Mandy Moore says going brunette was "transformative" in how people perceived her.
Mandy Moore
The 32-year-old actress thinks there was a "real significance" in her ditching her blonde locks before she starred in 2002's 'A Walk to Remember' as it allowed people to see her as an actress as well as a singer.
She said: "Well I was blonde then and, for the most part, haven't gone back since. It was transformative because it came at a time in my life when I was only seen from the pop music landscape and through that lens. There was a real significance to colouring my hair.
"As silly as it sounds, there was a real significance in the way that people saw me, but also in the way that I carried myself and that I saw myself. It was the last little piece of the puzzle I think in terms of getting into the character."
Her 'A Walk to Remember' co-star Shane West remembers Mandy being "very nervous" about changing her hair colour.
In a joint interview, he added: "I remember that Mandy was very nervous about dying her hair. It's amazing how it really changed her life - well the movie changed all of our lives - but hers especially, aesthetically. She kind of went with that look after that - she didn't go back to the platinum blonde."
And Mandy was glad she didn't have to wear heaps of make up for her role as Jamie Sullivan in the romantic drama film as she has never been someone who puts a lot of "time and effort" into her make up routine.
She told Entertainment Weekly: "I knew what I was signing up for. I've never been someone who's put a tremendous amount of time and effort into that, especially when it comes to playing parts. I don't really care.
"I was excited to take on a role like this knowing that I was going to completely step outside of myself and dress in a way and in a manner that was appropriate for this character."
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