
We all needed disgraced Harvey Weinstein, says Amanda Seyfried - as she admits stars ignored rumours because of his influence
The Mamma Mia! actress admitted 'we all needed' him, and told how she gave Weinstein a hug when he revealed to her he had backed one of her independent films.
In a Variety magazine talk with co-star Adam Brody, she recalled inviting the jailed movie mogul to a 2013 screening of Lovelace.
'He came and was like, 'I bought it'. I gave him the biggest hug.'
The star, 39, pictured with Weinstein, added: 'We all needed him to want our project. This was pre everyone admitting he was the way everybody knew he was... I had heard a few 'rumours'.'
Weinstein, 73, is serving 23 years for rape, and is on trial over more allegations.
Seyfried and Brody met 16 years ago on the set of the 2009 horror film Jennifer's Body. And now they are both working on hit series: hers is Long Bright River and his is Nobody Wants This.
During their chat, the 39-year-old Hollywood veteran brought up an outing with Brody where they tried a drug.
Seyfried started the conversation by saying, 'Did you play that video game Guitar Hero with us on the set of Jennifer's Body?'
Brody, 45, replied: 'No. But I think you had a rental car, and we drove to a beach.'
That is when Seyfried blurted out: 'Yep. We got high,' which Adam replied with: 'I don't remember that. I was too high to remember that.'
Seyfried then said: 'I don't know if I could do pot again. I think I'm allergic to it. I had some bad experiences. But I remember that being the most peaceful. That was probably the last time. I might have also gotten stoned with you at your house that I now own.'
Amanda then moved on to another topic.
She said that Adam 'has an effect on people' and is doing so well these days with his hit show.
He jumped in with the joke, 'I don't think it's pot-related.'
Seyfried shared, 'It's just that you make people feel at ease.'
Amanda had a surprising reaction when Adam asked her about her 2004 hit move Mean Girls with Lindsay Lohan and Rachel McAdams.
She was only 17-years-old when she made the film and had to have her mother live with her off set.
The star said she really loves 'seeing my face on people's T-shirts.'
But it brought back a bad feeling: 'I'm a little resentful because Paramount still owes me some money for the likeness.
'Every store sells Mean Girls T-shirts with our faces. Don't I [get something from that]?
'Even the girl at TSA tells me it's her favorite movie.'
Then there was a strange change in subject: 'Oh my God, remember when we did Lovelace, and I gave you a blow job?'
Lovelace is a 2013 biographical drama film centered on pornographic actress Linda Lovelace, star of Deep Throat, a landmark 1972 film.
Adam - who played Harry Reems in the movie - said, 'An iconic blow job. The deep throat — the titular deep throat. How do you feel about that movie now?'
She said she had a 'great experience' on that film and was happy that the film showed off her acting chops.
'I didn't care about the reception as much as just changing the idea people had of me in the business. It's just so easy to get pigeonholed,' she explained.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Times
29 minutes ago
- Times
The best luxury tennis brands to buy now
Tennis has long been associated with great fashion — look no further than the tennis whites on court or the stylish onlookers in the stands. Following Luca Guadagnino's tennis drama Challengers last year, 'tenniscore' also became a wider fashion movement. While the film was an ode to the sportsmanship behind the game with preppy tennis uniforms and sweat bands, it was lead actress Zendaya's red carpet looks — most notably a pair of tennis-ball embellished heels from Loewe and a neon-green halterneck gown from Celia Kritharioti — that were possibly the most compelling elements of the film. • This article contains affiliate links that can earn us revenue The good news is that you don't need to be qualifying for Wimbledon — or even picking up a tennis ball — to join in. This season, luxury labels like Gucci and Tory Sport are paying tribute to tennis with preppy polos and box-fresh white plimsolls, leaning into the 1970s athleisure heyday with matching sets and zip-up tracksuits that work both on and off the court. Keep scrolling to discover the luxury labels offering the best tennis and après-tennis looks of the summer. Tory Sport, the sportswear line by Tory Burch launched in 2015, came as no surprise to those close to the American designer — a lifelong tennis enthusiast who captained the varsity team at her all-girls' school, no less. Burch believed that in the sportswear space, many brands were failing to create feminine styles that weren't garish or over the top. Women didn't just want pink polos or diamante trainers. While all Tory Sport collections are created with the modern woman in mind, they nod back to the retro aesthetic with 1970s-inspired tracksuits and traditional pleated games skirts. The tennis ensembles may seem too pretty to sweat in, but they are technically crafted and include seam-sealing, reflective piping and wind and water proofing. It's old-school style meets new-age tech. £310, Tory Sport £175, Tory Sport Founded in 1933 by tennis player René Lacoste, the French sports company is deeply rooted in the racket sport. Known for its revolutionary tennis polo — a flexible, lightweight shirt crafted from 'petit piqué' cotton. The brand's first designs took inspiration from Lacoste's own experience on the court, as well as his nickname, the crocodile. This moniker led to the embroidered logo on the shirt that quickly became the brand's iconic emblem. Lacoste still specialises in tennis wear, while now also offering everything from golf attire and footwear to best-selling fragrances. You can expect a collection of crisp tennis whites, more traditional sweat-wicking vests, varsity-inspired quarter-zip sweatshirts, and all the sporty accessories you could ever need — including caps, sweatbands and ankle-high socks. Recently, Lacoste also collaborated with the French Open tennis tournament on a special Roland-Garros collection, creating fresh new designs in the classic white-and-green colorway as well as a vibrant pink and blue combination. £90, Lacoste £73.50, Lacoste Despite being a luxury brand with a focus on high-quality cashmere, Brunello Cucinelli has deep links to tennis. He started his career in fashion not as a designer but by modelling for the tennis and skiwear brand Ellesse in his early twenties. With first-hand experience of sportswear brands, the Italian designer brought a practical edge into a collection of luxury tennis clothing that includes a capacious leather racket bag, a chic ball-collecting pouch and logo-embroidered towels. Alongside the sporty accessories there are luxe grey tracksuits crafted from cotton piqué as well as a £1,750 tennis dress complete with Solomeo's coat of arms — an ode to the Italian hamlet where all the products are made. £810, Brunello Cucinelli at Net-a-Porter £1,113, Brunello Cucinelli at Farfetch Founded in 2013 by Jodhi Meares, The Upside started life as a yoga clothing brand, inspired by studios around the world — from NYC and Hawaii to Sydney. When travelling across the globe for her yoga practice, Meares saw a gap in the market for bright and bold sporty designs. She wanted to lead a revolution that made yoga clothes turn cool. Now thanks to her success, alongside the bestselling leggings and unitards, there's a whole 'court sports' section full of laidback lounge pants perfect for throwing on post tennis matches, as well as pleated tennis skirts with a vintage vibe and supportive sports bras for those more aggressive rallies. £150, The Upside at Mytheresa £130, The Upside at Mytheresa Gucci's long-established love affair with tennis — and the sophisticated tennis whites and duffel bags that go with it — dates back to the late 1970s. In fact, the brand is often credited as one of the first luxury houses to merge the worlds of fashion and sport with the creation of its Gucci Tennis sneaker in 1977. As a tribute to the sport and the brand's heritage, this summer sees the launch of a new collection called Gucci Tennis, featuring styles for both men and women has been released alongside a plethora of accessories. The collection has been put to the test by Gucci global ambassador and Italian professional tennis player, Jannik Sinner. It's got plenty of tennis whites, crisp polos, pretty pleats and the brand's emblematic web stripe throughout. £1,720, Gucci £1,350, Gucci While many luxury tennis clothing brands are mean to be worn on and around the courts, Casablanca — the label designed by French-Moroccan Charaf Tajer — takes sportswear-inspired silhouettes and reinvents them as luxury loungewear. In the place of lycra and netting you'll find the brand's summery terry cloth fabric. In lieu of running leggings expect silk separates, leisurewear-inspired silhouettes and crochet polos. There are still plenty of tennis whites on offer — they simply feel more relaxed. Think of it as chilled out country club vibes as opposed to the preppy world of Wimbledon. Tajer hopes the collection evokes the clay tennis courts and sunbaked terracotta of North Africa. £190, Casablanca at Harvey Nichols £170, Casablanca at Harvey Nichols Given that husband and wife Lara and Ben Mead met when training for the London Marathon, it's hardly surprising that they went on to launch an activewear line together. A holiday they took to Santa Monica inspired them to create Varley in 2014. The brand blends Californian ease and London style with a performance-led approach, however its new arrivals feel particularly fashion-forward with knitted overshirts and scoop neck dresses. Tennis devotees will be pleased to see the latest line — the Club Collection — which is an elevated take on court dressing featuring sporty skorts and sweat-wicking tanks as well as varsity cardigans and the brand's sweet A-line tennis dress. £105, Varley at Net-a-Porter £105, Varley at Net-a-Porter Despite the name, Alo Yoga isn't just for those who wish to take it low and slow on the mat. While the brand began in 2007 in Los Angeles to cater to the yogi boom of the Noughties, it was Alo Yoga's slinky running leggings that gained the most traction thanks to supermodels showing them off post-workout while grabbing a green juice in oversized shades. It didn't take long for the brand to become an athleisure status symbol. Alo Yoga's two signature fabrics include the lightweight airlift and sculpting airbrush which are both supportive and smoothing, and the brand's court sports section is a tribute to retro tennis styles with knitted jackets and sweater dresses fit for a Hampton's tennis club. £98, Alo Yoga at Net-a-Porter £120, Alo Yoga at Net-a-Porter Having grown up in Canada with a love of streetwear brands, Emily Oberg set up the athleisure brand Sporty & Rich when she moved to the US in 2015. With its vintage sportswear aesthetic that takes inspiration from the Sloane Rangers of the 1980s (think Princess Diana in an oversized sweatshirt and cycling shorts combo), the brand started life as an Instagram moodboard and has since become an off-duty uniform for the super elite — hence the name. The collection is both prim and proper with crisp white tennis skirts but also features baggy varsity hoodies that have that effortlessly cool 'borrowed from the boys' feel. After sporty collaborations with Prince, Lacoste and Adidas, this summer the brand has announced a new partnership with the Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc. Expect logo adorned swimsuits, preppy polos and timeless tennis separates. £170, Sporty & Rich at Net-a-Porter £138, Sporty & Rich at Net-a-Porter The Times Luxury is brought to you by the award-winning team behind the Times Luxx magazine. For nearly 20 years the Times Luxx experts have been curating an unrivalled selection of the best in fashion, jewellery, travel, tech, cars, design, food, drink and more. The same rigour and insider industry knowledge underpins The Times Luxury. All the products and experiences recommended are thoroughly researched and vetted by our team. If we love it, we know you will too.


Daily Mail
42 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Melinda Gates shares shock details about what happened 'outside' of her marriage to Bill that led to divorce
Melinda Gates is opening up about the emotional journey of ending her 27-year marriage to one of the world's most recognizable billionaires - revealing that despite the public spotlight and high stakes, the decision ultimately came from a deeply personal place. In a recent interview on the How to Fail with Elizabeth Day podcast, Gates spoke candidly about the moment she realized her marriage with Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates had come to an end. The two had been together for nearly three decades, building not only a family but one of the most powerful philanthropic foundations in the world. 'When that voice would come - and it would come at different times because of things that had happened outside the marriage that I would later come to learn about - I kept pushing it away,' Melinda said. She explained that she felt immense pressure to maintain the relationship, not just for herself but for their three children and their joint work at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Gates said she initially ignored her instincts for years, burying them under the weight of motherhood, global responsibility, and a shared legacy. 'We had a foundation and that was big and I believed in that work. 'I still believe in the work of the foundation,' she said. But eventually, she explained that her inner voice became too loud to silence. 'At some point I had to turn towards it, and I just knew it and I knew it in my soul,' Melinda said. She emphasized that the process of arriving at that decision was not quick or easy. 'I took marriage - and I still do - very, very seriously and it wasn't just two of us involved, it was five of us,' she said, referencing their children. The couple announced their divorce in 2021, stating that while they could no longer 'grow together as a couple,' they would continue working together on their philanthropic efforts. Shortly afterward, reports surfaced that Bill, now 69, had allegedly had an affair with a Microsoft employee years earlier, something that allegedly contributed to the erosion of trust in the marriage. Melinda has not confirmed the exact timeline of when she learned about the rumors, but she did tell CBS Mornings in 2022 that 'I certainly believe in forgiveness. 'So I thought we had worked through some of that.' She explained that stepping away from the marriage required serious introspection and solitude. 'I had to take time, quiet time with myself, time to ask myself, well, "Why am I staying? What would it be like if I left?"' she said. Bill Gates previously responded to allegations of an extramarital affair on the first anniversary of the joint announcement that he and Melinda were getting divorced. 'I certainly made mistakes, and I take responsibility,' he told Today when asked if he was ever unfaithful. 'The divorce is definitely a sad thing. I have responsibility for causing a lot of pain to my family. It was a tough year. I feel good that all of us are moving forward now.' Despite the pain, Gates said she still believes in love and partnership. 'It's two people who've come together, hopefully in love - and in my case I would definitely say that - so then the pulling it apart later is really hard,' she said. The former couple has continued to collaborate professionally since the divorce, most recently working on issues related to gender equality and global health. Still, Gates has carved out her own identity as a philanthropist and advocate, increasingly using her platform to speak on women's empowerment and reproductive rights. In her memoir The Moment of Lift: How Empowering Women Changes the World, she hinted at the emotional weight she carried for years in her marriage, writing that she often felt unheard and invisible in meetings and in her personal life. Now, Gates appears to be more attuned to her own voice - one she admits she ignored for too long. 'When you have an inner knowing... it is really important to listen to it and to follow it,' she said. While she acknowledged the pain of divorce, she also validated the experience of others going through it, regardless of the circumstances. 'It doesn't matter who it is,' she said. 'It's a very painful thing to go through.' With her children grown and her foundation work evolving, Gates continues to reflect on what it means to live a life guided not by obligation, but by authenticity.


The Independent
an hour ago
- The Independent
Scientists define six traits that make a person ‘cool' – and they transcend borders
People deemed 'cool' boast six surprisingly similar personality traits across cultures, according to a new study that hints at the role played by broadcast media in standardising the meaning of the term. While their cultures vary greatly, the definition of a cool person in Eastern and Western social circles seems to be identical, according to the study published in the Journal of Experimental Psychology. The study is based on psychology experiments conducted from 2018 to 2022 with about 6,000 adult participants from the US, Australia, Chile, China, Hong Kong, Germany, India, Mexico, Nigeria, Spain, South Africa, South Korea, and Turkey. Each participant was asked to think of someone they thought was 'cool', 'not cool', 'good', or 'not good', and then rate that person's personality and values. Using this data, researchers assessed how cool people differed from 'uncool' and 'good' people. 'Everyone wants to be cool, or at least avoid the stigma of being uncool, and society needs cool people because they challenge norms, inspire change, and advance culture,' study co-lead researcher Todd Pezzuti explained. 'The concept of coolness started in small, rebellious subcultures, including Black jazz musicians in the 1940s and the beatniks in the 1950s. As society moves faster and puts more value on creativity and change, cool people are more essential than ever.' In spite of cultural variations, cool people were universally perceived as being more extroverted, hedonistic, powerful, adventurous, open, and autonomous, researchers from the American Psychological Association found. In comparison, 'good' people were perceived as more conforming, traditional, secure, warm, agreeable, universalistic, conscientious, and calm. While there are some overlapping traits, researchers point out that being cool isn't necessarily considered 'good' in a moral sense. The growth of fashion, music and film industries globally has seen the meaning of cool 'crystallise on a similar set of values and traits around the globe', becoming 'more commercially friendly', the study noted. 'Coolness has definitely evolved over time but I don't think it has lost its edge. It's just become more functional,' Dr Pezzuti said. Researchers said their findings could help better understand the role played by 'coolness' in establishing social hierarchies and changing social and cultural practices and norms. 'The fact that cool people are seen as having a similar attribute profile around the world and that these attributes are distinctly cool rather than good in general makes a strong case that coolness is a meaningful construct that can help explain how people understand, order, and structure their social world,' they wrote. 'If coolness emerged as a status granted to those who inspire and facilitate cultural change, then perhaps we shouldn't be surprised that cool people, from San Francisco and Santiago to Sydney and Seoul, show traits that would make them more likely to question convention, innovate, and persuade others to change.'