Amanda Seyfried revealed that she had more of an opportunity to "play" around with her character in The Housemaid compared to her costars Sydney Sweeney and Brandon Sklenar. "I actually felt bad for Sydney and Brandon," Seyfried, 40, shared in an interview with Vogue published on Thursday, January 8. "When I get to play, and they can't. They couldn't play. Well, Sydney feasts a little bit at the end. But I feast the whole time." The Housemaid, based on the 2022 novel of the same name by Freida McFadden, follows a young woman named Millie (Sweeney) with a troubled past who becomes the live-in housekeeper for wealthy couple Nina and Andrew (Seyfried and Sklenar). Millie soon discovers that the household hides dark secrets. Seyfried noted that working on The Housemaid - which was directed by Paul Feig - was "like capturing lightning in a bottle." Sydney Sweeney and Amanda Seyfried Stun at NYC 'The Housemaid' Premiere "Amanda turns a note that could be marginal into something that changes her whole performance," Feig, 63, told the outlet. "If you push Nina too far, she becomes a cartoon. In any lesser actor's hands, she could be a sketch - but Amanda turns her into a three-dimensional character." After the film's release in December 2025, Lionsgate confirmed on Tuesday, January 6, that the studio would be making a sequel. Amanda Seyfried and Sydney Sweeney in 'The Housemaid' (C) Lionsgate / Courtesy Everett Collection "It's been thrilling to see audiences around the world fall in love with The Housemaid and the incredible work of our talented cast and crew," Feig said in a press release at the time. "We're lucky that Freida McFadden has already extended Millie's journey on the page, and that we get to work with Rebecca Sonnenshine and Lionsgate to bring this next story to audiences." While working on The Housemaid, Seyfried got especially close to Sweeney, 28. "We related over people experiences," Seyfried explained to People in December 2025. "I also probably give way too much unsolicited advice ... I knew [Sweeney] appreciated it, but I was also like, 'Take it with a grain of salt!'" Sydney Sweeney Reflects on Playing a Morally Questionable Character In a separate interview, Seyfried explained that she feels "protective" over Sweeney as her younger costar has dealt with some negative attention in the press. "She's got it so much harder than I ever did - not even close," she said in an interview with Who What Wear in December 2025. "She's got a spotlight on her that I never had, never wanted. I can't help but feel somewhat protective of her, though she doesn't need my protection." The Mamma Mia! actress went on to say that Sweeney is "gonna continue to make choices in her career that [she] thinks will define, or at least solidify, her as an actual actress." "People are too distracted by all the other s*** that is created around her," Seyfried said. Sweeney faced criticism in July 2025 when she starred in an American Eagle campaign that featured the double entendre tagline "Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans." The ad sparked a debate about race and beauty standards due to its play on the word "genes." Sydney Sweeney Fangirls Over Costar Amanda Seyfried and 'Mamma Mia!' Following the backlash, Sweeney said she "was honestly surprised by the reaction." "I did it because I love the jeans and love the brand," the Euphoria actress said in an interview with People in December 2025. "I don't support the views some people chose to connect to the campaign. Many have assigned motives and labels to me that just aren't true." Sweeney explained that "anyone who knows" her is aware that she's "always trying to bring people together" and is "against hate and divisiveness." "In the past, my stance has been to never respond to negative or positive press, but recently, I have come to realize that my silence regarding this issue has only widened the divide, not closed it," she said. "I hope this new year brings more focus on what connects us instead of what divides us."