Speaking to PEOPLE, the actress shared how turning 50 has shifted her perspective. “Leading up to my birthday, I decided, ‘I am not going to judge myself anymore. I am going to be more accepting,’” she explained.
This mindset has inspired Adams to embrace new experiences and take on bold projects. “I feel really open,” she shared, “and I’m seeking out the unknown.” A key example is her daring role in Nightbitch, where she plays a character known simply as Mother—a new mom wrestling with an imploded sense of identity and an absent husband (played by Scoot McNairy) who dismissively tells her, “happiness is a choice.” As the story unfolds, Mother’s struggle leads her to believe she’s transforming into a dog.
Adams found the ferocity of this role liberating. “Tapping into the intensity of your feelings and the love for your child, unapologetically—it’s a wonderful space to explore,” she said. The film’s raw style even embraced her real-life exhaustion and physical quirks, like her chin hairs. “They wanted to use prosthetics, and I was like, ‘I’ve got this covered,’” she joked.
Her real-life parenting journey has also shaped her approach. Adams, who shares her 14-year-old daughter Aviana with husband Darren Le Gallo, recalled finding balance when Aviana was a toddler. “Around the time I filmed American Hustle, I decided I was going to prioritize being present as a parent and creating a work-life balance that truly supports me,” she said.
Adams also sets boundaries to protect her daughter’s privacy. “I always consider how my public roles might impact her experience,” she noted, referencing their rare family appearance at the Toronto International Film Festival for Nightbitch’s international premiere in September.
With six Oscar nominations to her name, Adams is once again generating awards buzz for her fearless performance in Nightbitch. While she enjoys the season’s festivities, she values the personal connections it brings even more. “I get to talk to people I wouldn’t have otherwise,” she shared, highlighting a recent conversation with Demi Moore and a reunion with her Arrival director Denis Villeneuve. “No matter the outcome, I’m grateful for those moments of connection.”
