AMY ADAM

Biography for
Amy Adams (III) More at IMDb Pro »
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Date of Birth
20 August 1974, Aviano, Italy

Birth Name
Amy Lou Adams

Height
5' 4" (1.63 m)

Mini Biography

Amy Adams is a multi-talented American actress. She was born in Italy to American parents Kathryn and Richard Adams, at a time when her father was a U.S. serviceman stationed in the country but was raised in a Mormon family of seven children in Castle Rock, Colorado.

She was to be found singing in the school choir at Douglas County High School and also dancing as an apprentice at a local dance company to aid in her ambition of becoming a ballerina. However, she soon realized that even with hard work this would not become reality so she worked as a greeter at The Gap and also as a Hooters hostess and waitress to support herself before finding work more in line with her ambitions as a dancer at Boulder's Dinner Theatre and Country Dinner Playhouse in such productions as "Brigadoon" and "A Chorus Line." It was there that she was spotted by a Minneapolis dinner-theater director which led to a move to Chanhassen, Minnesota, where she started working in regional dinner theater.

Nursing a pulled muscle that kept her from work, she was free to audition and win a part in Drop Dead Gorgeous (1999) which was to be filmed in Minnesota. During the filming, Kirstie Alley encouraged her to pursue acting by moving to Los Angeles where she was soon given a part in the Fox Network television continuation of the film Cruel Intentions (1999) in the part played in the film by Sarah Michelle Gellar, Kathryn Merteuil. Although some episodes were filmed, the troubled series never aired. Parts of the episodes already filmed were edited and released as the direct-to-video Cruel Intentions 2 (2000) (V). She started appearing in many television series before landing a major role in Catch Me If You Can (2002) playing opposite Leonardo DiCaprio. This did not provide the break-through she might have hoped for, with no work being offered for about a year. When she returned to acting it was again mostly in television.

Her role in the low-budget independent film Junebug (2005) (which was shot in 21 days) got her real attention, including an Academy Award nomination for best supporting actress as well as other awards. Her ability to look like a wide-eyed Disney animated heroine helped her to be chosen from about 300 actresses auditioning for the role of Giselle in the animated/live-action feature film Enchanted (2007). Her vivacious yet innocent portrayal allowed her to use her singing and dancing talents and won the hearts of many viewers. It also garnered a Golden Globe Award nomination for Best Actress in a Motion Picture Musical or Comedy. This was thought by many to be the vehicle that will one day be seen as her major break-through. Adams next appeared in the major production Charlie Wilson's War (2007) and went on to act in the independent film Sunshine Cleaning (2008) which premiered at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival. She is now a very sought-after actress with a bright future.
IMDb Mini Biography By: Brian Greenhalgh

Trivia

Worked in a Hooters Restaurant until soon after she turned 18, when they started making her wear the customary outfits.

Alumna of the Chanhassen Dinner Theater in Minnesota. Appeared there in many productions including "Brigadoon" and "Good News".

Hails from Colorado.

One of seven children.

Natural hair color is Strawberry Blonde.

She was born in Italy and raised in Castle Rock, Colorado.

Her father was in the military and was also an amateur actor.

Born at the U.S. military base located in Aviano, Italy but spent part of her childhood in the US military base located in Vicenza, Italy.

Invited to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in 2006.

Attended, and graduated from, Douglas County High School in Castle Rock, Colorado.

Sang in the school choir at Douglas County High School.

Is a trained dancer.

Her brother, Eddie Adams, works for the tabloid show TMZ.

Once worked at The Gap, a clothing store chain.

Met her boyfriend, Darren Le Gallo, in 2001 in an acting class.

Has made two movies back-to-back starring Meryl Streep: Doubt (2008) and Julie & Julia (2009). In the latter she has no scenes with Streep.

One of People Magazine's 100 Most Beautiful People in the world (2008).

Engaged to Darren Le Gallo. (July 24, 2008).

Personal Quotes

I have worked with some of the meanest people in the world. You can't do anything to intimidate me.

I think that I've always been attracted to characters who are positive and come from a very innocent place. I think there's a lot of room for discovery in these characters and that's something I always have fun playing.

Its nerve-wracking! I'll be up there, singing the song in front of billions of people - oh, and Daniel Day Lewis! And Cate Blanchett.. I'll be going to Taco Bell when the ceremony is over. Mexican food cures me. (On singing at the Oscars.)

Not at this point. Right now I'm just doing what I enjoy and I've done some different films, I've done some different types of roles. (On being stereotyped as the 'naive' one.)

Whitney Houston came in. Someone dared me to do 'the Gap act' on her. You know, the Gap act. So I went up to her like I didn't know who she was, and I said, 'Hi, I just wanted to let you know about our sale items and make sure to check out our new colors.' She looked at me like I was crazy. (On working at The Gap.)