Amanda Seyfried Reveals Why Playing Karen Smith Again Was ‘Harder’ Than She Expected

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Although a sequel for the movie “Mean Girls” appears unlikely, fans still got a taste of revisiting their favorite characters through Walmart. Lindsay Lohan and others reprised their roles in a series of ads that contained numerous “grool” references. Amanda Seyfried, who portrayed Karen Smith, returned and did justice to the ditzy yet endearing character. However, Seyfried confessed that playing Karen again proved more challenging than she anticipated, and her explanation is logical.

In Mark Waters’ 2004 film (available on Paramount+), a character from the popular group, the Plastics, was labeled as the “dumbest girl you’ll ever meet.” However, she managed to secure the role of the school’s weather girl because of her unique ability, often referred to as her “fifth sense,” which allowed her to predict rain by using her breasts. Interestingly, it appears that in recent Walmart ads, this character continues to utilize her meteorology skills for legitimate weather forecasting purposes. In a GQ video interview, actress Amanda Seyfried discusses her decision to reprise the role as a “mind-bending” experience. This role is considered one of her best and she feels comfortable portraying it still.

Re-embodying Karen after such a long time had been something I’ve eagerly anticipated and yet found a bit perplexing. You see, I feel like she resides within me in numerous aspects, as I portrayed a version of her during my high school years to avoid unnecessary conflicts. However, this time, it seemed slightly more challenging to tap into the character.

It’s intriguing to learn that the Emmy-winning actress confessed to portraying a character similar to Karen in high school for self-preservation. Though it appears her strategy was effective, it’s regrettable that such tactics were necessary. Given this background, I can empathize with the challenges she faced reprising the role. Additionally, she encountered a burden she hadn’t dealt with as much when filming the original production – a pressure that added to her struggle.

The overall intensity of the commercial was quite significant. We were peddling goods, which was somewhat unusual yet entertaining. Interestingly, it revolved heavily around characters from Mean Girls and their adult counterparts, the Plastics. However, when it came to deciding about Karen in her late 30s, I found it a bit challenging. One would assume it’d be straightforward, thinking she’d remain unchanged. Yet, for some reason, I found it slightly more difficult to connect with her. It wasn’t confusing or complex, but it was just a touch peculiar, that’s all.

As a movie lover myself, I must say that what they did makes perfect sense from a marketing perspective. Actors indeed have to promote a film when doing press, but here, Amanda Seyfried, Lacey Chabert, and Lindsay Lohan were essentially endorsing products. It might have felt a bit awkward, yet the ads, especially with those memorable “Mean Girls” lines, were hard to ignore.

What made it even more appealing was the sneak peek into the lives of our beloved characters – Cady, Gretchen, Damien, and Kevin, not forgetting Karen. And for that, I’m grateful! If you haven’t seen it yet, take a look at the special Walmart ad featuring Karen below:

Despite the challenge of resurrecting Karen, there’s no denying that Amanda Seyfried pulled it off impressively. Given my admiration for her work, such praise would undoubtedly bring joy to the actress. She herself expressed similar sentiments by saying:

Additionally, it’s crucial to keep in mind our duty to present it to the audience as well, since we’re crafting this for them. We have a limited time to produce something that many will witness, and the process was more challenging than anticipated. However, I look forward to portraying Karen again in the near future.

Although Amanda Seyfried admits facing career obstacles from portraying Karen, I’m eager for another chance to see her in that role on the big screen. If not, I’d happily watch her embody a character with similar traits in some form of production. Seyfried demonstrates a knack for comedy, and it would be delightful to witness her hilarious charm on stage again.

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Until then, I’m quite satisfied with Karen’s comeback via the charming Walmart commercials. Bravo to Amanda Seyfried for successfully embodying the character in a manner that not only resonated with her original depiction but also added a new dimension. In the meantime, you can find me patiently anticipating the announcement of a Karen Smith spin-off film.

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2025-03-23 00:07