Amanda Seyfried has publicly discussed her involvement in the documentary You Can See Everything, including a contentious dinner scene with Billy Evans, partner of Elizabeth Holmes. Seyfried, who portrayed Holmes in the Hulu series The Dropout, participated in reenactments and interviews for the film, which documents Holmes’ life ahead of her prison sentence.
In an interview with Rolling Stone published Wednesday, Seyfried described the dinner as an intense confrontation with Evans, escalating from prior tensions. She stated that Evans became ‘aggressive’ during the exchange, which included a debate over comments Seyfried had made about conservative commentator Charlie Kirk.
Seyfried said the moment was ‘as intense as it’s portrayed onscreen’, with Evans challenging her acting and criticizing her remarks. She recounted that Evans’ behavior led to an unplanned escalation, saying, ‘There was no reason for him to get that aggressive.’ The actress also noted that she had ‘negative feelings’ toward Evans prior to the dinner, which worsened after meeting him.
The documentary, directed by Nathan Fielder and Lance Oppenheim, includes Seyfried’s interactions with Evans in Evans’ home while Holmes was incarcerated. Seyfried described the scene as surreal, noting that Holmes called the home during the dinner and that Seyfried was holding Evans’ children and petting his dog while Holmes remained in prison.
Seyfried confirmed she participated in the project without consulting her agent or lawyer and had no creative control over her involvement. Despite the controversy, she expressed no regrets, calling the experience ‘the time of [her] life.’ The documentary has generated significant attention, with Seyfried’s performance drawing Oscar speculation.
You Can See Everything is a three-hour documentary that follows Fielder and Oppenheim as they document Holmes’ life in the final days before her imprisonment. The film has been described as ‘surreal’ and ‘brain-melting’, with critics noting its unconventional approach to the Theranos saga. The documentary’s release has sparked widespread discussion, including reactions from figures such as Lena Dunham and Theranos whistleblower Tyler Shulz.
Documentary Background
The documentary was filmed over a month, granting Fielder and Oppenheim unrestricted access to Holmes’ home. The project’s trailer, released weeks before the film’s debut, went viral for its parody of Holmes’ mannerisms. Critics have praised the film’s ‘exquisite obsession’ with Holmes’ enigmatic persona, despite her legal troubles.
Holmes, founder of the failed blood-testing company Theranos, is serving an 11-year prison sentence for fraud. The documentary’s title, You Can See Everything, references a line from Holmes’ infamous 2018 interview with The Wall Street Journal journalist John Carreyrou, who exposed the fraud at Theranos.
Seyfried’s Role in the Project
Seyfried’s participation began when her friend Emma Stone connected her with Fielder, who asked her to review interview footage of Holmes. Her involvement expanded to include reenactments of Holmes and accompanying Fielder to Evans’ home. Seyfried has stated that her interactions with Evans were ‘real’, including the phone call from Holmes, which she confirmed was authentic.
The actress has also addressed speculation about her motivations, emphasizing that she had no prior relationship with Evans and that her reactions were spontaneous. She described the dinner as a ‘climactic and surreal moment’ in the documentary, highlighting the stark contrast between Holmes’ incarceration and the domestic setting of the meal.