Tennis flop Amanda Seyfried

May 10, 2010, 12:33 GMT

Amanda Seyfried was "put to shame" by Vanessa Redgrave.

The 24-year-old star - who stars alongside the veteran British actress in 'Letters to Juliet' - spent her free time from filming in Italy playing tennis with the 73-year-old screen legend, and admits her own prowess on the court was less than impressive.

She said: "She is the most open woman on this planet. She gives everything in a scene. She's the number one best communicator and she's so connected. She also looks amazing.

"We would play tennis in the mornings when we weren't shooting, and this woman can move. She puts me to shame."

While her tennis skills weren't up to much, the blonde beauty - who is dating British actor Dominic Cooper - admits she needed the exercise because she indulged in too many local culinary treats while filming in Verona.

She explained in an interview with the Chicago Sun-Times newspaper: "I used to wake up at four in the morning and go running each day because I needed to work out. I was eating so much - much too much. You had to eat the bread. I think it was required.

"I don't remember saying no to gelato. Believe me when I say that if I didn't work out, the audience would have noticed."