16 Best Amy Adams Films

Denis Villeneuve's philosophical sci-fi masterpiece rests entirely on Adams's shoulders. As linguist Louise Banks, she must attempt to communicate with alien beings hovering above Earth in mysterious ships. Her acting is phenomenally subtle: as she deciphers the aliens' language, she simultaneously unravels a deeply personal mystery about time, love, and inevitable grief. One of the finest sci-fi films of this century.

The role that catapulted her to global audience favorite. As animated fairy-tale princess Giselle suddenly banished to the raw, cynical flesh-and-blood Manhattan, Adams delivers a masterclass in physical comedy and childlike wonder. Her ability to play a completely sincere fairy-tale figure who summons pigeons and rats to clean an apartment is irresistibly charming.

David O. Russell let Adams cut loose entirely in this wild crime drama full of 1970s glamour and perms. As master con artist Sydney Prosser, she switches effortlessly between a seductive British alter ego and a terrified woman desperately trying to survive caught between the FBI and the mob. Her electric confrontations with Christian Bale and Jennifer Lawrence rightfully earned her an Oscar nomination for Best Actress.

Here Adams definitively broke from her wholesome girl-next-door image. As tough, foul-mouthed bartender Charlene from a working-class Boston neighborhood, she backs down from no one -- least of all the intimidating mother and sisters of her boyfriend, boxer Micky Ward (Mark Wahlberg). Her fiery fighting spirit gave the film raw authenticity and earned her her third Oscar nomination.

Beneath Peggy Dodd's seemingly devoted, gentle smile lies the true, ice-cold power behind Lancaster Dodd's (Philip Seymour Hoffman) cult-like movement. Adams plays the pregnant wife with terrifying control. The scene where she sternly confronts her husband about his weaknesses at the sink proves who really holds the reins.

Amid acting heavyweights Meryl Streep and Philip Seymour Hoffman, Adams holds her own effortlessly as the young, naive Sister James. Caught between her respect for the strict Mother Superior and her refusal to simply believe the worst of a priest, her character is the film's emotional and moral anchor.

Her major breakthrough role that turned the film world upside down. As the heavily pregnant, endlessly optimistic Ashley in a small Southern town, her character could easily have become a caricature. Instead, Adams filled the role with so much warmth, hope, and quiet loneliness that she landed her very first Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress, seemingly out of nowhere.

Tom Ford's stylish, ice-cold neo-noir shows Adams as a successful but emotionally hollowed-out art dealer in Los Angeles. As she reads the violent manuscript written by her ex-husband (Jake Gyllenhaal), she is confronted with betrayal from her past. Adams acts almost entirely through her eyes and her breathing, creating a haunting melancholy.

Steven Spielberg spotted her talent early when he cast her as Brenda Strong, the naive hospital worker with braces who master con artist Frank Abagnale Jr. (Leonardo DiCaprio) genuinely falls for. The airport scene where she watches Frank in tears as the FBI surrounds him broke everyone's heart.

Without makeup and with disarming simplicity, Adams plays Theodore's (Joaquin Phoenix) best friend and neighbor. While Theodore loses himself in a relationship with an operating system, Amy searches in her own way for connection after a failed marriage. Their scenes together are the warmest, most comforting moments in the film.

In Adam McKay's satirical political drama, Adams steps into the shoes of Lynne Cheney, the ambitious driving force behind Vice President Dick Cheney (Christian Bale). Adams shows ruthless political cunning and delivers razor-sharp dialogue in a marriage built on pure lust for power. Once again earning her an Oscar nomination.

As frustrated thirtysomething Julie Powell, Adams decides to cook all 524 recipes from Julia Child's (Meryl Streep) cookbook in one year and blog about it. Her humorous frustrations over burnt pies and live lobsters make this a delightful, comforting culinary comedy.

In Tim Burton's biographical drama, Adams plays artist Margaret Keane, whose world-famous paintings of children with enormous eyes were wrongly claimed for years by her manipulative husband Walter (Christoph Waltz). Adams's restrained portrait of a woman slowly reclaiming her own voice and self-respect earned her a Golden Globe.

Zack Snyder modernized the legendary Daily Planet journalist into a proactive, fearless investigator who unravels the mystery around Superman (Henry Cavill) independently before ever meeting him. No helpless damsel in distress, but a sharp reporter with guts.

Together with Jason Segel, Adams breathes new life into the beloved Muppets with infectious song and dance numbers. Her genuine enthusiasm and love for the source material make for pure nostalgic feel-good entertainment for the whole family.