Amy Adams Goes All In

It’s hard to believe that the linguistics professor translating aliens in Denis Villeneuve’s Arrival, the con-woman with fluctuating accents in American Hustle, and the troubled reporter with a turbulent past in HBO’s Sharp Objects were all played by an actress that also sang with the Muppets. Amy Adams’ versatility is matched only by her commitment to these incomparable roles. A talented actress makes you believe her performance; a great one like Adams makes you forget she’s performing altogether. Her acting is convincing no matter what role she takes on precisely because she’s not trying to convince the audience that what she’s doing is real. It is as though she truly is experiencing the events unfolding on screen. From goofy Will Ferrell comedies and offbeat Spike Jonze films, to dark arthouse thrillers and Paul Thomas Anderson dramas, Amy Adams always goes all in. And we love her for it.

For more of our ongoing series, “The Gush,” take a look at our odes to other impeccable performers, like Toni Collette, Aubrey Plaza, Angela Bassett, Christina Ricci, Michelle Yeoh, Jennifer Connelly, and Isabella Rossellini.