Amanda Seyfried celebrates and grieves 'insanely special' Ann Lee biopic at the Berlinale

Record ID: 2343110

  • Title: Amanda Seyfried celebrates and grieves 'insanely special' Ann Lee biopic at the Berlinale
  • Date: 19th February 2026
  • Summary: LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (FEBRUARY 6, 2026) (REUTERS) ***WARNING: CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** (SOUNDBITE) (English) ACTOR, AMANDA SEYFRIED, SAYING:  "I do not want to work this hard for just anybody. And I yeah, I feel on the other side of it, it was an immensely challenging but immensely intoxicating kind of realm that we built, I don't know, important story, eve
  • Embargoed:
  • Keywords: Amanda Seyfried Berlin filmfestival Berlinale Mona Fastvold The testament of ann lee testament of ann lee berlinale
  • Location: BERLIN, GERMANY / LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM / VARIOUS FILM LOCATIONS 
  • City: BERLIN, GERMANY / LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM / VARIOUS FILM LOCATIONS 
  • Country: Germany
  • Topics: Arts/Culture/Entertainment,Europe,Film
  • Reuters ID: LVA007665018022026RP1
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text:Actor Amanda Seyfried and director Mona Fastvold braved below freezing temperatures to premiere "The Testament of Ann Lee" at the Berlin Film Festival on Thursday (February 19).
    The movie, which received its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival last September and went on wide release in the United States in January, is opening in UK cinemas on February 27 and German theatres on March 12. It is screening in the Berlin Film Festival's Berlinale Special Gala section.
    A musical drama, “The Testament of Ann Lee" stars Seyfried as the founder and leader of the religious Shaker movement.
    The film tracks Lee’s life as child factory worker in 18th century Manchester who becomes involved with an offshoot of the protestant Quakers, distinct in their form of worship that involves ecstatic shaking.
    Lee becomes the sect's leader after experiencing a revelation in prison that convinces its followers that she is the female manifestation of Christ. She then leads the group to a 1774 America on the cusp of civil war, where the faithful struggle against adversity as they try to establish a religious utopia.
    In an interview, Norwegian filmmaker Fastvold and Seyfried said it felt important to depict a female leader.
    "What feels more important right now than to tell a story about a feminist leader who fought for equality? I mean, it's quite timely. But beyond that, it was just so, so fun and exciting and cinematic," said Fastvold.
    "It's incredibly important. It reminds us that history has a place in our current day," added Seyfried.
    While not a traditional musical, the film features choreographed dancing and songs that mimic the physical movements and spiritual chanting for which the Shakers became known, in addition to their famous minimalist furniture and crafts.
    Seyfried said the physically demanding role taught her she has "the capacity to be able to do hard things", which she said she only fully realised by working with "someone I feel safe to guide me and whose vision I want to help come to life".
    "I do not want to work this hard for just anybody.  I feel on the other side of it, it was an immensely challenging but immensely intoxicating kind of realm that we built, important story, everything about it," she said.
    "I think we all kind of came out better for it."
    The film is Fastvold’s third feature after 2020’s “The World to Come” and 2014 “The Sleepwalker.” She frequently collaborates with her husband Brady Corbet who co-wrote the “The Testament of Ann Lee” together with Fastvold.
    (Production: Maximilian Schwarz, Hanna Rantala)
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