For years, Hollywood has operated under a system where power is everything—and questioning that power can feel like career suicide. It’s a reality Amanda Seyfried knows all too well.
Like so many women in the industry, Seyfried spent much of her early career navigating an environment where staying silent was often the safer choice. But as she reflects on her journey, she’s coming to terms with the damage that kind of thinking has done—not just to her, but to the industry as a whole.
“Everything’s so fear-based,” Seyfried explains on an episode of TheWrap’s “UnWrapped” Podcast. “Being honest will inconvenience somebody, and if you inconvenience somebody, they won’t like you anymore. And if they don’t like you, then you are no one.”
That fear, she says, is exactly how toxic power structures thrive.
“When nobody is checking on you in a real way, you can feel very lonely,” Seyfried admits. “If you’re feeling uncomfortable, there’s always a reason.” But for so long, the “Seven Veils” star was made to believe that discomfort was just part of the job.
Thankfully, things are beginning to change. Seyfried points to the introduction of intimacy coordinators as a sign of progress—one that acknowledges the power imbalance that has existed on sets for far too long.
“There’s a necessity there,” she says. “We’re put in these very bizarre situations as actors. There’s no checks and balances.”
It’s a stark contrast to the past, where speaking up was often met with backlash. But even with these strides forward, Seyfried acknowledges that fear still looms large in Hollywood. However, despite the progress, Seyfried admits she’s still working to unlearn the fear-based thinking that kept her silent for so long. “I’m still fearful of speaking my truth.”
The “Mamma Mia” star says she wishes she could tell herself, “The reality is not that your life will fall apart if someone doesn’t like you… it’s maybe going to harm their ego. And that’s not, that’s not a reason to stay quiet.”
Because, as Seyfried points out, egos have long dictated power in Hollywood. “People’s egos can destroy lives,” she says. “But that’s their decision.”
Seyfried also compares this fear-based power structure in Hollywood to life under Trump, “We’re seeing it in our government.”
“It’s really hard, especially right now… feeling like fourth class citizens again.” She continued, “It’s really hard to accept and all I can do is remember … we’re all a little bit different and people have opinions, and people make changes because they’re afraid, as opposed to, you know, what they really want in their hearts.”
Seyfried’s hope is that the next generation of women in the industry and beyond won’t have to question whether their voices deserve to be heard.
They will know that they do.
During this episode, Seyfried also discusses…
- Trauma exploration through art
- Navigating mental health through therapy
- Memories with Meryl Streep
- Unplanned success: “I’m a lucky bitch”
About “UnWrapped”
“UnWrapped” is a podcast produced by WrapWomen, dedicated to empowering the next generation of women in media and entertainment. Each episode “unwraps” topics from entertainment news and industry trends to career advice, Hollywood headlines and more.
Special guests include industry leaders, actors, producers and studio execs. The aim of the series is to connect those looking for knowledge and access to those with the knowledge and access, providing the WrapWomen community with tools to succeed in their personal and professional lives.
You can listen to the full episode on TheWrap.com, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, TheWrap’s YouTube page or wherever you get your podcasts.
