Amanda Seyfried has once again stepped into the shoes of Elizabeth Holmes for the newly released documentary, *You Can See Everything*, directed by Nathan Fielder and Lance Oppenheim. This noteworthy appearance comes four years after Seyfried portrayed the scandal-ridden Theranos founder in the critically acclaimed Hulu miniseries, *The Dropout*.
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Seyfried, 40, made waves with her unannounced role when the documentary premiered on 16 October. The film captures Holmes during a pivotal period in her life—specifically, the final 34 days she spent at home prior to commencing an 11-year prison sentence following her conviction for fraud. This project marks Holmes’s first foray into film since her legal troubles, as she has previously refrained from engaging with media.
In a cinematic twist, *You Can See Everything* chronicles Holmes’s life as she invites a documentary crew to capture her daily experiences while she awaits her fate. The synopsis tantalisingly states: “Thirty-four days before she’s sent to prison, notorious Silicon Valley founder Elizabeth Holmes invites a skeptical film crew to document her every move.” Seyfried’s role emerges in the latter part of the film, adding depth and complexity as she reflects on Holmes’s life from her own perspective as an actress.
Unexpectedly, Seyfried’s involvement became official when she and Fielder reviewed initial footage of Holmes. The emotional weight of the scenes prompted Seyfried to express a desire to return to the character. As Fielder navigates the constraints surrounding filming Holmes post-conviction, he devises a plan to have Seyfried reenact key conversations and phone calls that transpired between him and Holmes.
The dynamics between Seyfried and Holmes’s partner, Billy Evans, create a compelling narrative thread. During a staged dinner designed to probe Evans’s influence over Holmes, the atmosphere shifts from cordial to confrontational. Seyfried is vocal in her concerns over Evans’s perceived control of Holmes’s life, asserting that he was managing her social media accounts without her consent. This confrontation exposes the complexities of Holmes’s relationships, blending emotional intensity with underlying tension.
The documentary culminates in a poignant exploration of Fielder’s final interaction with Holmes in prison, as Seyfried captures these moments through her performance. In their discussion, Seyfried challenges Fielder to confront his own biases, revealing an intriguing dynamic between the documentarian and his subject.
*You Can See Everything* had its initial premiere at the Telluride Film Festival in early September 2023, where it garnered immediate attention and critical praise. A gripping teaser trailer released shortly thereafter featured Holmes questioning Fielder’s motives, exclaiming, “Why would I deceive you?” The trailer, which quickly went viral, portrays Holmes as a figure shrouded in contradiction, asserting that she is not the deceptive person some may believe her to be.
The film’s full promotional campaign provided intriguing insights into Holmes’s life post-scandal, including glimpses of her engagement to Evans and their two children, William and Invicta. Seyfried’s portrayal, which earned her an Emmy and a Golden Globe for *The Dropout*, evokes a sense of familiarity while simultaneously exposing new layers to Holmes’s character.
In a recent appearance at the Academy Museum’s sixth annual gala in Los Angeles, Seyfried was quoted navigating questions about her potential future interactions with Holmes upon her release. Commenting on the matter, she stated, “I don’t — life is long,” suggesting that the complexities of life should be respected, regardless of Holmes’s future.
As *You Can See Everything* makes its way into theatres, audiences are invited to witness this complex narrative surrounding one of Silicon Valley’s most notorious figures through Seyfried’s evocative performance and the careful lens of documentary filmmaking. The film presents an exploration of identity, ambition, and the profound consequences of deception, leaving viewers to ponder the intricacies of Holmes’s enigmatic character.