Amanda Seyfried Reveals Why Oscar Wins Don’t Define Her Career

Amanda Seyfried has made it clear that taking home an Oscar isn’t at the top of her wish list. After a blockbuster end to 2025 —her film The Housemaid soared at the box office, and her performance in The Testament of Ann Lee earned her a Golden Globe nomination—Seyfried’s name has been buzzing as a possible contender for Best Actress at the Academy Awards. She was previously up for Best Supporting Actress for her role in Mank back in 2021.

In a recent interview, Seyfried reflected on her journey, saying she’s “already gotten so far without an Oscar” and questioned, “why would I need one now?” She added, “Do you remember who won in the past ten years? It’s not the win that’s important. It’s the nomination.” Seyfried pointed out that while she’d be grateful for a nomination, it’s not what drives her. Instead, she believes that the choices she makes in her career are what will keep her working for years to come. As she put it:

“It does thrust you forward. That’s a fact. Now, do I need one in a week or two or whenever? No, of course, I don’t. Would it be great? Of course it would, for every reason. But it isn’t necessary. Longevity in an actor ’s career is designed. Longevity is about deliberate choices to make art among the big commercial things that are fun and pay.”

Rethinking the Value of Awards

Seyfried’s perspective comes just after Melissa Leo shared that winning Best Supporting Actress for The Fighter “has not been good for me or my career. I didn’t dream of it, I never wanted it, and I had a much better career before I won.” While some actresses, like last year’s winner Mikey Madison, find themselves flooded with offers after an Oscar win, others, such as Lupita Nyong’o, have faced more limited opportunities. Nyong’o, who won Best Supporting Actress for 12 Years a Slave in 2013, revealed that she was mostly offered roles about enslaved people in the months following her win, rather than leading parts.

Seyfried’s own filmography shows that awards aren’t the only measure of success. She’s starred in cult favorites like Mean Girls, Jennifer’s Body, and Mamma Mia, movies that may not have been Oscar darlings but have become beloved classics with huge fan followings. She’s also had her share of missteps, including turning down the role of Gamora in Guardians of the Galaxy and appearing in a few box-office disappointments. Seyfried is candid about these ups and downs, saying:

“We all have ebbs and flows in our careers, and how we’re perceived can change from day to day, but I’m consistent in my choices and I’m consistent in my values and my needs. I’m also sitting pretty right now, because ‘The Housemaid’ made money. That’s not always the case. Sometimes you’re in ‘Mamma Mia!’ Sometimes, you do something like ‘Ted 2,’ or ‘A Million Ways to Die in the West,’ which were both supposed to do big box-office, and underperformed.”

Box Office Triumphs and What’s Next

Even if Seyfried doesn’t end up with a Best Actress nod for The Testament of Ann Lee, she’s already celebrating the financial success of The Housemaid. The thriller, which also stars Sydney Sweeney, has raked in $108 million domestically and $245 million worldwide on a $35 million budget. Looking ahead, Seyfried is set to appear in The Life and Deaths of Wilson Shedd, directed by Tim Blake Nelson and featuring a cast that includes Scoot McNairy, Missi Pyle, William Jackson Harper, and Sinners Wunmi Mosaku.