Les Miserables was released in 2012 with a stellar ensemble featuring Amanda Seyfried, Hugh Jackman, Anne Hathaway, Eddie Redmayne, Russell Crowe, and Helena Bonham Carter, among others. The musical drama was directed by award-winning director, Tom Hooper. Seyfried played the role of Cosette, an illegitimate daughter of Fantine who was played by Anne Hathaway.
Why Does Amanda Seyfried Regrets Les Miserables?
It’s quite uncommon to hear an actor admit regretting their role in one of the most well-known musical adaptions. However, the Emmy-winning actress did not hold back from expressing regret for her performance in the award-winning musical adaptation of the 1860s novel, Les Miserables. Seyfried stated that she would redo her performance if she could. In a one-on-one interview with actress Vanessa Kirby for Variety’s Actors on Actors 2021, Amanda Seyfried revisited some moments where she felt “complete regret”.
Amanda- I wish I could redo Les Miz completely, because the whole live-singing aspect, just..I still have nighmares about it.
Vanessa- But you’re an amazing singer though. And so, did you not feel like, in a way, I mean how different is that to acting?
Amanda- It’s more indulgent in some ways. I feel like when I have emotional scenes, when I get to really cry and I actually cry, I actually feel whatever I’m feeling, and it works and I can be present in that, it always feels really good. Crying is really cathartic. Singing is the same way, just like emoting through music and melody is so magical. When you feel like it’s there, your voice is there where it needs to be and as strong as it needs to be, and it wasn’t, I was very weak.
Amanda Seyfried’s Fangirls Over Les Miserables
The American actress recently revisited her Les Miserables performance for Vanity Fair and talked about her love for doing musicals. Amanda Seyfried has starred in several other musicals including Mamma Mia! which also stars award-winning actress Meryl Streep. She said-
“I thought singing live was the best idea ever. I knew how tricky it was gonna be. I was very scared by it. But I also knew that so much comes out of singing your emotions, and it’s such a beautiful expression.”
“I knew I was taking a risk by doing it (Les Miserables). After I got it finally, six auditions later. I knew I wasn’t where I wanted to be vocally, because I had quite singing for many years and had only done Mamma Mia! That was like a session or two. And this was gonna be like I needed stamina, I needed strength, I needed to be able to sing in real time. I was pretty weak and it’s my one regret. I wish I could do it all over again. I wish I could go into a studio and redo my vocals again.”
However, the Mean Girls actress was also very grateful for the great ensemble that she got to collaborate with while working on the award-winning musical.
“It was just so nice to relate to my fellow actors through song.”
“And also, it was my favourite musical. I died for this musical when I was like twelve. I remember seeing it in Philadelphia when they were on the road and just be on the edge of my seat the whole time, which is why I auditioned for it so many times.”
“Tom Hooper really knew what he was doing.”
Despite what Amanda Seyfried must feel about her performance as Cosette, there’s no denying that the 37-year-old actress has proven her acting skills with every project she’s worked on. She was last seen on Hulu’s true crime mini-series The Dropouts. Amanda Seyfried won many accolades for her leading role including an Emmy Award and Golden Globes Award.
