Academy Award-nominated actress Amy Adams embraced her animalistic side in her latest film "Nightbitch," where she plays a new mother who mysteriously begins transforming into a dog.
The 50-year-old star told PEOPLE magazine she thoroughly enjoyed portraying the feral aspects of her character, including howling at the moon, eating from a dog bowl, and even sprouting a tail - behaviors that amuse her on-screen son but worry her husband (played by Scoot McNairy).
"I love that stuff," Adams revealed. "It was fun to be in this woman's shoes because she's gotten to a point where she has zero f--s to give." The actress found liberation in playing a character who becomes "free from other people's opinions."
Director Marielle Heller praised Adams' committed performance, noting how the character evolves from an almost zombie-like state to becoming "alive again" through embracing her animal instincts. The actress's convincing portrayal even caused real dogs on set to react strongly during one scene, lunging toward her in an unexpected moment that briefly halted production.
For Adams, a dog owner herself with three canines at home, the role resonated particularly with her experience as a working mother. "That journey of tapping into the ferocity of your feelings and your love for your child and being unapologetic about that - that's a wonderful place to get to live," she reflected, speaking about her own experiences as mother to 14-year-old daughter Aviana.
The role arrives as Adams enters what she describes as an "open" era in her career, coinciding with her recent 50th birthday. "I am not going to judge myself anymore. I am going to be accepting," she declared, expressing her enthusiasm for seeking new experiences in this chapter of her career.
"Nightbitch" adds another distinctive character to Adams' diverse filmography, which spans from her debut in "Drop Dead Gorgeous" 25 years ago to acclaimed performances in "Doubt" and "Arrival," earning her six Oscar nominations along the way.
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