Amanda Seyfried’s Secret Role in 'You Can See Everything' Could Make Oscar

The release of You Can See Everything has ignited intense debate regarding whether its central surprise could secure a historic first: an Academy Award nomination for acting in a documentary. Directed by Lance Oppenheim and Nathan Fielder, the three-hour film premiered at the Telluride Film Festival before generating significant buzz at the New York Film Festival. The documentary chronicles 34 days spent with Elizabeth Holmes and her partner Billy Evans prior to Holmes’ imprisonment for defrauding Theranos investors of hundreds of millions of dollars, as stated by the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Seyfried’s Unprecedented Documentary Performance

The film’s second half unfolds two years after Holmes enters federal prison, leaving Fielder without access to his primary subject. To address this narrative gap, Fielder recruited Amanda Seyfried, who previously won an Emmy for portraying Holmes in Hulu’s The Dropout. Seyfried joins the production to reenact private moments between Fielder and Holmes that were never captured on camera. Her involvement extends beyond simple recreation; she becomes deeply invested in investigating Evans’ influence over Holmes.

In one pivotal sequence, Seyfried observes footage of Fielder watching The Dropout with Holmes and Evans. This leads to a heated dinner argument involving Fielder, Seyfried, and Evans, where the discussion turns to Evans’ treatment of Holmes, his MAGA affiliations, and his connection to Charlie Kirk. During this confrontation, Evans is positioned as the film’s antagonist while Seyfried emerges as an unlikely protagonist attempting to liberate Holmes from his control, noting that Evans holds power of attorney over her.

Eligibility Rules and Awards Season Implications

The core question remains whether Seyfried can be nominated for Best Supporting Actress given the documentary format. Vulture reported that while she is ineligible for the SAG Actor Award, she technically qualifies for the Oscars. The Ringer’s Big Picture podcast found no explicit rules excluding her from contention. Typically, documentary subjects are not considered for performance awards because they are not performing but rather existing on camera. However, Seyfried’s work blurs these lines.

Seyfried delivers compelling reenactments that arguably surpass her Emmy-winning portrayal in The Dropout. Simultaneously, she appears as herself during the dinner scene, raising philosophical questions about whether her authentic reactions constitute a performance. Cross-cutting between Fielder discussing Holmes and Seyfried embodying her highlights the actor’s range. As Holmes, she presents a figure who is open yet inscrutable, often reworking lines when Fielder cannot recall the exact phrasing used by the real Holmes.

If a nomination occurs, it would mark a groundbreaking shift in awards season standards. Industry prognosticators currently place Seyfried alongside frontrunners Anne Hathaway (The Odyssey), Penélope Cruz (The Invite and/or La Bola Negra), and Sandra Hüller (Project Hail Mary) in the supporting actress category. While a Best Picture nod for the documentary itself would be historically significant, the potential for an acting nomination based on a non-fiction film represents a more radical departure from precedent.