Amanda Seyfried has no regrets about stepping away from the nonstop pace of Hollywood in favor of a quieter, more grounded life on a farm in upstate New York.
The actress, best known for films like Mean Girls and Mamma Mia, recently opened up about why she prefers being far from the chaos of Los Angeles while living in her 1930s farmhouse on the East Coast. Speaking on CBS Sunday Morning, Seyfried admitted that Hollywood never quite felt like a safe or comfortable place for her.
“I don’t know if you know this, but Hollywood is really … it’s tricky, and it’s got a lot of personalities. There are a lot of people that are working in a way that doesn’t necessarily make it feel like a safe place,” she said.
Seyfried explained that leaving that environment helped her feel more at peace with herself and her life. “This is exactly what I have always wanted. It’s my world now. Like, I’ve been in it for 25 years or whatever. And I, like, totally feel at home in it. And people know me well enough, I don’t feel like I have anything to prove. I’m nice to people. I’m not trying to cover up any scandals – yet! Wait! And I’m not trying to, you know, hide or, like, run away from any bad press. So it’s like, I’ve made it easy for myself. So far!”
The move away from Hollywood started early in her career. Last month, Seyfried told Forbes that she left Los Angeles for New York years ago, but eventually realized Manhattan still felt too busy. That realization led her to upstate New York, where she found the balance she was looking for.
“I moved upstate long before I had a family. Staying here was the best decision for privacy, peace and nature. It offers a more balanced life than the city does,” she said. In November, she added that the move was “essential for her mental health.”
During a March interview with The Wall Street Journal, Seyfried spoke candidly about the anxiety she faced early in her career after being thrust into the spotlight. “I was born with obsessive-compulsive disorder. They didn’t figure that out until later, but the signs were there. If my socks weren’t a certain length, I could barely function. This was true about other things. I’d jump on floor tiles and not be able to continue walking until I was satisfied it was safe,” she shared.
Her teenage years as a model added another layer of stress. “Modeling was performing, but I had braces and noticed I was chubbier than everybody else, creating new anxieties. To be 11, 12 and 13 just sucked,” Seyfried said.
Today, Seyfried lives in the Catskills with her two children, Nina, 8, and Thomas, 5. She told WSJ that raising her kids on a farm has helped teach them responsibility. “I can see them learning what a responsibility and treat it is to care for pets, even at their young ages. I think all pets give us purpose. And because they do so much to enrich our lives, we are responsible for theirs, which includes managing their health and wellness,” she said.
The farmhouse has also played a major role in helping her manage anxiety. “The house was small, so we built onto it to add a kitchen. We use the barns as a sanctuary for rescued horses, ducks, chickens, peacocks, goats and other animals. I still have anxieties, but tending to the aging animals keeps me from obsessing over things that don’t matter. My pony, Cliff, is 38. Every day I have with him is a gift. It’s grounding,” Seyfried explained.
In a November 2024 interview with House Beautiful, Seyfried described her ideal weekend routine. “On the weekends, I’ll wake up with the kids on Saturday mornings, I make them breakfast and then I sit in the window box while the kids watch ‘Bluey.’ I’ll crochet there or just sit there — that’s me decompressing. It’s everything. It’s my happy place,” she said.
According to Realtor, Seyfried sold her Manhattan condo for $3.25 million in 2022 after purchasing it for $1.9 million in 2010, though she and her husband still own property in New York City. For Seyfried, however, it’s clear that life on the farm is where she feels most at home.