Cinderella's 'Evil' Stepsisters Get a Sympathetic Spotlight in Netflix's Film 'Steps'
Amanda Seyfried is stepping into glass slippers — and honestly, the shoe fits perfectly.
Netflix announced on April 9 that the Emmy and Golden Globe winner will voice Cinderella in Steps, an upcoming animated feature that flips the classic fairy tale on its head.
Fresh off her starring role in The Housemaid (2025) and The Testament of Ann Lee (2025), Seyfried joins a voice cast that reads like a who’s who of Hollywood talent, including Ali Wong, Stephanie Hsu and producer Amy Poehler.
If you’re keeping tabs on Netflix’s push into animated features, this one just became appointment viewing.
A Voice Cast Stacked With Star Power
The casting announcements alone are enough to fuel a week’s worth of entertainment discourse. Wong, one of the most dynamic comedic voices working today, will voice Lilith, one of Cinderella’s so-called “evil” stepsisters.
Hsu, who broke out in a massive way as a versatile performer, rounds out the stepsister duo as Margot.
With Seyfried anchoring the cast as Cinderella herself, Steps boasts a trio of leading women who each bring serious range and star wattage to the project.
What ‘Steps’ Is Actually About
This isn’t the Cinderella story you grew up watching. That’s because Steps centers on Cinderella’s stepsisters, Lilith and Margot, reimagining them as far more than one-dimensional villains.
The premise follows misunderstood Lilith, who is blamed for hijacking the Royal Ball with a stolen magic wand. Things spiral further when Lilith accidentally turns her sister Margot into a frog, leaving the kingdom in the hands of a “prince-obsessed mean girl.”
To save the day, Lilith must team up with Cinderella — and a “surprisingly dreamy troll” — to save the kingdom, repair the fractured fairy tale and prove that even so-called villains deserve a happily ever after.
The Directors and Producers Behind the Magic
The creative team behind Steps carries serious credentials.
Director Alyce Tzue is a Student Academy Awards gold medal winner, and co-director John Ripa is known for Raya and the Last Dragon. Amy Poehler, Jane Hartwell and Kim Lessing are producing.
Tzue had nothing but praise for Seyfried’s approach to the iconic role.
“Amanda has this incredible ability to make her characters specific and relatable, and we absolutely needed that when taking on a character that’s as legendary as Cinderella,” Tzue told Netflix.
“We wanted to create a modern heroine complete with flaws and coping mechanisms, and Amanda immediately understood the task. Her portrayal of Cinderella is hilarious and heartbreaking and, most importantly, refreshingly human,” Tzue added.
Ripa echoed that enthusiasm.
“Amanda has been an absolute joy to work with,” said Ripa. “She brings a level of experience and passion that inspires us to dig even deeper into the character.”
“Her process of honing in on emotions, the control she has over her voice — it all comes together to give Cinderella a depth and humor we could’ve never imagined,” he added.
Why This Casting Is a Big Deal
Seyfried has been on an undeniable hot streak. Best known for Mean Girls (2004), Mamma Mia! (2008) and Les Misérables (2012), she won an Emmy and a Golden Globe for her portrayal of Elizabeth Holmes in The Dropout (2022).
With The Housemaid and The Testament of Ann Lee both arriving in 2025, her momentum shows no signs of slowing.
Landing the voice of Cinderella in a project with this caliber of talent — Wong, Hsu, Poehler and directors with Academy Award connections — only reinforces Seyfried’s status as one of Hollywood’s most versatile performers.
For fans tracking her career and Netflix’s animated ambitions, Steps is one to watch closely.
This article was created by content specialists using various tools, including AI.
