Amanda Seyfried Says She Knew Little About Ann Lee Before Playing Her in ‘The Testament of Ann Lee’
Hollywood actor Amanda Seyfried has revealed that she was unfamiliar with Ann Lee—the 18th-century founder of the Shaker movement—before portraying her in The Testament of Ann Lee, a historical drama opening in theatres on Christmas Day. The film explores Ann Lee’s radical vision of equality, communal living, and spiritual expression in early America.
Speaking to Reuters, Seyfried said she was surprised by how little Ann Lee features in mainstream American history education. She noted that despite Lee being a pioneering religious leader, her story is rarely discussed.
Seyfried plays Ann Lee, who was regarded by her followers as the female Christ and went on to establish the Shaker movement, a Christian sect known for its emphasis on celibacy, gender equality, communal ownership, and expressive worship through song and dance.
About the Film
Directed by Mona Fastvold and distributed by Searchlight Pictures, The Testament of Ann Lee traces the spiritual journey of its central character as she attempts to build a utopian society rooted in equality and shared faith. The narrative is inspired by real events from American history and focuses on the emotional and ideological struggles of the Shaker community.
The film also stars Lewis Pullman as William Lee, Ann’s brother; Christopher Abbott as Abraham Standerin, Ann’s husband; and Thomasin McKenzie as Mary Partington, a devoted follower and close confidante of Ann Lee.
Cast Reflections
Like Seyfried, Lewis Pullman admitted that he knew little about Ann Lee before joining the project. As he learned more, he felt her historical significance had been overlooked.
Pullman described Ann Lee as a humanist who advocated for universal rights at a time when such ideas were far from mainstream. He said her beliefs around equality and communal responsibility made her a figure who deserved far greater recognition.
Both Pullman and McKenzie praised Seyfried’s performance, noting how she balanced Ann Lee’s emotional pain with her commanding spiritual presence.
Music, Movement, and Meaning
One of the film’s defining features is its musical and physical expression. The Shakers used song and dance as a form of worship, believing movement helped rid the body of sin and promote spiritual equality.
For Seyfried, the musical elements of the film carried deep emotional weight. She said singing in the film was not about performance but survival, describing it as something essential, like breathing.
She added that The Testament of Ann Lee does not follow the traditional musical format audiences might expect. Instead, music functions as a spiritual language, reflecting the Shakers’ philosophy rather than theatrical spectacle.
Conclusion
With The Testament of Ann Lee, filmmakers aim to reintroduce audiences to a visionary leader whose ideas challenged the social and religious norms of her time. Through Seyfried’s performance, the film sheds light on a largely forgotten chapter of American history while exploring themes of faith, equality, and collective living.
Final Thoughts from TheTrendingPeople
The Testament of Ann Lee stands out as both a historical rediscovery and a reflection on modern values. By bringing Ann Lee’s story to the screen, the film challenges audiences to reconsider whose stories are preserved in history—and whose are forgotten. Amanda Seyfried’s portrayal adds emotional depth to a figure whose ideas remain strikingly relevant today.