Amy Adams / "Vice"

she plays Lynn Chaney in the films. She got her sixth nomination in fourteen years, which is incredible, particularly when you consider the fact that she kind of hit the ground running with OSCAR nominations, uh, landing one for June Bug in two thousand five. And uh, she's one of our most unrewarded actresses on that score, six nominations without a win so far. Maybe she'll finally pull it off for Vice. We talked about that film and all the films she's been nominated for in fact, which is quite

a collection of films. And again, she's I think she's one of the sweetest people in the business. She was one of our first guests early on here at Playback and We're so pleased to have her back. So here is my chat with Amy Adams. It's it's always fun to get a movie out there. Um, thank you to get it seen. You know, there's always so much anticipation, and you know, especially when it's Adam and it's Christian

and I've had all you guys on the show. I don't think I've ever had this many people from one movie on the show. I did Christian and Sam together. Now here we are with you all right, we are up and running. Okay, everyone, no big deal, We're just here with Amy Adams. UM, six time Oscar nominee. A thank you for coming on the show. Thank you for having your returning champ, so to speak. One of the few that we've had a second time on the show. Yeah,

it was tell you Right, Tell you Right. That's episode number two, by the way, this is like number one, oh four. Oh my goodness, congratulations. That's really cool. That was a fun one though. I love doing them and tell you right. I'll love going to tell you right. Obviously, it's beautiful. It's so beautiful. I wish I had more time there. I kind of just go and hang out. You can actually watch movies when you're there, if you're able to spend time there. But yes, the Oscar nominated

Star of Vice. Congratulations on that. Thank you. What was your morning like when you got the news? Were you here? Yeah? I was here so in early morning. Then yeah, I got a phone call and that was fun. It's always fun. Um. I wasn't anticipating it one way or the other, but I was happy to hear about everyone's nominations. For me, that's always fun to be nominated with a bunch of a bunch of people from the films. It's a good feeling. Yeah, that thing was like eight nominations. That's one of my

favorite movies of the year. I love it. I think it's delicious. Uh, you know, it's what's interesting to me though, it's been a bit of a divisive movie. I mean, have you been surprised by some of the reviews to advice? Do you pay attention to them? I don't always pay attention to reviews. Um. Sometimes I like to read like one or two good and one or two bad, just so I understand sort of people's perspective. I'd like to be balanced. Um, it was interesting the level of of

divisiveness like this sort of passion. People had both ways. You know, I think that's that was really um. That was really interesting, and in a way it kind of reflects the times that we're in that it's you know, um. But but there were people on both sides of the aisle who either liked or didn't like the film who responded, I love the film and I love um Adam McKay's unique storytelling devices. And so for me, I'm I'm I'm in the I mean, of course I'm in it, but

I'm in the camp of really loving it. It's good to have strong reactions as opposed to it was okay, you want to get for dinner, you know, just forget about it. Within being in different in difference is kind of one of my least favorite things in general in life. Although I really don't like not being liked, do you know what I mean? That like stresses me out. Would be strange. Otherwise, I think, is there anyone who just

loves not being liked? Like? Probably? Actually, particularly in my field, I think, okay, the people who like to rouse, I got it, well, you know, I like that there's a conversation, you know what I mean? And I will say there's a conversation around vice. So, um, I think, especially when we're dealing with political elements, conversation is important. Yeah. So when you got the script, did it read how it

was finally presented? Did it read on the page as irreverent as it is the filmmaking is because I'm always curious about that translation translation, you know, I guess may because I was looking at it from a character point of view and the way that the characters were developed. I mean, I knew, I know, Adam is um very political and he has very strong points of view, so

I knew he was going to put that in. But you know, there's always a slight difference between the script and the final product, and so I knew that, you know, diving into it with Adam, he was going to have a take on it. But the script itself was very solid and felt very um, it just felt very matter of fact. You know, his storytelling techniques aren't so you always knew that there was going to be that. But for instance, are you reading half with you the script?

There's a credit role, Yeah, exactly, that's in there. Um, the Shakespearean scene is in there. There's even more that didn't make it in, like the musical number, which I wasn't involved in, so I tell no, no, I mean, trust me. I was really you know, anyone who knows me is like I would have just shown up just to be a dancer, you know, I'd like to be an easter egg in the musical number. But I saw the musical number and it's amazing. I believe. He said he's going to try to put it on the DVD.

I hope it makes it out. We hope he does. I hope he does that. And then he sort of teased that he might do like a twenty minute a short phone, a short about the early stuff, because when you meet my character in the script, it's already like twenty minutes, and so it was. It was definitely I approached that scene with a certain sort of energy of already knowing who Lynn is. So it's a really fun introduction in that way because it wasn't the initial introduction

to the character. It's funny. Yeah, let's talk about that getting to know Lynn researching was this uh significant element of research compared to other roles you've done, or you know, just tell me about that. I mean to some yes,

actually I didn't know a lot about her. And um, I knew people's opinions, so in one way I had to really, um, I just had to kind of let go of my own opinion or my own politics and go back because I had started watching video on her, because I of course I'm like, oh, I'm playing somebody. What do they look like, what do they sound like? How do they act? What? You know? So I went

straight to sort of more video research. And then I realized I was not I was coming out her from a place that wasn't going to be productive in creating a character that felt real and grounded and balanced. And so I stopped watching the videos for a period of time and went back and did my reading and like did the did the real research and trying to figure out who she was as opposed to who she is

now or people's opinions or or my own opinions. The hardest part of that, as far as instilling it and making it a character, and you always talk about playing real life people, like staying away from anything that's like an impersonation or anything. Just finding an actual character in there. What was the hardest kind of through line to find there?

I guess, I mean, I think the biggest challenge for me, was just creating a character that aged, for you know, fifty years and still felt like the same person, but went through an evolution, and creating that in a way that felt subtle and real as opposed to UM, what I'm doing it with Christians, So it makes it a lot easier, UM, but in with with Lynn and so it's so strange too because everything even that I read about her, saw about her that wasn't written by her,

was based on her past a certain age. So going back into research, I really had to sort of, I guess, triangulate between what people had told Adam. Adam sent me these amazing this amazing letter somebody had written, and then there was an article someone had written about the two of them, and then UM sources, you know, we had sources, and then kind of watching how people reacted to her and kind of trying to understand how she got that way and drawing conclusions about kind of what what about

her past, what about her experience? UM created that kind of ambition and that kind of drive and that kind of focus, so that it was coming from a place that didn't feel purely Shakespearean, you know, and felt a little felt more grounded, but It's always important to me. Is I like my characters to feel like you could meet them on the street. What do you think that Drive was about? I mean, that's what I told Adam.

It's what I've told everyone about this movie. What I come away from this movie thinking is why, you know all of that push for power? Uh, you know, specifically regarding Dick Cheney, he doesn't need the money, He's not necessarily getting the credit because you know VP and everything. It's just like this push for power and why? And

you got any ideas? I mean, I have ideas. I have no conclusive, conclusory evidence, you know, But in looking at Lynn in particular, I mean, I think you get to a point in life where you can lose perspective if you don't um. It's easy to lose perspective in

the pursuit of power or or wealth, I think. And I don't know that that's what happened to Lynne, but I do know in the beginning she um she came from a real rough upbringing, and she doesn't talk about it in the way that's sort of our society talks about. You know, everyone's so open and just like shares about

their pain and their trauma. She's honest about it in her book, but she almost tells it with sort of this romanticized like everything feels like it's shot and soft focused in the way that she tells her story about you know, her the tragedies and her family's history and her dad's you know, problems with gambling or you know, having to move out of her house into an apartment because they lost their house, and going to the state championships for baton twirling and seeing the girls of privilege

and understanding that she was one of the only ones there in a handmade costume, you know, little things that you start to go I kind of see, I'm seeing where you know, she created a realm, a real drive, and understanding that it was going to be up to her to get herself out of her situation, and she

wanted to. Um. I think she learned very early that her hard work could be rewarded, and so I think she kind of just had this amazing focus and work ethic and it didn't matter if it was baton twirling or you know, um getting the husband or whatever it was when she whipping him into shape, but it was it was as soon as I felt this reading it, and there was this I actually really liked this because I know ambition still feels like such a dirty word,

especially for women to be like, I'm ambitious. It just doesn't I know. Rhese Witherspoon talked about this and speech and it's it's worth looking up. And so I felt

that Lynn didn't feel apologetic about being ambitious. She saw it as I decided I wanted to be the best girl, and I used to fantasize about the dress sidewear and gosh, darnett, I did it and I wore the dress, you know, and she's proud of herself, and that's something that isn't instilled often about um ambition in women, and you know, it's it's not always seen the same way. Yeah, I mean, the whole thing makes for a fascinating psychological study, obviously.

I know, I think I love psychology, which is always trying to break down my characters and this sort of like amateur psychologist, right, it's part of what you guys do. Yeah, it's the most fun part of my work for me, is is going on in there. Yeah. Yeah. I also wanted to talk about your just your your fellow nominees in the Supporting Actors category that year. It's a fascinating lineup. I mean Regina King, you know, I was hopeful she would make the cut and she did for Could Talk. Yeah,

you know, fantastic performance. The ladies from the favorite Rachel Weiss and Emma Stone, and I was so thrilled to see Marina did a very good in for Roma, which was such an interesting inclusion as well. What have you had a chance to see movies this year? Have you had to just see their movies this year? I'm just curious what you think. I've seen some movies. Um, I haven't seen everybody's movies. I feel bad about that. UM, I definitely will see I'm in the middle of all

of my h viewing at this point. Um, and I'm excited there. I know them all. You guys are running into each other all of the Yeah, but also as people, they're awesome and their previous work. I'm I'm a huge fan. Um Regina, I have like a major girl crush on because she's just got the night the best energy and UM yeah, I'm It's a It's a fun category to be a part of. I always have a good time with with the women. It's it's interesting the narrative always sets women up in such I don't know if it

does with men. Does it do this with men? Where like men are really like, you know, like battling out. I don't know what they do that like women, it feels like it's like like that we're like in deep competition. Like I have like voodoo dolls of these girls or something, and I'm like, no, I'd be happy for any of them. I think maybe some of that plays a part in every category. Yeah, but you know, I guess our society does like to put women against each other. So well,

it's not it's just not true and not against anybody. Well, that's not true. I'm not against anybody an actor in my category. There's some human beings that date back to junior high. I still have ay those No, can you imagine Billy Madison? Now that's so funny. I'm now, I'm sorry. I'm thinking about all the ladies. They're awesome, like and I also wanted to talk about your just your previous nominations. If you, if you'd be willing to kind of look

back with me. You're very prolific actress to begin with, but to be prolific with you know, award nominated, award winning work is stunning. I mean years, it's insane. I mean, since you pretty much leapt onto the scene. Um well, and so to speak, I mean, obviously you were working hard before you broke out in June Bug. But let's start with June Bug, your first nomination. You know what

comes to mind? Want to talk about June Bug. That was unexpected and um thrilling, it's it's It's why I always approached awards season with a great at like I tried to have a great attitude and to look at the gifts of it, because I would not be I am today if um people hadn't gone behind me for June Bug, and I hadn't sort of gone through that awards season and introduced people to the work. So it can really Um, I'm so grateful that it brought attention

to a really small film. It didn't have a big budget, didn't have a big publicity budget, and so it was it was great. Um, it's great to be a part of that. It was a real overwhelming experience and sort of like yeah, I bet, I mean, you're right in the business there. And then I feel like I always looked like this tell your pardon and singing on the stage, and it was the year that I will never forget that. It was the year for heart out here for a pimp and watching like that on stage, I was like,

this is so awesome. You know it's hard at he I got to interduce three six Mafia that year. My gosh, it's any way, So it was that was one of my favorite interviews ever. Oh yeah, I exactly because I wanted to know what was the nominees launching like for those guys. I was like, tell me about that. And they're like, man, you're used to being in the studio smelling like some stuff you probably shouldn't be smelling like.

And then they pull a switcher and you're you're sitting there with Reach with a spoon and she's sexy man and Steven Spielber. It's the greatest interview I have ever done. I remember, well, that's kind I mean, that's honestly what I felt like. Me my poor husband, he um we go back to that season because he made uh, I'm so so sorry, Darren. He went to an Apple Martini phase and so he was like, oh, three drinks. It SAgs.

The next thing you know, he's got his arms around David streuth Are and I'm like, Darren, you don't actually know him, you know that right, Like he might be uh being a little too familiar with everybody because he was so excited. We were both so excited to meet everybody. But I was like doing on, you know, I was trying to don't are you kidding? It's the best show ever. I was like, I think he likes you a lot.

You should encourage this, Like I was, I'm I'm bad like that if someone's like going down the road, as long as it's not harmful and is a great show. Um. But I was reminding him that um at SAG's this past SAG Awards, I was like, do you remember your Apple Martini place? I mean there was a time he was close talking Steven Spielberg about having knowing every word too. I ting to Indiana Jones and the Temple him too, because he has a record of it, and so he's like, dude,

bro man. I was like, oh my gosh, you just dude Broman, Steven spob I love you so much. You're so insane. Oh but That's why I love my husband is he just makes me laugh because he gets so excited. Sorry, guys, she's literally crying. Guys, Stephen looks at me because you're driving, right, Oh yeah, oh yeah, Dare's gonna kill me. He's so funny though, I'm not sorry. I don't. You don't have to. I love it because I will say this about my husband. He really is a true lover of film and and

one of the nicest, most social people. Like I'm definitely the person that goes to a party and I'm like, find me a couch chair, a corner, whatever, and he's like, you're good. He gets me settled, and then I don't see him for like an hour. Good, get you anything, You're good. And then he just he's just very friendly friendly. Is that you think. We just watched him with my daughter. We covered her eyes during certain parts. Yeah, I know, it's sacrilege. I just think it's the best one. No,

that's okay. I'm I'm a I'm a fan of the last weece sad. Yeah, it's awesome too. I like the first one too. I like them all. We just again, we did that with my daughter, um couple weeks ago. Which one does she like? She liked the like that one. Sorry, I'm I can't stop thinking of Darren Cooks talking everybody, Well, this is gonna be a fun segue. Let's talk about doubt three years later. Yeah, you know Powerhouse cast Meryl Streep, Violet Davis like, great, Phil Hoffman, what what do you

recall of that movie and and that season. I'm that was an amazing experience for me working on that film to get to dive into a character study and we were in rehearsals to get to do that. At that point in my career with Philip and Meryll was I keep saying a gift, but it is a gift. I mean I was able to watch these two masters um working their craft and it it taught me so much.

And it was strange because that year at the Oscars, I went through like a whole like the first Oscars, which is so overwhelming, and then I'm like, oh my am I doing back here? Like I don't belong here? This is too much Almost I got a little overwhelmed during that season. I think was it different than even than it is now. This is just ten years ago, but it's the evolution of the season and how much work you guys end up having to dude, to promote. It's different for each film and sort of the way

that it gets rolled out, you know. Um that one, it was so much of having done Enchanted and having that come out and then really transitioning into I'm doubt from Enchanted. It's just yeah. So it was I was like that moment where I decide how honest to be. It was like I really wanted to be taken seriously,

but at the same time not. I think a lot of people will be like, like I would make a joke because I, as Philip and Meryl would be asked about sort of diving into these deep characters, and then they'd get to me and say, so, what was harder to wear a princess dress or a habit? And I was like, oh, no, is this what people think about me? They think that it's the same thing, and I'm just changed costumes. So that was kind of I kind of

got in my head a little bit. Was there already a natural kind of self consciousness about that or did I just have a natural self consciousness anyway? I think, But I think I I I didn't expect to be taken as seriously as as a fulipan, I mean, Filip and Meryl in that are just overwhelmed, overwhelmingly brilliant and their their work is amazing. Um. I think it's just new to it all, you know. So you're just trying to find your way. I think that's what it is.

How about the Fighter, Uh the first time and I found my way now now yeah, um that was fun. Um. That was a harder word season because I went through I just have my daughter and I was shooting them muppets at the same time. So also very different from yeah and I So I remember that one just primarily because I was burning me. I was like I had three candle, Like there wasn't just burning the candle from

both ends. It was just like it was like burning all the candles, burning all the candles, which you know a lot of people are doing. But it was a fun one. I remember I sing a lot, and I talked about this, and I remember I sang to David o' russell at the Oscars really yeah in the Delbe Theater, in the Delbe Theater. Yeah, what were you singing? Now, I'm just like curious. I always I sang to him on sets. I sing a lot. It's this is what's coming out. I've never told anybody that, So you're getting

me to be honest, does that sound really cheesy? No, that you sing a lot? Or no, that I sang to him? Well, I mean, I don't know that. It depends on what was going on there. Why did he need to be sung to for some reason? Was he like, please sing to me, I'm nervous. No? Probably, I think case Row is just sort of my anthem for life. So maybe the old dinner theater roots are You're coming out or something. Then The master I love that movie, Gosh, Masterpiece,

um Phil Hoffman. Again, that might have been a bit of a surprise because I feel I don't I don't recall. Maybe I'm wrong, but I feel like there was some question as to whether that movie was catching with the Academy or not. And then three of you are nominated, and it was like, oh, that's amazing. Honestly, some of my favorite acting work I've seen from any actors are the scenes that fill and walking to together, the scene

where he's um auditing him. I guess it's called something to that that and he's making him go back and not blink. It's really I think it's up there with some of the best work I've seen any actors do. UM. I think that film affected me in a way that was unexpected to me. It's the only time that I've played a character where I really really like was sad about what the character was doing on set. Interesting. How do you push that away so you can just play

the part? I don't know it was. It was the final scene of the movie when I'm I'm kind of off to the side and then I leave the room. But the way that they shot that scene, um, they kept the cameras rolling and so to prevent when they're in on the close ups, to prevent hearing my click click, I had to duck to the side. So I'm like behind a sound cart and I'm just listening to these two actors talk to each other. And I think that's

part of what it was. When he was saying, you'll be my enemy and then he sang slow Boat to China, and I still can't um, I still can't talk about it without affecting me. And Paul's so genius in that way, just keeping the camera and Philip while he sang that song in the way that he did. I don't know. It just really affected me while it was being filmed American hustle quite different as well. How about that the kind of variation of material has that always been important

to you? Yeah? Yeah, I think it's something I um, whether it's intentional or not. I'm always attracted to things I haven't done. Um or if something feels like a new challenge, that's exciting to me. And that season was I have been two thousand. That was the next year. That was right after the Master, so you were right back into it all over again. I mean when you when you've been through this season that many times, does it ever feel does it start to feel like the

same thing or does it feel different each time? It would because of the movie, but and you're kind of going through it with different people in the way, Uh, everyone's involvement is different. Um, it does build different every time. I I I do think I try to roll with it. I really that tends to be, you know, just kind of roll with you know, show up, you know, and to show up here you are six time nomine I mean, that's that's amazing. I mean, such a modest person, but

it's it's it's that's huge. And I think if I'm wrong, I don't think I'm wrong. You and another nominee this year, Glenn Close, are the two most nominated performers yet to hear their name called on Oscar Night. How crazy is that? It's awesome? I mean it is. I'm like, who gets to do this? I'm I you can't. I can't really put words into it. My husband and I had a toast the other night and he said, to your six Oscar nomination and I was just like, that doesn't even

make any sense to me. I'm sure there are trolls out there, like it doesn't make sense to us either. Nailed it. I love it. I love that. I'm like, sunglasses just fell across our eyes everyone, and the words deal with it just oh my gosh, I need those sunglasses made. That's like, so my personality. I deal with it. Uh, that's not really. It's more like I'm being silly. That's not really my personality. Um, but it makes me laugh.

It's the joke of it is my person Um. Look, I'm lucky, and there's a lot of actors out there who are deserving of attention for their performances. So I just feel like I'm I'm lucky. Well vice, Uh, everyone should see this movie. It's it's got to be still in theaters, right. It's late January, so it's still in theater. Go see it in theaters. Absolutely, to me, it's one

of the best movies of the year. I'm gonna close by asking you a question I asked Adam, which is something we're gonna try to start asking our guests at the end of the show. Hopefully haven't answer. Maybe not, I don't know. We'll see what is the movie that made you fall in love with movies? And take your time if you need to think about it, I can edit. No, Well, there's different. I guess it's just because there's different movies that made me fall in love with movies at different times.

When I was younger, it was Greece. It was my favorite movie and I watched it over and over. But if I'm thinking um in a more complex way, in high school, we watched Vertigo from Alfred Hitchcock, and it's the first time I understood um the artistry and intellect behind filmmaking and the use of different devices, the flashbacks or different imagery um to help tell the story. And that became really really fascinating to me. So if I'm

thinking of a more sort of mature approach. I'm going to go with Vertigo just because that's the first one inside of my humanities class um that we broke down, and it was the first time i'd ever sort of broke down a movie in an artistic and intellectual way to look at the filmmakers in the business at all,

or was there something else? Well, I was already in the arts, just from being a dancer, so I was always interested in the performing arts, but I didn't really think it was a possibility for me to be in movies. It just seemed like kind of too big an idea. I couldn't wrap my head around it. And I think it wasn't until I actually got cast in a movie that I thought, oh, this is this is kind of what I'm doing anyway, just in a different way. So that opened um opened up my mind to the possibility

that I could act in film. And so I've sort of been teaching and training myself since then. What else what you got coming up? I know you're working with Joe, right. I did just work with Joe right. Oh, he's the best. He's so good. He's so good, he was so great to work with. He was well, I mean he he was so great. That's all I can say. Just blew me away. He's so great. I mean, yeah, he was.

I always love it when actors show up. There's scenes where I literally a woman of the window, have like a three page monologue and Joe Wright shot it over the course of like eight days maybe, and so other actors had to sit there and stand for me. And he was always there. And I always appreciate that and always showing up. I appreciate that about about fellow actors when they when they show up for each other. What else you got other than that? Nothing, that's it. That's it.

Vacation hopefully, Um, we'll see. Yeah, I'm really I love being at home. I think I travel so much. I'm kind of a homebody and so I like having my daughter have some consistency. So well, we'll take a little vacation. But nothing too nothing too long, especially after she just is out of school for like a week. With the telling, I was like nope, yeah, yeah, Well congratulations again, Thank you deserved and everyone should see it's called advice. Amy Adams,

thanks for coming on the show again. Thank you. I appreciate it.