Amanda Seyfried learned to play a Joni Mitchell record

Amanda Seyfried revealed an intense backstory linked to her career: for years she was in the running to play the music icon Joni Mitchell in a biopic. To prepare for the role, the actress even learned to play the entire, historic album “Blue“.

The actress has long been a fan-favorite candidate for the role, an enthusiasm also fueled by her viral cover of the song “California“performed last year on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.

Seyfried was cast in the role several years ago. The film should have focused on the bond between the singer-songwriter and her historic manager, Elliot Robertswho the actress managed to meet shortly before her disappearance. During preparation, the star visited Joni Mitchell directly at her home, a moment he recalled in an interview with “GQ”: “She said to me: ‘Let’s put the album on and light the fire,'” the actress said. “After listening to the album, he said, ‘It’s essential, right?’” Pretending to faint with emotion, the actress replied: “It’s perfect!”.

During the pandemic, the actress used the period of isolation to completely immerse herself in the role, learning to play the dulcimer (Mitchell’s signature stringed instrument). He studied every single trace of “Blue“and after learning the last one, “(The Last Time I Saw) Richard”, he “cried his eyes out”.

I felt like a real musician, like I belonged here. I felt like I had planted my flag at the top of the mountain. Because it really was a mountain, I assure you!

Despite the enormous dedication, that biopic was definitively shelved. Subsequently, director Cameron Crowe announced his own separate project about the life of Joni Mitchell. Many industry insiders and fans insisted that Crowe cast Seyfried, and the actress commented on the reaction of the environment as follows: “Apparently a lot of people have contacted Cameron Crowe and said: ‘What the hell are you doing?’. I don’t know what he replied, but from what I know, his version is that she (Joni Mitchell) in the film is first very young and then older.”