Amanda Seyfried Says Socialism Is “a Gorgeous Idea” While Reflecting on a Divided America

Amanda Seyfried is speaking openly about her worries for the United States, and her thoughts are shaped by the film she is currently promoting.

In a recent interview given while discussing her new movie The Testament of Ann Lee, the actress shared personal views on politics, community, and why she believes Americans have lost a sense of care for one another. The comments come from conversations held during festival appearances and press events tied to the film.

Seyfried said she feels unsettled by how divided the country has become. She admitted she never imagined America would reach this point.

“Did we ever think this is where we would be as Americans? No. Because America felt like the best place to be,” she said. While traveling for work, she added that she feels homesick and misses being with her children on her farm in upstate New York, which has only deepened her reflections on what kind of society she wants them to grow up in.

Her role as Ann Lee, the founder of the Shakers, pushed those thoughts further. Seyfried said Lee’s belief in shared responsibility and collective care feels important right now. According to Seyfried, there is a clear link between what Lee tried to build centuries ago and what modern America seems to be missing. “Thank God we’re talking about Ann Lee so much, because there’s a direct relationship to what she created and what we’re lacking,” she said.

That led Seyfried to speak directly about socialism. She framed it not as a political argument, but as a basic human value.

“How about our agenda is take care of each other? Socialism is a gorgeous idea,” she said. She also acknowledged that the system is often misunderstood or criticized. “I know it doesn’t work perfectly, or that people understand what the word actually means,” she added. For her, the meaning is simple. “For me, it’s taking care of each other. If I have more money, I can spend more money on other people.”

Seyfried also pointed to moments in American history when people helped each other without hesitation. She recalled the unity she witnessed after 9/11 and questioned why that spirit only appears during tragedy. “Everybody dropped everything for each other,” she said. “We shouldn’t have to have a disaster to do that. That’s just what we are as human beings.”

She closed her thoughts by stressing that people across political lines want the same basic things. “We all want to be seen, we all want to be loved, we all love our children,” she said. She questioned how greed and ego continue to drive people apart instead of bringing them together.

Seyfried’s comments were shared during press discussions connected to the film’s festival run, including appearances tied to Venice and SCAD, where she has been speaking candidly about both the movie and the state of the country.

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