Actress Amanda Seyfried wants to see more moms involved in politics.
The "Mamma Mia!" star joined Vote Mama, the first PAC in the country dedicated to building the political power of Democratic moms, at a campaign event on Sept. 25.
"I feel like we learn so much about ourselves and about the world" through motherhood, Seyfried told USA TODAY in an exclusive interview at the "Moms Night Out" event, held at a taproom in Manhattan. "The perspective of a mom is a very important one."
Attendees participated in trivia games and heard from Vote Mama founder Liuba Grechen Shirley and other political moms including North Carolina Sen. Woodson Bradley and Florida
Rep. Angie Nixon.
Seyfried hasn't been shy about getting involved in politics in the past. In September 2025 she came under fire for calling Charlie Kirk "hateful" in an Instagram comment following his fatal shooting. She later doubled down, telling Who What Wear, "I'm not (expletive) apologizing for that." She told USA TODAY that while many people in her industry don't want to talk about politics, she can't help it.
"I have to talk about politics," she said. "Because we can't just pretend that we're not being not only misunderstood, but mistreated, as women."
When it comes to getting more moms in office, she said, it's about representation.
"The advocacy isn't there for women and families as much as it should be in the government, in the country," she said. "We're failing so many people."
Amanda Seyfried on juggling work, motherhood and coparenting
Seyfried told USA TODAY that she always wanted to be a mother, but was still surprised when she became a mom herself. Her first child with Thomas Sadoski was not planned, she said.
Seyfried said her mother moved in with her to help raise her children, a luxury that she knows not everyone has. And while news of her split with Sadoski surfaced earlier this year, she said coparenting has been going well and she and her ex are still close.
"He and I share the same feelings about what it means to be family," she said.
Still, Seyfried said, juggling motherhood, work and her other passions isn't easy. Above all, she said, "my kids come first."
"As a mom who loves to work, who loves being an artist and who loves supporting women, do I find it hard to be here and there and everywhere at once? For sure," she said. "Do I miss my kids tonight? Yes, of course I do."
At the end of a long week, Seyfried said she winds down by spending time with her kids and crocheting. Her current project? Purses.
"I would crochet anything," she said. "I put my son to bed, and then I just sit there until I'm ready to go to bed. And I catch up on audiobooks and I crochet."
Madeline Mitchell's role covering women and the caregiving economy at USA TODAY is supported by a partnership with Pivotal and Journalism Funding Partners. Funders do not provide editorial input.
Reach Madeline at memitchell@usatoday.com and @maddiemitch_ on X.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Amanda Seyfried talks motherhood, politics and her surprising hobby | Exclusive
