Amanda Seyfried reveals the intricate acting techniques she used to portray Nina’s unpredictable behavior in The Housemaid, explaining how she maintained authenticity while secretly setting up the film’s major plot twists that redefine her character’s motivations.
Amanda Seyfried delivered what she describes as a “bats—” performance as Nina in The Housemaid, but the reality behind her character’s unpredictable behavior reveals a masterful acting technique designed to conceal the film’s major twists.
In the psychological thriller based on Freida McFadden’s novel, Seyfried’s Nina appears to be an unhinged wealthy wife who hires Millie (Sydney Sweeney) as a live-in housemaid only to subject her to increasingly bizarre and dangerous behavior. However, the film’s third-act revelation completely recontextualizes Nina’s actions.
The Character Within a Character
Seyfried explains that playing Nina required what she calls “an Inception of performances” – essentially performing a role within a role. “Nina, we discover, is an incredible actress,” Seyfried reveals. Her character’s apparent instability was actually a carefully constructed facade.
The truth, as book fans and film viewers eventually learn, is that Nina knew about Millie’s past (where she killed a man attempting to rape her classmate) and deliberately hired her with the secret hope that Millie would fall for Andrew (Brandon Sklenar) – revealed to be a sadistic abuser – and eventually kill him too, thereby freeing Nina and her daughter from his torture.
Mastering Unpredictability
Seyfried’s approach to the character involved completely committing to each moment without worrying about consistency. “I realized, Nina, there’s a lot going on with her — more than we’re supposed to know in the beginning,” she says. “I kind of have to display it as realistic as possible.”
The actress explains that she approached each scene believing “what she believes in the moment, even though what she’s doing conflicts with what she did in the scene prior.” This technique created the authentic unpredictability that makes Nina’s character so compelling and confusing for audiences.
Surprising Her Co-Star
Director Paul Feig encouraged improvisation and spontaneous moments between Seyfried and Sweeney to enhance the genuine surprise factor. “It was like a ton of anything goes,” Seyfried recalls. “Paul and I would just play around as much as we wanted. We had a lot of time to do so, and we’d make each other laugh with new ideas.”
This approach allowed Seyfried to genuinely surprise Sweeney during scenes, mirroring how Millie would experience Nina’s unpredictable behavior. “Every time Paul would come in with a new note to switch things up, it was a surprise for Syd, because Nina is so nuts and so unpredictable that I could surprise her and throw her off,” Seyfried explains.
Creating Intentional Discomfort
The intentional unpredictability served a dual purpose: it created comedic moments in the film’s first half while setting up the dramatic payoff. “It’s fun and it really, really actually creates space for laughter in the beginning, the first half of the movie,” Seyfried says. “I’m really proud of those moments because Paul really knew how to utilize that space between Syd and me. And it completely pays off when you watch the movie.”
Sweeney, who plays the more grounded Millie, appreciated watching Seyfried’s process. “Getting to see her play such an unhinged character was such a treat, because usually I’m playing the unhinged character,” Sweeney says. “I always looked at Millie as the eyes of the audience. And so as the audience is learning things, Millie is learning as well.”
The Payoff
The careful balancing act between comedy and thriller elements, combined with Seyfried’s committed performance, makes the third-act twist particularly effective. What initially appears to be a story about an unstable employer tormenting her employee transforms into a narrative about survival and strategic manipulation.
Seyfried’s ability to maintain Nina’s authenticity while secretly setting up the character’s true motivations demonstrates the sophisticated acting technique required for such a complex role. Her performance ensures that viewers experience the same confusion and eventual revelation as Millie, making the twist both surprising and satisfying.
The Housemaid, featuring standout performances from Seyfried, Sweeney, and supporting cast including Michele Morrone and Elizabeth Perkins, is now playing in theaters.
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