Amanda Seyfried Says She Feared Guardians Could Fail

Amanda Seyfried says she turned down the role of Gamora in Guardians of the Galaxy because she feared the film might fail and damage her career. In remarks at a SAG-AFTRA Foundation conversation, she said the decision seemed obvious at the time, given the film’s unusual premise and characters. Seyfried recalled thinking that a story featuring a talking tree and raccoon, with characters traveling through space, was unlikely to become a hit. She said she worried that if the film did poorly, it could harm her career. She later acknowledged that her prediction was wrong, but said she does not regret passing on the part. She explained that she made the choice for herself and for the family she hoped to have. Seyfried also cited the demands of the role, saying she did not want to spend long periods in a makeup trailer and disliked stunts and heights. She said she found it difficult to sit still and preferred having something tangible to connect with while acting. Zoe Saldaña ultimately played Gamora in the 2014 film. Guardians of the Galaxy became a commercial success and expanded into a franchise with sequels. Seyfried’s comments reflect her assessment before the film’s release,...