Amanda Seyfried’s Self Cover

The “Letters to Juliet” star talks obsessive exercising, body image and her career.

-Sarah Polonsky

Amanda Seyfried’s star is certainly on the rise. We watched her light up the screen in Mean Girls, Mamma Mia and Dear John—her first leading role. Now she’s lighting up the cover of Self Magazine and one thing is clear, it’s only the beginning for this young actress.

In Hollywood it’s important not to be disarmed by the illusion of perfection. “People may seem perfect, but that’s because they spend thousands on trainers and diets and surgeries,” she says. “If you have a negative body image, exercise, but not for your appearance. The main thing you can change is how you perceive yourself. Stop looking in the mirror and realize that you’re living for yourself, not other people.”

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Amanda swears when it comes to the gym she is not obsessive—at least not anymore. “I used to live, eat and sleep by an exercise schedule, and I couldn’t enjoy myself if I didn’t exercise. And then I realized, What a waste of time! My soft parts are probably never going away,” she says.

She still work out but not in excess. Five days a week of 30-minute runs coupled with Pilates on the weekends is enough to keep Amanda’s body toned. Amanda also enjoys snacks sometimes. “I mean, at the end of the day, if you can’t have a Girl Scout cookie and a piece of cheese, what is life all about?” she asks.

When it comes to her career Amanda is the first one to show disbelief at what’s happening. “I’ve been an up-and-comer for so long,” she says. “Now everybody is telling me that I’m having ‘a moment.’ I’m like, ‘All right, how long does that last?’” (Self)

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