Amanda Seyfried Explores the Life of Shaker Founder Ann Lee in ‘The Testament of Ann Lee’

LOS ANGELES, Dec 24 - In her upcoming film, 'The Testament of Ann Lee', Amanda Seyfried portrays Ann Lee, the 18th-century founder of the Shaker movement, and admits she was previously unaware of Lee's significant impact.

“I was surprised that I didn’t learn about her in my own American history classes,” Seyfried, known for her role in 'Mamma Mia!', shared with reporters. “This woman is the leader of the Shaker movement.”

The Shakers, a Christian sect, are known for their celibacy and ecstatic worship practices aimed at dispelling evil.

The film, directed by Mona Fastvold and set to release on Christmas Day, chronicles Lee's journey as she strives to create a utopian society where followers worship through song and dance, rooted in real American history.

Alongside Seyfried, the cast includes Lewis Pullman as William Lee, Ann’s brother; Christopher Abbott as her husband, Abraham Standerin; and Thomasin McKenzie as Ann’s friend, Mary Partington.

Pullman expressed that, like Seyfried, he was unaware of Ann Lee's story before joining the project, stating, “The more you learn about her, the more she seems like she should be a pivotal figure in history.”

Both Pullman and McKenzie praised Seyfried for capturing the emotional depth and powerful essence of Ann Lee.

Music plays a crucial role in the film, reflecting the Shakers’ use of song and dance as part of their worship and advocacy for equality. Seyfried noted that her approach to singing in the film went beyond mere performance: “I’m singing to be alive. I’m not singing to sound, to perform. It’s like oxygen. It definitely shifted my perspective on what it means.”

“It’s a musical but not the way we know musicals,” she added, highlighting the unique storytelling aspect of the film.