Photo by John Nacion/WWD via Getty Images
WWD via Getty Images
It’s hard to believe that two decades have passed since Amanda Seyfried charmed viewers in the comedy Mean Girls, a satirical portrayal of the cutthroat nature of high school’s social hierarchy. She starred as the popular-yet-ditzy Karen, who, believing that her breasts could predict the weather, famously stated: ”It’s like ESPN or something!”
As silly as the film was, it provided an apt critique into the way social pressures and internalized labels impact us, from adolescence onward. This dark aspect of human nature is especially pertinent in Hollywood, where media attention amplifies social stress to detrimental levels. In the midst of her skyrocketing Hollywood career, Seyfried found the pace of city living itself to be exhausting. Finding immense comfort in her close bond with her now 15-year-old Australia Shepherd, Finn, she began to develop an incredible respect for the human bond with animals.
Amanda Seyfried and her dog, Finn.
Amanda Seyfried
“Having Finn to come home to when I was in my 20’s in Hollywood helped keep me grounded,” Seyfried writes in an e-mail to Forbes.com. “My pets truly keep me balanced.”
Finn, who is well-known among her fanbase, makes frequent appearances on her social media account. But Seyfried’s animal brood goes beyond the typical household pet. After leaving Hollywood for New York City in TK, she first began searching for a home in upstate New York almost ten years ago. She now lives and cares for a farm of animals with her husband two children.
“I moved upstate long before I had a family. Staying here was the best decision for privacy, peace and nature. It offers a more balanced life than the city does,” she reflects of the decision, noting that it is “essential for my mental health.” Plus, because she has this “peaceful place to call home,” she finds herself better equipped to “acclimate to the faster lifestyle of the city, the high-energy of press events and life on-set.”
Seyfried admits that there was definitely an initial “learning curve” to caring for so many different types of animals, but she calls the experience “exhilarating” and finds that it gives her “so much purpose.” She now sees her trips to the city as fun getaways where she can socialize with friends from the industry and get dressed up for events knowing “the next day I’ll be home and even happier in my boots in the mud feeding the animals.”
Her chosen lifestyle also reflects values and experiences that she wants her children to grow up with—treating animals with kindness, supporting small and local farms, growing their own vegetables, and eating mindfully.
Actress Amanda Seyfried's dog and cat on her farm in upstate New York.
Amanda Seyfried
“I can see them learning what a responsibility and treat it is to care for pets, even at their young ages,” Seyfriend says. “I think all pets give us purpose. And because they do so much to enrich our lives, we are responsible for theirs—which includes managing their health and wellness.”
This hits home for all doting pet parents, for whom the well-being of their animal companions is a top priority. But veterinary care is expensive—with nearly half of all pet parents underestimating its costs—adding financial burden to the already stressful situation. Even with pet health insurance, an out-of-pocket payment is typically required upfront, with a separate process for reimbursement at a later date. In worst case scenarios, this can delay or even prevent necessary medical treatment for your pets.
This is why Synchrony has introduced a new initiative to connect a leading pet health insurance company, Pets Best Insurance, with Care Credit, a line of credit. By streamlining the payment and automated reimbursement process, they are helping to ensure that pet healthcare is not delayed—a fear for any pet parent. To help announce this first-of-its-kind model, they have partnered with Seyfried to help spread the word.
“I never signed up for pet insurance for Finn back in the day, which I know now would have saved me a lot of money throughout the years. I will be getting it for my cats and future pets,” Seyfried explains. “I was excited to be part of this partnership with Synchrony because [it’s] a game-changer to helping us manage both costs and stress when it comes to veterinary care in a much simpler way.”
Amanda Seyfried shares a close bond with her dog, Finn.
Amanda Seyfried
In removing some of the stress around pet health, the hope is that pet parents will be more present to enjoy the unconditional love, companionship and sweet moments shared with pets. After all, interacting with animals is a valuable way to re-immerse with the natural world, even in the midst of a disconnected existence.
As Seyfried’s chosen lifestyle reminds us, balance is imperative; separating her personal life from the stressful hub where she works, she has amassed an impressive oeuvre over the years and with plenty more to come. Next she will be starring alongside Sydney Sweeney in the movie adaptation of Frieda McFadden’s The Housemaid with a new show, Long Bright River, coming out next year.
“It was really hard character to crack and I got to explore a very specific neighborhood in Philly,” she reflects of her time on-set. “I love these kinds of stories because they’re so important for us as a society to explore through human experiences.”
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