Amanda Seyfried has never shied away from complex roles, but her performance as Nina in The Housemaid might be one of the most layered and daring of her career. Based on the bestselling novel by Freida McFadden, the psychological thriller offers Seyfried the opportunity to play a character who feels completely unpredictable—bordering on unhinged—while secretly orchestrating something far more calculated beneath the surface.
Onscreen, Nina appears to be a wealthy wife and mother living in a pristine home with her husband Andrew and their daughter. She hires Millie, a young woman desperate for a fresh start, to work as a live-in housemaid. At first glance, the job seems too good to be true—and it is. As Millie settles into the household, Nina’s behavior begins to shift from eccentric to alarming, making Millie—and the audience—wonder whether she is safe.
Yet The Housemaid thrives on deception. What looks like madness slowly reveals itself as something much more deliberate, and Seyfried’s performance is the glue that holds these twists together.
A Character Built on Misdirection
Nina is written as someone who keeps viewers constantly guessing. One moment she’s charming and composed, the next she’s erratic, demanding, and emotionally volatile. Seyfried describes the role as allowing her to lean fully into unpredictability—playing someone who might seem “bats—” at face value but is actually performing for survival.
As the story unfolds, it becomes clear that Millie was never in danger from Nina. Instead, Nina is fully aware of Millie’s dark past: years earlier, Millie killed a man who attempted to assault one of her classmates. Nina hires her with a secret hope—that Millie will fall for Andrew, Nina’s abusive husband, and eventually eliminate him. Nina’s erratic behavior is a carefully crafted distraction, giving her and her daughter a chance to escape Andrew’s control.
This revelation reframes every scene that came before it. Nina’s instability is not real—it’s strategy.
Acting Within an Act
For Seyfried, the challenge wasn’t just playing someone unstable—it was playing someone pretending to be unstable. The role demanded what she describes as a “performance within a performance,” requiring her to fully commit to Nina’s emotional reality in each moment, even when it contradicted previous scenes.
Rather than mapping out the character’s manipulation step by step, Seyfried approached Nina as someone who genuinely believes whatever she’s doing in the present moment. That mindset allowed her to keep Nina grounded and believable, despite the increasingly outrageous behavior.
By focusing on truth rather than calculation, Seyfried ensured that the eventual twist felt earned instead of gimmicky. Once the audience learns what Nina has been doing all along, her actions suddenly click into place—and her performance gains an entirely new dimension.
Balancing Horror and Dark Humor
One of the film’s most effective elements is its uneasy sense of humor. Before the third-act reveal, Nina’s behavior often teeters on the edge between frightening and absurd. Viewers may find themselves laughing—and immediately questioning whether they should be.
That discomfort is intentional. Seyfried embraced those moments, understanding that laughter could act as a pressure valve before the story takes a darker turn. The contrast between humor and menace keeps the audience off balance, mirroring Millie’s experience inside the house.
The film’s director encouraged this tonal experimentation, giving Seyfried space to push Nina’s unpredictability as far as it would go. The result is a first half that feels almost playful, only to turn deeply unsettling once the truth emerges.
Improvisation and On-Set Surprises
Many of Nina’s most memorable moments came from improvisation. Seyfried and the director frequently experimented on set, changing line delivery, physical movements, or emotional beats without warning. These choices weren’t always shared with Sydney Sweeney beforehand—by design.
Because Nina is supposed to be impossible to read, surprising Sweeney in real time helped generate authentic reactions. Scenes were filmed repeatedly, but whenever an opportunity arose to catch the other actor off guard, Seyfried leaned into it.
Those spontaneous moments created a sense of danger and instability that no amount of rehearsal could replicate. For both actors, it kept the performances fresh and emotionally charged.
Sydney Sweeney as the Audience’s Eyes
While Seyfried’s Nina controls the chaos, Sydney Sweeney’s Millie serves as the audience’s emotional anchor. Millie enters the house hopeful and cautious, slowly realizing that something is deeply wrong. As secrets unfold, Millie learns the truth at the same pace as the viewer.
For Sweeney, this role was a refreshing change. Known for playing intense, emotionally volatile characters, she enjoyed stepping into a more observational role—watching rather than unraveling.
Sweeney has spoken openly about being a longtime admirer of Seyfried, even memorizing Mamma Mia! songs growing up. Acting opposite her idol, especially in such an unrestrained performance, was both inspiring and surreal. Watching Seyfried reinvent Nina in every take gave Sweeney something new to respond to each time, making their dynamic feel electric and unpredictable.
A Supporting Cast That Elevates the Tension
Beyond Seyfried and Sweeney, The Housemaid features a strong supporting cast that deepens the story’s emotional stakes. Brandon Sklenar’s portrayal of Andrew is chillingly restrained, making his cruelty all the more disturbing. Michele Morrone, Elizabeth Perkins, Indiana Elle, and others add texture to the world surrounding the central trio.
Together, the cast transforms a familiar thriller setup into something sharper and more psychologically complex—where perception is everything, and no one is quite who they seem.
Why The Housemaid Works
At its core, The Housemaid succeeds because it respects its audience. It trusts viewers to sit with discomfort, question their assumptions, and reconsider everything they thought they understood. Amanda Seyfried’s fearless performance is central to that experience, turning Nina into a character who is both terrifying and deeply sympathetic.
By the time the final pieces fall into place, Nina is revealed not as a villain—but as a survivor using performance as her weapon. It’s a bold narrative choice, and Seyfried commits to it fully, delivering a performance that lingers long after the credits roll.
The Housemaid is now playing in theaters, offering audiences a twisted, tension-filled ride anchored by two powerhouse performances.