Amanda Seyfried

Amanda Louise Seyfried (born December 3, 1985) is an American actress and former child model. She is known for her roles in the feature films Mean Girls, Mamma Mia! and Alpha Dog, and in the television shows Veronica Mars and Big Love. Seyfried was born in Allentown, in the Lehigh Valley region of Pennsylvania. She is a 2003 graduate of Allentown's William Allen High School and was enrolled at New York City's Fordham University. As a teenager, she appeared on the cover of three Francine Pascal books. Seyfried started her career as a model at age 11. From there she went on to acting in the daytime drama The Guiding Light. In 2000, she originated the role of Lucy Montgomery on As the World Turns. From 2002 to 2003, she played the role of Joni Stafford on ABC's All My Children. In 2004, Seyfried achieved a breakthrough when she was cast as the most dimwitted of the "Plastics", Karen Smith, in the popular teen film Mean Girls. In Mean Girls, she initially auditioned for the role of Regina. She became the original casting choices for both the roles of Regina George and Cady Heron.[citation needed] She was then cast as Regina's sidekick, Karen Smith. (The other roles later went to Rachel McAdams and Lindsay Lohan respectively.) In 2005, she played the lead character in one of the nine parts in the movie Nine Lives. Continuing her television career, Seyfried was cast in UPN's Veronica Mars as the title character's murdered best friend Lilly Kane. In her role as Lilly, she appeared on the show through a series of flashbacks, dreams and visions, which portrayed her as a wild, stylish, and bubbly teenage daughter of a business executive. Lilly is sometimes compared to the character of Laura Palmer of Twin Peaks, who also was deceased and appeared through various flashbacks as the plot unfolded. While appearing often during Mars' first season, she also appeared briefly in season 2's premiere and finalé. Seyfried originally auditioned for the title role on Veronica Mars, but lost the place to Kristen Bell and ended up winning the role of Lilly Kane. Seyfried has had minor guest roles on House, Justice, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and CSI: Crime Scene Investigation and as Rebecca on Wildfire.[1] Seyfried is also a main character, Sarah Henrickson, in the series Big Love. She played supporting roles in the 2007 films Alpha Dog and Solstice. Amanda will play the role of Sophie alongside Meryl Streep and Pierce Brosnan in the film version of the musical Mamma Mia!, due for release in Summer 2008 Seyfried has recently joined the cast of the dark horror film Jennifer's Body, Diablo Cody's follow-up to Juno. Seyfried will play the title character's best friend in the film. Filming is slated to begin in March.