'The Dropout' stars Amanda Seyfried and Naveen Andrews talk Elizabeth Holmes, the trial and more
"The Dropout" stars Amanda Seyfried and Naveen Andrews are opening up on what it was like filming their limited series based on Elizabeth Holmes' story as the Theranos founder's trial was unfolding.
The Dropout
Money. Romance. Tragedy. Deception. "The Dropout" is the story of Elizabeth Holmes (Amanda Seyfried) and Theranos, an unbelievable tale of ambition and fame gone terribly wrong.
In the new Hulu series, based on ABC News correspondent Rebecca Jarvis' award-winning podcast about the rise and fall of Holmes, Seyfried portrays Holmes, who was found guilty on four counts of fraud in January.
The actress said so many people are interested in Holmes' story because "she had a brilliant idea and she believed in it."
"Her intentions, for all intents and purposes, seemed really pure, and she got a lot of people behind her and she was so charismatic and just passionate," Seyfried said during an appearance on "Good Morning America" Thursday. "And just how can you not want to believe in something that could change the world, health care, as we know it?"
Andrews, who plays Ramesh "Sunny" Balwani, Holmes' ex-boyfriend and former company COO, said it was a "unique situation" to be in -- working on the series while simultaneously monitoring updates on the trial.
"Events were happening in real-time as we were shooting," he explained. "So we'd be shooting a scene and then running over to find out what transpired in the trial."
When asked if they had any hesitations about the series because they were filming before the verdict was reached, Seyfried emphasized her trust in the show's creator, Elizabeth Meriwether.
"I was never too concerned with us being on the wrong path because of all the research and Liz Meriwether at the helm," she said. "I think we were very, very responsible."
"This is our version of the story, and then real life is happening," she continued. "And you're like -- you want to be involved but you don't want to be too involved because you want to be able to serve the story."
Added Andrews: "You're risking a lot, you take a gamble early on, which we did. And because of the texts that came out during the trial, which Liz incorporated into the script, there was almost a collective sigh of relief, we thought, ah, we might be in the right ballpark in terms of the decisions we made."
The duo said they have never met Holmes nor Balwani but both agreed they became "emotionally involved" in their characters while working on the series.
Seyfried, who many believe bears an uncanny resemblance to Holmes in the series with her signature black turtleneck and low voice, also spoke about her enthusiasm in taking on this role.
"Playing a person who exists, being able to absorb the footage and mimic somebody and try to embody somebody that actually -- there's a template out there, is very exciting," she said. "I hate to say that because it's a real person with real consequences and a real life -- and I wish her well -- I just, as an actor, very specifically, it was thrilling."
She said she feels the show portrays another side of Holmes that many aren't familiar with yet.
"We all wanted to put context -- these are real human beings," she said. "They're as complicated as anybody and let's look at the other side of things. It's just all from one angle until now."
The first three episodes of "The Dropout" are available to stream on Hulu now.
