Amy Adams facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Amy Adams
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Adams in 2016
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| Born |
Amy Lou Adams
August 20, 1974 Aviano, Italy
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| Citizenship | U.S. |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1994–present |
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Works
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Full list |
| Spouse(s) |
Darren Le Gallo
(m. 2015) |
| Children | 1 |
| Awards | Full list |
Amy Lou Adams (born August 20, 1974) is an American actress. She is famous for her roles in both comedies and dramas. She has been one of the highest-paid actresses in the world several times. Amy Adams has won many awards, including two Golden Globe Awards. She has also been nominated for six Academy Awards and seven British Academy Film Awards.
Adams started her career as a dancer in dinner theater from 1994 to 1998. She made her first movie appearance in the comedy Drop Dead Gorgeous (1999). She also appeared in TV shows and played "mean girl" characters in smaller movies. Her first big role was in Steven Spielberg's movie Catch Me If You Can (2002). After this, she didn't have work for a year. She became well-known after playing a cheerful pregnant woman in the independent film Junebug (2005). This role earned her first Academy Award nomination.
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Contents
Early Life and Education
Growing Up in a Big Family
Amy Adams was born on August 20, 1974, in Aviano, Italy. Her parents, Kathryn and Richard Adams, were Americans. Her father was serving in the U.S. Army at the time. Amy has four brothers and two sisters. Her family moved often because of her father's army work. When she was eight, they settled in Castle Rock, Colorado. After leaving the army, her father became a singer in nightclubs. Amy remembers going to his shows and enjoying the atmosphere.
Her family was not wealthy. They enjoyed camping and hiking together. Her parents would often write and perform skits, with Amy always playing the main character. She loved being part of these plays.
Childhood and Interests
Adams was raised in the Mormon faith until her parents divorced in 1985. After the divorce, her parents left the church. Amy has said that her upbringing taught her about love and kindness. Her father moved to Arizona and remarried, while Amy and her siblings stayed with their mother. Her mother became a semi-professional bodybuilder. She would take her children to the gym when she trained. Amy has described her childhood with her siblings as very free and active. She said she was a "scrappy, tough kid" and often got into fights with other children.
Amy attended Douglas County High School in Colorado. She wasn't very interested in academics. However, she loved creative arts and sang in the school choir. She also competed in track and gymnastics. She dreamed of becoming a ballerina and trained at a local dance company. She didn't enjoy high school much and mostly kept to herself.
Starting Her Career Path
After high school, Amy and her mother moved to Atlanta. She did not go to college, which disappointed her parents. She later wished she had pursued higher education. At 18, she realized she wasn't skilled enough to be a professional ballerina. She found that musical theater was a better fit for her. One of her first stage roles was in a community theater production of Annie, where she volunteered. To support herself, she worked as a greeter at a Gap store. She also worked as a waitress at Hooters until she saved enough money to buy a used car.
Acting Career
Early Roles and Breakthrough
Amy Adams started her professional acting career as a dancer in a 1994 dinner theater show in Boulder, Colorado. She enjoyed singing and dancing, but not the waitressing part of the job. She later moved to Chanhassen, Minnesota, and performed in the Chanhassen Dinner Theater for three years. She liked the stability of this job and learned a lot. However, the demanding work caused her many injuries.
While recovering from an injury, she auditioned for the Hollywood film Drop Dead Gorgeous (1999). This movie was a comedy about beauty pageants. Amy was cast as a cheerleader. She felt her character was very different from her own personality. An actress named Kirstie Alley encouraged Amy to pursue a film career. In January 1999, Amy moved to Los Angeles. She found her first experiences in the city difficult.
She soon got a lead role in a TV series called Manchester Prep. The series was later canceled and the filmed episodes were released as a direct-to-video movie, Cruel Intentions 2 (2000). Critics didn't like the movie, but they praised Amy's performance. Amy also had a supporting role in Psycho Beach Party (2000), a comedy film. From 2000 to 2002, she appeared in TV shows like That '70s Show, Charmed, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and Smallville.
In 2002, Amy Adams got her first major role in Steven Spielberg's comedy-drama Catch Me If You Can. She played Brenda Strong, a nurse who falls in love with Frank Abagnale Jr. (played by Leonardo DiCaprio). Even though the film was successful, it didn't immediately boost her career. She was unemployed for a year after its release and almost quit acting. Spielberg was surprised she didn't become famous sooner. Amy decided to take acting classes to improve her skills.
Rising to Stardom with Junebug and Enchanted
Feeling discouraged, Amy Adams, at age 30, thought about quitting acting after finishing the independent film Junebug (2005). The movie had a small budget. In Junebug, she played Ashley Johnsten, a cheerful and talkative pregnant woman. The director, Phil Morrison, was impressed by Amy's ability to portray her character's good nature. Amy connected with her character's faith and spent time in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, where the film was set, attending church. She described making the film as a time of personal growth. After dyeing her hair red for the role, she decided to keep it that color instead of her natural blonde.
Junebug was shown at the 2005 Sundance Film Festival, where Amy won a special jury prize. Critics praised her performance, calling it "delicately funny and heartbreaking." For her role, Amy won the Independent Spirit Award and the Critics' Choice Award. She also received an Academy Award nomination.
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Later in 2005, Amy had supporting roles in The Wedding Date and Standing Still. She also joined the TV series The Office for three episodes. In the 2006 comedy Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby, she played the love interest of Will Ferrell's character.
In 2007, Amy Adams starred as Giselle in the musical romantic comedy Enchanted. Giselle is a very optimistic and joyful character, inspired by Disney Princesses. Amy was one of 250 actresses who auditioned for the role. The studio wanted a bigger star, but director Kevin Lima insisted on Amy because of her dedication. She had to wear a heavy ball gown that weighed 45 pounds and fell several times. She sang three songs for the film's soundtrack. Critics loved her performance, calling her "fresh and winning." Enchanted was a huge success, earning over $340 million worldwide. Amy was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Comedy or Musical.
After Enchanted, Amy Adams played Bonnie Bach, an assistant to Congressman Charlie Wilson, in the 2007 film Charlie Wilson's War.
Expanding Her Roles
In 2008, Amy starred in Sunshine Cleaning, a comedy-drama about two sisters who start a crime scene clean-up business. She was drawn to playing a character who always tries to improve herself. Critics found her performance "magical." She also starred in Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day, a comedy set in 1939.
Amy Adams then starred in Doubt, a film based on a play. She played an innocent nun involved in a conflict where a school principal (played by Meryl Streep) accuses a priest of wrongdoing. Amy connected with her character's ability to see the best in people. She learned a lot working with Streep and Philip Seymour Hoffman. She was nominated for an Academy Award, Golden Globe Award, and BAFTA Award for this role.
In 2009, Amy Adams played the aviator Amelia Earhart in the fantasy adventure film Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian. This was the first movie filmed inside the National Air and Space Museum in Washington. The director said the role allowed Amy to show her wide acting range. Critics praised her performance. That same year, Amy starred in the comedy-drama Julie & Julia. She played Julie Powell, a secretary who decides to blog about recipes from Julia Child's cookbook. Both Night at the Museum and Julie & Julia were very successful at the box office.
Challenging Dramatic Roles
Amy Adams started the new decade with a leading role in the romantic comedy Leap Year (2010). Her next film, the boxing drama The Fighter, was much more successful. Directed by David O. Russell, the film tells the story of boxer brothers Micky Ward and Dicky Eklund. Amy played Ward's strong girlfriend, Charlene Fleming. This role was a big change for her, moving away from her usual cheerful characters. She trained to understand her character's movements. Critics praised her performance, noting her range. She received Oscar, Golden Globe, and BAFTA nominations for Best Supporting Actress. After this, she wanted to play more dramatic roles.
In 2011, Amy Adams starred in the Disney musical The Muppets alongside the famous puppets. She sang seven songs for the soundtrack. The following year, she performed in the musical Into the Woods in New York City. This was her first time on a New York stage in 13 years. She found it challenging but wanted to push herself.
Amy took on another strong female role in Paul Thomas Anderson's drama The Master (2012). She played Peggy Dodd, the determined wife of a cult leader (played by Philip Seymour Hoffman). This was her third and final time working with Hoffman, whom she admired greatly. Critics praised her performance, calling her "malevolent" and "menacing." She received Oscar, Golden Globe, and BAFTA nominations for this supporting role.
In 2012, Amy also starred in Clint Eastwood's sports drama Trouble with the Curve. She played the estranged daughter of a baseball scout (Eastwood). She learned to catch, pitch, and swing for the role. She also had a small role in On the Road, a drama based on a famous novel.
Established Actress and Awards
After trying for the role of Lois Lane in two previous Superman films, Amy Adams finally got the part in Zack Snyder's 2013 movie Man of Steel. She played Lane with a mix of toughness and vulnerability. The film was a big box-office hit, earning over $660 million. Amy then appeared in Her, a drama about a lonely man who falls in love with an artificial intelligence. Amy played his close friend.
Amy Adams achieved more success when she worked again with director David O. Russell in the crime film American Hustle. She co-starred with Christian Bale, Bradley Cooper, and Jennifer Lawrence. The film was inspired by a 1970s scandal. Amy played a clever con artist. She worked closely with Christian Bale to develop their characters. The filming was challenging for Amy. American Hustle received great reviews. Critics said Amy "goes deeper here than she's ever been allowed to." She won the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Comedy or Musical and received her fifth Oscar nomination. Both Her and American Hustle were considered among the best films of 2013.
After a small role in Lullaby, Amy Adams starred in Big Eyes (2014). This movie was about the artist Margaret Keane, whose famous "big-eyed waifs" paintings were claimed by her husband. Amy initially turned down the role, not wanting to play another innocent woman. However, after her daughter was born in 2010, she found strength in the character. She practiced painting and studied Keane's work. Critics praised her performance. She won a second Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Comedy or Musical and received a BAFTA nomination.
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After a year away from the screen, Amy Adams had three films released in 2016. She played Lois Lane again in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. The film earned over $870 million, making it her highest-grossing movie. In her next two films, Arrival and Nocturnal Animals, Amy played intelligent women who were emotionally guarded.
Arrival, directed by Denis Villeneuve, is considered one of Amy Adams's most acclaimed films. She played Louise Banks, a linguist who has strange visions while trying to understand the language of aliens. Amy was drawn to playing an intellectual female lead. She connected with the film's message of unity. She watched documentaries about linguistics to prepare. Critics called her performance "mesmerizingly open." Arrival was a commercial success, earning over $200 million. Amy received Golden Globe and BAFTA nominations for Best Actress. Many journalists were surprised she didn't get an Oscar nomination for it. She played Lois Lane for the third time in Justice League (2017).
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Amy Adams returned to television in 2018 with Sharp Objects, an HBO miniseries. She was also an executive producer. She starred as Camille Preaker, a reporter dealing with personal struggles who returns to her hometown to cover a murder. Amy gained weight for the role and wore special makeup to show her character's past. She found it hard to separate herself from the difficult role and experienced insomnia. Both the series and Amy's performance received high praise.
Christian Bale and Amy Adams worked together for the third time in the 2018 political satire Vice. They played former vice president of the United States, Dick Cheney, and his wife, Lynne. Amy read Lynne's books to prepare. She approached the role with understanding, even though she disagreed with Lynne's political views. Critics compared her role to Lady Macbeth. Amy received Golden Globe nominations for both Sharp Objects and Vice. For Sharp Objects, she was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award. For Vice, she received her sixth Oscar and seventh BAFTA nominations.
Recent Work and Future Projects
Amy Adams started the new decade with the drama Hillbilly Elegy (2020). Critics gave it negative reviews, saying Amy was stuck in a poorly written film, even though her performance was reliable. She received a nomination for the SAG Award for Best Actress. Amy then starred as a murder witness with a fear of open spaces in the thriller The Woman in the Window. This film was delayed several times and eventually released on Netflix in 2021. Amy also played a grieving mother in Dear Evan Hansen, a film based on a Broadway musical. Both The Woman in the Window and Dear Evan Hansen were not well-received.
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In 2022, Amy Adams performed in her first West End theatre play, The Glass Menagerie, in London. She played Amanda, a mother trying to raise her children. She drew on her own mother's strong personality for the role. The play received mixed reviews. She then returned as Giselle in the sequel to Enchanted, called Disenchanted, which premiered on Disney+. She also recorded six songs for its soundtrack. Critics noted Amy's charm but felt the sequel was not as good as the first movie.
In 2019, Amy Adams started her own production company, Bond Group Entertainment, with her manager Stacy O'Neil. Their first film was a 2024 adaptation of the novel Nightbitch. Amy starred as a struggling mother who sometimes turns into a dog. She connected with the story because she felt tired balancing her parenting duties with her acting work. The film received mixed reactions from critics, which Amy said was the film's goal. She received another Golden Globe nomination for her performance.
Amy Adams is set to star alongside Jenna Ortega in Taika Waititi's science fiction film Klara and the Sun, based on a novel. She will also appear in Kornél Mundruczó's drama film At the Sea.
Personal Life
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Amy Adams met actor and painter Darren Le Gallo in an acting class in 2001. They started dating a year later while working on a short film. They got engaged in 2008. Amy gave birth to their daughter, Aviana, in 2010. Seven years after their engagement, they got married in a private ceremony in California. Amy has said that she appreciates the sacrifices Le Gallo has made as the main caregiver for their family. They live in Beverly Hills, California. She describes her family life as "pretty low-key." Her routine includes working, taking her daughter to the park, and having weekly date nights with her husband.
Amy Adams doesn't value being a celebrity much. She believes that the more people know about her, the less they will believe her characters. She tries to keep her private life out of the public eye and maintain a good balance between work and life. She works to stay unaffected by fame, thinking it would make it harder to play roles honestly. Amy has spoken about dealing with insecurity and a lack of confidence since she was young. She says motherhood has made her calmer. She often sings when she feels stressed at work. She has also spoken out for equal pay for women in the film industry.
Philanthropy and Advocacy
Having faced difficulties early in her film career, Amy Adams works closely with students from the Ghetto Film School in New York City. Variety magazine honored her for this work in 2010. She supports the Trevor Project, an organization that helps troubled LGBT teenagers. In 2013, she launched a book called The Beauty Book for Brain Cancer to raise money for brain cancer charities. The following year, she attended a charity event to raise funds for children who have been abused. In 2020, Amy Adams teamed up with actress Jennifer Garner to launch the #SaveWithStories campaign. This campaign promoted children's education during school closures caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Amy Adams is also an ambassador for The RightWay Foundation, a charity that helps young people who used to be in foster care find jobs and mental health support. Variety honored her for this work in 2024.
Acting Credits and Awards
According to film review sites, Amy Adams's most praised and successful films include Catch Me If You Can (2002), Junebug (2005), Enchanted (2007), Doubt (2008), Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian (2009), Julie & Julia (2009), The Fighter (2010), The Muppets (2011), The Master (2012), Man of Steel (2013), Her (2013), American Hustle (2013), Big Eyes (2014), Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016), Arrival (2016), Nocturnal Animals (2016), and Justice League (2017).
On television, Amy Adams starred in the HBO miniseries Sharp Objects (2018). On stage, she appeared in Into the Woods in 2012 and The Glass Menagerie in 2022.
Amy Adams has received six Academy Award nominations: for Best Supporting Actress in Junebug (2005), Doubt (2008), The Fighter (2010), The Master (2012), and Vice (2018). She was nominated for Best Actress for American Hustle (2013). She has won the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Comedy or Musical twice, for American Hustle (2013) and Big Eyes (2014).
See also
In Spanish: Amy Adams para niños
- List of American film actresses
- List of American television actresses
- List of actors with Academy Award nominations
- List of actors with more than one Academy Award nomination in the acting categories
- List of Golden Globe winners
