At a time when privacy seems elusive, especially for celebrities, actress Amanda Seyfried has joined many others in leaving the Hollywood limelight in exchange for farm life, in this case, in upstate New York.
In a recent interview with Forbes, the 38-year-old explained why moving out of Los Angeles, California, was crucial for her mental health and, eventually, her family’s.
“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.
The “Mean Girls” star—who shares two children with fellow actor and husband Thomas Sadoski—previously lived in LA and New York City but found the fast-paced lifestyle exhausting.
Seyfried kicked off her acting career at the age of 15 and explained that her decision to move was less about retreating from the spotlight and more about reclaiming a sense of peace and a bond with animals.
Best known for her roles in films like “Les Misérables,” “Mamma Mia!,” “Mean Girls,” and “Dear John,” Seyfried has appeared in more than 70 credits that have earned 25 awards, including the Emmys and Golden Globes.
As she became well-known in Hollywood, the actress found comfort with her now 15-year-old Australian Shepherd, Finn, who, along with her other pets, kept her balanced through the highs and lows.
Speaking to People magazine last month, Seyfried admitted she would not have been able to navigate fame without Finn, adding that he kept her out of trouble throughout her twenties.
“[Pets give us] purpose. No matter what we say, we can’t deny the fact that we need purpose,” she said. “To have that responsibility of taking care of animals, who don’t have a voice and can’t really do much for themselves, it gives you so much more than we could ever give them, really.”
In 2021, Seyfried received an Oscar nomination for Best Performance by an Actress for her supporting role in the 2020 biographical drama “Mank.”
She is now set to star in the movie adaptation of Freida McFadden’s “The Housemaid,” which is currently in pre-production, and a new television show, “Long Bright River,” next year.
Meanwhile, on the farm, her family grows their own produce and has numerous horses, chickens, goats, and a donkey. She enjoys watching her children be involved in farm life.
“I can see them learning what a responsibility and treat it is to care for pets, even at their young ages,” she told Forbes.
“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.”
Overall, Seyfried says that because she has a “peaceful place to call home,” she better “acclimates to the faster lifestyle of the city, the high energy of press events, and life on-set.”
“The next day, I’ll be home and even happier in my boots in the mud feeding the animals,” she added.
The couple and their two children share a passion for the environment and a sustainable way of life. They have found farming and producing their own food to be far more rewarding.
Jason Segel, Jessica Biel and her husband Justin Timberlake, Sylvester Stallone, Matthew McConaughey, and many others have also followed suit in leaving LA.
