Original-Cin Q&A: Amanda Seyfried talks about David Fincher's many takes in Mank, and the lost talent of Hearst's mistress Marion Davies
Mank, the latest movie directed by David Fincher, comes to Netflix December 4, buoyed by Oscar talk.
The film, set in 1930s Hollywood, is shown through the eyes of screenwriter Herman J. Mankiewicz (Gary Oldman) who sought solace in the bottle as he raced to finish writing Citizen Kane for Orson Welles (Tom Burke).
Amanda Seyfried stars as actress Marion Davies who, while performing in the 1916 Follies, met newspaper tycoon William Randolph Hearst and became his mistress. Hearst took over management of Davies' career and promoted her as a motion picture star.
Marion Davies (Amanda Seyfried) finds a friend in her husband’s nemesis (Gary Oldman) in Mank.
Our Bonnie Laufer spoke with Amanda Seyfried about working on the film and being directed by David Fincher.
Read Liam Lacey’s review of Mank HERE.
ORIGINAL-CIN: Amanda, you did such a fantastic job playing Marion Davies I honestly thought I was transported back in time.
AMANDA SEYFRIED: “I’m so glad you felt that way. I honestly felt transported back when I was on set because it felt so authentic. I know it's artificial, of course, because it was all sets. But everything was so meticulous and detailed it felt as real as it could possibly feel.”
O.C: Putting on the wig, wearing those beautiful costumes and then shooting this in black and white (the way I think it should be) you must have been so thrilled to be a part of this.
SEYFRIED: “When I found out that David FIncher was considering me to play Marion Davies, I got teary-eyed because I never really expected anyone would ever consider me for this role.
PROUDLY SUPPORTS ORIGINAL-CIN
“I never have expectations when it comes to my career, and I certainly never thought that I would ever be a part of his world because I know everything he creates is for a reason. I know you can trust him to make a masterpiece. I’ve seen every single one of his movies except Seven, and only because I was really young when it came out and I haven't gotten around to it yet.
“Knowing that there was even going to be a possibility of getting a part in one of his movies, I knew that it was going to be a turning point for me in my career. He challenges you to be your best and I couldn't be lazy. I truly believe that this turned out to be a masterpiece. It was a feat only Fincher could have done.”
O.C: As you say, he brings out the best in his actors but he is a director that likes to do a lot of takes and I’m not talking five or six, sometimes maybe 100! Is it true that one scene took five days to shoot?
SEYFRIED: “It was four actually. One of them took nine, but that was a reshoot. Listen, when I say lazy.. I have been lazy. I've played so many versions of myself that I feel like I just fall back on that way too much.
“I actually heard Rashida Jones say in an interview something about using her old tricks when she needs to. You can't do that with David Fincher. We are talking a whole new level when you work with him. It's interesting and I realized that you can't be lazy on his set and you have so many opportunities to get it right that you end up getting it right.
“He has faith in his actors and knows you can get it. So therefore, you can trust yourself when you walk onto his set. You're like, ‘Okay, he chose me for a reason. There must be a reason I'm here.’ And then you build on that by having as many opportunities as humanly possible to give him what he needs to make something brilliant.”
O.C: One thing about Marion Davies, she was funny and had quite the career. But sadly, a lot of people just don't know a lot about her. Do you think that is so because she was with William Randolph Hearst and he pretty much side lined her career?
SEYFRIED: “Oh yeah, definitely. I would love to have seen what would have happened if she wasn't so wrapped up in his world, because it was his world.
“I thought she was really talented in the movies I've seen her in. She's effervescent, she was very attractive and she brought her essence to every character. I love that about her, that’s so beautiful.”
“People who seem to know Marion Davies have this idea that she's very much like Susan Alexander, (the character she inspired in Citizen Kane) which I get. But that is just not accurate at all.
“So having this opportunity to play her and bring her story to the forefront was amazing. I got to help control the narrative a little bit, which was fun and very gratifying in so many ways.”