AMY ADAMS SPEAKS
The Sharp Objects star talks fame, food and gainful employment
Amy Adams is in an upbeat mood, which is hardly surprising. The actress has, after all, unlocked her latest round of great acclaim with Sharp Objects, the HBO TV series adapted from the 2006 novel by Gillian Flynn (who also wrote Gone Girl), and which can be now binged on Sky Box Sets and itunes.
Amy plays crime reporter Camille Preaker. Fresh out of a psychiatric clinic, she investigates the murder of two children while dealing with her own traumas, and the ending is a real shocker. “I want to develop projects like this, which create more work for women,” says the 44 year old. “I would like to mentor aspiring actresses and give them good advice. I remember once feeling very discouraged about not getting enough work and my manager told me, ‘Keep your head up, don’t be so discouraged. Work hard.’”
This advice paid off, because Amy has built up a fine body of work with the likes of The Master (2012), American Hustle (2013) and Big Eyes (2014). Receiving the
31st American Cinematheque Award last year made her feel “very humbled”, but also a bit embarrassed. “I wasn’t even comfortable at my wedding having my family say things that were nice. I’m like, ‘OK, let’s move on.’” Indeed, starting with Sharp Objects…
What was it like starring in such a harrowing, hardhitting drama?
It was really hard to live inside this world of violence and the violence that women execute against each other – not only physically, but also emotionally. Unfortunately, the news is almost as grisly as the show. So, it’s something I think we’re all dealing with – how to step away from the violence in the world and raise our children with hope and optimism.
You seem quite laid-back in person – how do you manage the attention that comes with being a movie star?
I don’t really think about it that much at all. The only thing that’s really changed in my life is that I have to think about how to dress when I go to the supermarket and run errands like that. I don’t really like to worry about that stuff, but after getting caught a few times by the paparazzi when I’m wearing a T-shirt and jeans, I’ve learned my lesson!
That’s good…
I’m getting better at that, even though it doesn’t really matter and I don’t think the people who enjoy my work would care about that, anyway. The only thing that bothers me about fame is that I always enjoy meeting new people, but once I reveal that I’m an actress, it becomes more difficult to know the more genuine sides of people, because you have that celebrity aura interfering with that. But when it comes to everything else, being famous is a pretty positive thing.
You’ve been nominated for five Oscars and you’ve won three Golden Globe awards. Are those kinds of honours important to you?
Not really. It’s something nice that happens when your films get noticed and people appreciate your work. But, in general, I’m thinking about my family, my daughter, and preparing for the next project. I try to use the time I have in between films to relax as much as I can. Working on Sharp
Objects was an exception, because I was taking an active role in developing the series [she was an exec producer]. I’d like to be involved in getting more projects like that made down the road.
You’ve spoken about how your husband [actor Darren Le Gallo] has taken a back seat in terms of his career to help raise your eight-yearold daughter, Aviana...
We’ve often talked about how sometimes society finds it odd that a women may be the one who is the principal breadwinner and the man should occupy the role of looking after the home. Darren is very happy to do this for me and our daughter, and it is extremely generous of him to put aside his desires and aspirations to follow me and allow me to work for very long periods away from home.
Is it hard?
Sometimes, I will want to have my daughter closer to me when I’m working, and I’ll bring Aviana along with me wherever I’m filming. It depends on the project and how disruptive it’s going to be on her.
Has motherhood changed the way that you approach your career?
It’s made an impact in the kinds of projects I choose and wanting to play characters that make me happy. I look at things differently now. I pay much more attention to being present and thinking more deeply about matters that affect my daughter. My perspective has changed.
You were born in Italy, what are your memories?
I was born in Aviano on the NATO base where my father was stationed for the United States Army. I was there for only two years and so I only have very vague memories. In 2007, I returned for the first time to Vicenza, which is the town where my family lived at the time. There are pine trees, parks, statues, beautiful hills and some stunning architecture. I enjoyed going back there and being able to discover how much that setting feels very comfortable for me.
And you named your daughter Aviana after Aviano?
Her full name is Aviana Olea Le Gallo. Olea was my grandmother, and originally we were going to call her Avi, but then we learned that in Jewish culture Avi is a typical male name and then
‘Now, I have to think about how I dress when I go to the shops’
when we baptised her shortly after birth, we decided to call her Aviana. I know some people might find it strange, but, hey, people call their children Paris or Brooklyn. I think it’s a beautiful name.
What was it like for you when you and your parents moved from Italy to Colorado?
The thing I missed the most was how friendly Italians were. What I noticed about the girls I went to school with in Colorado was how they were always thinking about designer clothes, which I could never afford.
That must have been hard…
When my mom would buy me an outfit, I would change the label, so the other kids in school would think it’s an original designer brand. It’s stupid when I think about it now, but I desperately wanted to be one of them. I also wanted to be a ballerina more than anything else, but unfortunately I couldn’t do anything to make my legs longer. [Laughs]
You’ve had an extraordinary amount of success in recent years. How does that feel?
I am relieved and grateful to be far, far removed from the days when I couldn’t pay my rent, but now I have other anxieties. I’m happy, but I am not so naive as to believe that success allows you to escape all the pain and difficult moments that comes
with life.
When you were struggling to make ends meet, what was your worst job?
As soon as I turned 18, I started working. My first job was at Hooters, a restaurant and bar where the waitresses wear shorts and very tight T-shirts. But I didn’t stay there very long – a lot of the customers believed that touching your ass was included in the service. Then, fortunately, I found a job at the Gap, where I could finally afford to buy everything I wanted with 50 per cent off.
Bonus. Apparently, you became something of a foodie and amateur chef after working on Julie & Julia [the 2009 film about the life of famous US cookbook author Julia Child]?
Cooking can be therapeutic, and it’s a beautiful experience to share with the people you love. I learned so much working on Julie & Julia, especially technical things such as which knife is the best to use. I like spicy food, so even when I have a simple recipe in my hands, I always try to make it a little more interesting, whether it’s adding chilli, spicy sauces or different spices.
Do you also pay attention to what you are eating, given the pressure on Hollywood actresses to stay slim?
It’s important to be aware of your diet, without losing your ability to be able to enjoy the pleasure of food. I only try to watch out for my junk food urges. When I eat something that isn’t very healthy, I try to make sure I cut back on something else – not eating dessert, for example, or eating a light lunch the next day. My biggest weakness are Mexican dishes, which are my favourite. If I eat Mexican, I love to steal leftovers from people’s plates.
You’ve played many interesting and formidable women in your career. Do you try to impart any lessons from those roles to your daughter?
One of the main lessons I try to teach Aviana is to face your fears and not be afraid in life.
Sharp Objects is available to stream now on Sky Box sets and itunes