle’s firm, which is great but nobody takes her seriously — not just because of her age, I think it’s also probably because she’s a woman. It’s just interesting the way it comes about. They have this case, it’s about equal rights. I think it’s very timely. Seth is always making a point. Maybe not in every episode of Family Guy — and by the way, he hasn’t written for Family Guy in five years, from what I’ve heard. But he has a voice and it’s like an assessment on where we are these days with equal rights. I hope as many people see it as the first one. It’s the same dirty humour but there’s a classiness to it. There’s more story here.