发布时间: 12/26/2025
Amanda Seyfried steps into a fresh musical vibe with *The Testament of Ann Lee*, but the real magic lies in honoring the true story of its historical muse without losing that raw edge. Directed and co-written by Mona Fastvold, this gripping historical drama dives into the life of Ann Lee, the spiritual pioneer fleeing religious backlash in England for America, where she gathered devotees around her distinctive worship style that birthed the Shakers movement.
Joining Seyfried as Ann Lee is a stellar cast, featuring Lewis Pullman as her brother William, Christopher Abbott as husband Abraham, plus Thomasin McKenzie, Stacy Martin, and Tim Blake Nelson bringing depth to the ensemble. The film wowed at its Venice Film Festival world premiere in the main competition, earning rave reviews for Seyfried's powerhouse performance, the film's intense authenticity in portraying Ann Lee, and those captivating musical sequences—sitting pretty at 90% on Rotten Tomatoes right now.
To celebrate the wider release, ScreenRant's Ash Crossan sat down with director Mona Fastvold, Amanda Seyfried, Lewis Pullman, and Thomasin McKenzie for *The Testament of Ann Lee*. Fastvold shares how Ann Lee's tale hit her like lightning: "This is a film," she thought instantly, fueling her resolve with "I must make it" and "I have to make it now." Even spotting the hurdles ahead—like knowing "not a lot of people were going to share that passion"—she pushed on, declaring "nothing is going to stop me," especially since Ann Lee was "about to be erased from history."
Shocked by how overlooked Ann Lee was, Fastvold admits she first wondered if her Norwegian roots caused the gap, but chats with "multiple Americans" confirmed "no one really knew about her." That sparked deep-dive research trips to the Massachusetts Public Library and Shaker villages, uncovering gems like only three Shakers left worldwide due to their celibacy vow, halting adult conversions post-1800s, and ditching missionary efforts. They got selective in the '70s about new members, once adopting kids but always letting them choose love and marriage at 18—never forcing anyone to stay.
Fastvold highlights how Shakers sustained through "Winter Shakers," folks wintering in Maine for warmth and food, free to split in spring for romance. It explains why continuing is tough, but she stresses they're "never about holding people there," noting a third member joined post-production—maybe a hopeful spark.
1 Aspect Proved The Trickiest To Nail For The Testament Of Ann Lee Cast
ScreenRant: This is such a beautiful movie, and you're amazing in it. When I see your name attached to something with music, I get so excited. Is there even a comparison to preparing for something like this versus something like Mamma Mia! or Les Misérables?
ScreenRant: I was very enthralled by that. It's just such an interesting accent.
ScreenRant: What an amazing double feature we're getting with you.
ScreenRant: Congratulations on this film. I was just talking to Amanda, and she was telling me how one of the hardest things for her in this movie was nailing the accent because there's not a lot to watch or pull from. What was the most fun part or biggest challenge for you?
The Testament of Ann Lee hits limited theaters on December 25!