Amanda Seyfried has been vocal about her regret over singing in the 2012 musical drama film Les Misérables. The actress admitted her voice did not have much power when she sang live while filming on the set.
The movie earned over $442 million at the box office and was also a recipient of eight Academy Award nominations, winning three categories, namely Best Supporting Actress for Anne Hathaway, Best Makeup and Hairstyling, and Best Sound Mixing.
Amanda Seyfried Regrets Her Singing Role In Les Misérables
During Variety’s Actors on Actors interview, Amanda Seyfried confessed her deepest regret playing Cosette in Tom Hooper’s Les Misérables. Adapted from Victor Hugo’s 1862 novel of the same title, the production was a lavish performance with an ensemble cast. She stated:
“In my career, I have had a lot of moments where I just felt complete regret. I wish I could redo Les Misérables completely because the live singing aspect, I still have nightmares about it. Singing is more indulgent than acting in some ways. I feel like when I have emotional scenes, where I get to really cry and feel what I’m actually feeling and be present in that, it feels really good and cathartic because crying is really cathartic.”
Seyfried was not particularly happy with her singing voice in the movie, claiming it did not have the strength and power required for the part. The actress also admitted she has been practicing a lot ever since her performance in the movie:
“When you feel like you’ve gotten there, where your voice is where it needs to be, and your voice is as strong as it needs to be, it wasn’t. I was very weak. I feel like I could definitely play Cosette now. I’ve been working diligently ever since Les Misérables to strengthen my voice and to have some stamina. Plus working on my vibrato, which was completely lost. From a very technical standpoint, I was very unhappy with my singing.”
The actress stopped singing after 2008’s Mamma Mia! movie, making her struggle to get back into vocalizing when she was cast in Les Misérables.
Amanda Seyfried Praised Hugh Jackman For His Compassion
With all her doubts about her singing, there was one person who trusted Amanda Seyfried and made her feel confident about it, and that was Hugh Jackman. The actor played Jean Valjean, Cosette’s father. Seyfried told Vanity Fair:
“I just remember him being so warm, and him knowing that I was struggling and just feeling like he was there for me. It was a beautiful scene. There’s so much reality happening for me. And when you trust your partner like that, even if you’re feeling like sh*t, something real comes through and I’m able to speak-sing.”
Seyfried credited Jackman for making her feel less anxious about her performance in the movie. The actress further added:
“Hugh Jackman is the most present, really kindest person, human being to walk this earth. Everybody who’s met him completely agrees. It’s just, there’s nobody like him. He’s a good friend, but he’s very paternal as well. And I think that I just felt, like, totally seen by him. And when you’re scared, and the person you’re with knows you’re scared and accepts that you’re scared, you feel less scared. That’s his ability, his compassion.”
From the views of the audience, Seyfried seems to be the only person criticizing herself too much. Many likened her voice to that of old Disney songs, while others said her singing was not as terrible as she thought it was.
