Amanda Seyfried: “I Became Really Obsessed with Ghost Stories”

Actress Amanda Seyfried recently opened up about how her childhood fascination with ghost stories shaped her imagination and creative path. During interviews promoting her voice role as Daphne in the animated movie Scoob!, Seyfried reflected on her deep love for spooky tales as a young girl.

Childhood Fascination

Seyfried shared that she became “really obsessed with ghost stories” when she was growing up. Rather than finding them scary, she explained that they actually made her feel comfortable and safe. She loved diving into eerie tales, where the unknown could be explored through the eyes of brave characters.

She especially loved the classic mystery-solving crew from Scooby-Doo. Watching the cartoon as a child, Amanda found that the Scooby gang’s adventures helped make the scary fun and exciting — not something to be feared. The characters, and the humor mixed with spooky elements, allowed her imagination to run wild.

Connection to “Scoob!”

When Amanda landed the role of Daphne in Scoob!, she felt an immediate personal connection to the story. The experience brought her back to those childhood feelings of wonder. Working on the movie, she described how excited she was to be part of something that mirrored the ghost stories and mysteries she adored growing up.

In her words, “It was an opportunity to let my imagination go wild, and the Scooby-Doo group really made me feel like it was exciting and safe to do so along with them. I watched it all the time.”

Amanda also mentioned how fun it was to revisit those nostalgic feelings through the film — this time as an adult and a mother. Now she could share the excitement of Scooby-Doo’s world with her own young daughter.

Imagination & Creativity

Seyfried’s love of spooky stories wasn’t just entertainment — it helped shape her creative side. As an actress, she’s known for choosing diverse roles, from musicals like Mamma Mia! to dark thrillers like Things Heard & Seen. Her ability to bring depth and imagination to her performances may have roots in those early experiences with the supernatural.

Her story highlights how engaging with ghost stories as a child can inspire creativity, offering a safe way to explore fear, adventure, and curiosity.