A Closer Look at Amanda Seyfried’s “Mermaid Knight” Emmys Look
It was a big night for Amanda Seyfried at the 2022 Emmy Awards. The actor won her very first Emmy award, for her portrayal of Elizabeth Holmes in Hulu’s The Dropout. (Her voice impression of the infamous entrepreneur? Worth an award alone.) “This was the first TV thing I’ve done since I was young, and it’s been the most extraordinary work I’ve gotten to do,” says Seyfried of her win. “It’s so nice to celebrate something that you worked really hard at and that you really are proud of.”
It was not an easy role to take on. Given Holmes is notorious for her deep voice and quirky mannerisms, Seyfried had her work cut out for her in terms of getting into character on-set. “Because there’s so many things about her that are iconic, one of the challenges was making sure that you are creating a version of somebody that people will believe,” says Seyfried. “You have to get the audience on your side.”
As an actor, she also had to attempt to understand and empathize with Holmes’s choices, despite her defrauding investors. Holmes was the CEO of Theranos, a company that aimed to innovate on at-home blood testing, though it was later discovered that the technology did not work; She was convicted on four counts in January, including wire fraud and fraud against investors. She will be sentenced at the end of the month. “We were showing all sides of Elizabeth,” says Seyfried. “She’s somebody who has made some really bad decisions, and we weren’t shying away from that. If not, what’s the point?” Still, Seyfried had worries about what Holmes would think. “Playing somebody who exists, and is walking around in the real world right now, is tricky—it’s intimidating,” says Seyfried. “It was a little easier playing someone who has passed. I wasn’t so worried about Marion Davies [who I played in Mank], and how she would feel about my portrayal.”
Acting aside, Seyfried’s work on The Dropout also saw her step into a producing role. It wasn’t without its challenges, but for Seyfried, it gave the project a more special feeling. “I felt like people took me more seriously,” says Seyfried. “I was more front-footed on set, and my voice was louder. It felt like I had a seat at the table, and that was a really nice feeling, because I really cared about it. This was the most important job ever for me.” Given the weight of the project, Seyfried wanted a special look for the Emmys last night, which she attended with husband Thomas Sadoski by her side. She very much delivered on that front, too.
Working with stylist Elizabeth Stewart, Seyfried wore Armani Privé’s shimmering sequin gown with tulle accents. “[Armani] really knows how to reinvent the wheel,” says Seyfried. “It felt classic, but new.” The star was instantly drawn to the frock’s strapless, body-hugging silhouette. “It was like an extra skin, like wearing body armor,” says Seyfried. “I felt like a knight—a really beautiful, pink-purple mermaid knight.” It helps that her five-year-old daughter, Nina, gave it the stamp of approval. “I FaceTimed my daughter when I had a fitting, and she was like, ‘Wow, mama.’”
To accessorize the sparkling design, Seyfried kept accessories minimal. She wore jewelry by Cartier, and on her wrist, Jaeger-LeCoultre’s dainty 101 Reine timepiece. “They make beautiful jewelry timepieces,” says Seyfried. “We kept it streamlined and classic.”
The star adds that she’s been experimenting with more body-conscious silhouettes on the carpet lately. “I’m feeling more in my body than ever, so I’m willing to take risks and show things that I didn't used to want to,” says Seyfried. “It’s really empowering.” As for how she’ll be celebrating her Emmys win these next few days? She joked, “Halloween is my favorite season ever, so I’m going to dress my trophy up in a Halloween costume.”
Below, see how Seyfried got ready for the 2022 Emmy Awards.
Photo: Catie Laffoon1/11
Photo: Catie Laffoon2/11
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Photo: Catie Laffoon5/11
