Amanda Seyfried, the acclaimed actress who rose to fame starring in the box office phenomenon Mamma Mia, has shared a delightful behind-the-scenes story from her latest cinematic venture. The Hollywood star, now 40, described how a classic track by Scottish band The Proclaimers became an indispensable morale booster for the entire cast and crew during a challenging shoot in Hungary.
The Power of a Proclaimers Anthem
During filming for the historical musical drama The Testament of Ann Lee in sweltering Budapest, Seyfried turned to The Proclaimers' iconic hit I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles) to combat exhaustion and uplift spirits. She affectionately refers to the song as her personal 'heart-racer' and revealed that playing it after intense days of filming served as genuine 'medicine' for everyone involved.
Sweltering Conditions and Choreographed Challenges
The first week of production was particularly demanding, involving extensive choreographed movement throughout each day. 'We were doing all this choreographed movement the entire day and it was 100 degrees in Budapest and we were tired,' Seyfried explained. Recognising that both cast and crew needed a release, she decided to introduce the energetic Scottish anthem to the set.
'I think the crew probably needed to dance a little bit, too, because dancing is really nice, it's like medicine and that's one of my favourite songs,' she said. 'I put it on and everybody danced.'
Unexpected Dance Party on Set
The response was overwhelmingly positive. In another interview, Seyfried elaborated: 'The entire crew and the dancers – who had been sweating through seven layers of 18th century costumes – danced. They didn't leave. They weren't like "I'm so tired", they were like "Yeah, let's do it some more" and we were all able to be ourselves.'
Connecting Music to The Testament of Ann Lee
The Testament of Ann Lee, directed by award-winning filmmaker Mona Fastvold, features Seyfried in the titular role as the founding leader of the Shaker Movement, whose followers proclaimed her as the female Christ. Seyfried noted that the role felt particularly organic because historical Shakers would dedicate hours each day to singing and dancing as part of their spiritual practice.
This connection between musical expression and the film's subject matter made the impromptu Proclaimers dance sessions even more meaningful. The shared experience of music and movement helped forge a stronger bond among the production team while providing essential relief from the physical demands of filming in extreme heat.
Seyfried's revelation offers a charming glimpse into how a simple musical intervention can transform a challenging work environment, proving that sometimes the best remedy for exhaustion is a collective dance to a beloved anthem.
