阿曼达·塞弗里德饰演安·李

Amanda Seyfried had never heard of Ann Lee — the 18th-century Mancunian religious reformer — when director Mona Fastvold first approached her. “The fact Ann was almost eliminated from history is scary,” Seyfried tells Empire. “She fought for equality between all people, she stabilised an entire community. Her kindness and curiosity were incredible.” A visionary whose followers believed her to be the female incarnation of God, Lee founded the ‘Shaker’ sect (named for the ecstatic ‘dances’ they performed), and was persecuted for blasphemy. “Mona had an encyclopedia of quotes, testimonies and drawings that I dug into,” says Seyfried. “It seemed insane she wasn’t a household name.” …