Amy Adams' life in pictures

Amy Adams is back on the small screen starring in "Sharp Objects," the HBO miniseries based on Gillian Flynn's novel of the same name. In honor of the dark project's debut on July 8, 2018, Wonderwall.com is taking a look back at Amy's biggest career and life moments through photos! Keep reading for more…

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Amy Adams was born on Aug. 20, 1974, in Italy to American parents, the fourth of seven children in a Mormon family. She initially thought she wanted to be a ballerina before she fell in love with musical theater. She eventually settled in Chanhassen, Minnesota, where she performed at a local dinner theater in the mid-'90s. That's where auditions for the film "Drop Dead Gorgeous" took place in 1998. Amy (seen here on the far left) ended up scoring a supporting role alongside stars Kirsten Dunst, Brittany Murphy and Denise Richards, but it was co-star Kirstie Alley who really helped her career. Kirstie encouraged Amy to make the move to Los Angeles, and that following January at age 24, Amy decided to follow her dreams to Hollywood.

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Following her big move to Los Angeles, Amy Adams auditioned for tons of roles — and landed a few! In 2000, she started filming a "Cruel Intentions" prequel, assuming Sarah Michelle Gellar's role of Kathryn Merteuil. Though originally intended to be a television show on FOX, the scandalous content got it canceled before it even hit the small screen, forcing creators to edit it into the direct-to-video 2001 film "Cruel Intentions 2." The widely panned movie has a 17 percent fresh rating with critics on Rotten Tomatoes, but Amy — pictured here at the very first Teen Choice Awards with co-stars Sean Patrick Thomas, Sarah Thompson, Keri Lynn Pratt and Robin Dunne — received praise for her performance as an evil teen.

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For the next few years, Amy Adams paid the bills with small roles on popular TV shows like "That '70s Show" and "The West Wing," as well as bit parts on WB staples like "Charmed," "Smallville" and "Buffy the Vampire Slayer." She's seen here at the "Drop Dead Gorgeous" premiere in July 1999. "I did my own hair and makeup and bought that dress for like $400 — the most money I'd ever spent on a single thing in my life. The shoes I think I got at Skechers. They had Velcro on them," she told Allure years later. "I was so uncomfortable on the red carpet."

Love is in the air! While attending an acting class in 2001, Amy Adams met fellow actor Darren Le Gallo, who'd later become her husband. The two hit it off and started dating a year later. They're seen here in 2005.

Amy Adams got her first major movie role in 2002 starring in the Steven Spielberg flick "Catch Me If You Can." Amy played nurse Brenda Strong, a love interest of Leonardo DiCaprio's character, Frank Abagnale Jr.

Though she starred alongside A-listers in 2002's "Catch Me If You Can," Amy's career didn't exactly launch after the film's release. She contemplated quitting acting altogether after failing to book any jobs in 2003. She's seen here as a guest at the premiere of "The House of Sand and Fog" that year.

2004 brought Amy Adams another shot on the small screen, this time with a lead role on CBS's "Dr. Vegas," which had an impressive cast featuring Rob Lowe, Joey Pantoliano, Sarah Lancaster (all pictured) and Tom Sizemore. But Amy was essentially fired after only a few episodes when she said no to changes creators wanted to make to her contract. "I think that summer was the first time I was able to say that I didn't want to follow through with it and deal with the consequences. It was really empowering. At the end of the summer I was unemployed, but I was happy and I was proud. I was like, you know what, I'm done with being pushed around," she later told Britain's The Times newspaper.

You never know when your big break will come! Just as Amy Adams was being let go from "Dr. Vegas" and debating giving up acting entirely at age 30, she signed on to play a chipper small-town pregnant woman in the 2005 budget indie flick "Junebug" — a role that would change her career. The natural strawberry blonde dyed her hair a deeper red to play Ashley in the flick, which co-starred Ben McKenzie, Alessandro Nivola and Embeth Davidtz, and audiences and critics alike fell in love with her on-screen persona when the movie debuted at the Sundance Film Festival that year.

"Junebug" garnered Amy Adams her first Academy Award nomination, in 2006, for best supporting actress. She also won a special jury prize at the Sundance Film Festival as well as an Independent Spirit Award for her performance.

Not every film can be a critical darling! Amy Adams followed up "Junebug" with 2005's "The Wedding Date," a romantic comedy starring Dermot Mulroney and Debra Messing. In the film, which was ripped apart by critics, Amy had a supporting role — she's seen here with her on-screen love interest played by Jack Davenport. That year, she also starred in the equally underwhelming movie "Standing Still."

Amy Adams honed her comedy chops alongside Will Ferrell in the 2006 film "Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby." Amy took on the role of Susan, Bobby's assistant-turned-love interest. The flick was a hit with critics and at the box office, grossing $163 million worldwide and introducing Amy to an entirely different movie audience.

Putting her musical theater background to work! Though she was up against 250 other actresses, Amy Adams landed the lead role of Giselle in the 2007 Disney flick "Enchanted" alongside Patrick Dempsey, James Marsden, Susan Sarandon and Idina Menzel. The film called for Amy to sing three songs and her impressive performance was an instant hit. Not only did the film perform well at the box office, earning more than $340 million worldwide, but Amy earned a Golden Globe nomination for best actress in a comedy or musical.

After "Enchanted," Amy Adams joined the very impressive cast of 2007's "Charlie Wilson's War." She starred alongside Tom Hanks, Julia Roberts and Philip Seymour Hoffman in the comedic drama based on Congressman Charlie Wilson's support for the Afghan mujahideen during the Soviet-Afghan War. Amy played Bonnie Bach, Charlie's assistant, and although the role was small, she was praised for her performance.

"Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day" hit theaters in March 2008, with Amy Adams playing Delysia Lafosse, an American actress and singer who hires nanny Guinevere Pettigrew, played by Frances McDormand . Her performance drew comparisons to her work in "Enchanted," delighting critics.

2008 also saw Amy Adams star in a much darker film, "Doubt," which chronicled abuse in the Catholic church. Amy played a nun, Sister James, who's embroiled in a scandal. She received rave reviews while working alongside some major Hollywood heavyweights like Meryl Streep, Viola Davis and Philip Seymour Hoffman.

Amy Adams brought longtime love Darren Le Gallo, to whom she'd just gotten engaged, to the premiere of "Tropic Thunder" in August 2008. The star showed off the new sparkler on her left hand while posing on the red carpet.

Awards season 2009 was kind to Amy Adams! Her work in "Doubt" landed her best supporting actress nominations at the BAFTAs, the Golden Globes, the Screen Actors Guild Awards and the Academy Awards (seen here). Though she didn't take home any statues, Hollywood was certainly taking notice of the star's big-screen appeal and talent.

2009 saw Amy Adams take on some lighter films including "Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian" with Ben Stiller. Though the film wasn't beloved by critics, most agreed Amy's performance as confident, serious Amelia Earhart was stellar. The film was also a box-office smash, earning $413 million worldwide.

"Julie and Julia" was Amy Adams' second film of 2009. It debuted that summer to rave reviews. Amy played Julie, a secretary who decides to blog about chef Julia Childs' iconic recipes (Meryl Streep portrayed Julia).

Exciting news! In December 2009, Amy Adams and fiancé Darren Le Gallo announced that they were expecting their first child together. Amy's baby bump made its red carpet debut the following month at the premiere of her romantic comedy "Leap Year," which co-starred Matthew Goode. The film ended up flopping at the box office, but 2010 still proved to be a massive year for the star.

And baby makes three! Amy Adams and Darren Le Gallo welcomed daughter Aviana Olea Le Gallo in May 2010. This picture of the parents-to-be was taken just two days before Amy gave birth!

"The Fighter" came out in late 2010 and featured Amy Adams starring alongside fellow heavyweights Christian Bale, Mark Wahlberg and Melissa Leo. Her performance as Charlene, the girlfriend of boxer Micky (played by Mark), earned amazing reviews. Amy picked up best supporting actress nominations at the Golden Globes and Academy Awards the following year for her work in the film.

Amy Adams got to use her singing talents again in 2011's "The Muppets." The live-action flick, which also starred Jason Segel and a host of the famous furry creatures, featured seven songs performed by Amy on its soundtrack.

In between film roles, Amy Adams headed back to the stage. In 2012, she starred as the Baker's Wife in a revival of "Into the Woods" as part of The Public Theater's Shakespeare in the Park production in New York City. "I have to say, the cast has been supportive and amazing, and I'm just so grateful for all of their help, kind of dragging me through the process," Amy told Vanity Fair after one of the performances.

More nominations! 2012's "The Master," a drama from Paul Thomas Anderson that reunited Amy Adams and Philip Seymour Hoffman, saw her playing the wife of a cult leader. She once again earned best supporting actress nominations at the BAFTAs, the Golden Globes, the Screen Actors Guild Awards and the Academy Awards. She rounded out that year with roles in Clint Eastwood's "Trouble With the Curve" and "On the Road."

Amy Adams made all the best dressed lists at the 2013 Oscars — she was nominated for her incredible performance in "The Master" — when she arrived wearing a strapless platinum-gray Oscar de la Renta ball gown. "I wanted to feel like I was walking in a cloud. And that's what it felt like. And I figured I should wear this while I can, because at a certain point in my life, it will no longer be dignified to wear a princess gown to the Oscars," she told Allure.

Her biggest box office smash yet! Amy Adams played Lois Lane in 2013's "Man of Steel" opposite Henry Cavill. The blockbuster film made $660 million at the box office. She followed that up with the Spike Jonze drama "Her," which saw her play the platonic pal to Joaquin Phoenix's character who falls in love with an operating system.

Amy Adams ended 2013 with "American Hustle" in which she starred alongside fellow acting heavyweights Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence and former "The Fighter" co-star Christian Bale. Amy changed gears to play con artist Sydney Prosser in the period drama.

Amy Adams had another big award season in 2014 when her films "Her" and "American Hustle" were up for best picture at the Academy Awards and Golden Globes. Amy's performance in "American Hustle" earned her her first Golden Globe Award — the prize for best actress in a comedy or musical. She also netted her fifth Oscar nomination.

In 2014, Amy Adams was named to a few very prestigious lists. Forbes ranked her on its World's Highest Paid Actresses list for the very first time! With a reported $13 million income the previous year, Amy — seen here at an afterparty for the British Academy Film Awards that February — came in eighth behind Sandra Bullock, Jennifer Lawrence, Jennifer Aniston, Gwyneth Paltrow, Angelina Jolie, Cameron Diaz and Scarlett Johansson. The same year, Time magazine named Amy to its 100 Most Influential People list.

Two years in a row! Amy Adams won her second Golden Globe in 2015! She took home the best actress in a comedy or musical prize that year for her work in 2014's "Big Eyes," the biopic about artist Margaret Keane.

After almost 15 years as a couple, Amy Adams and Darren Le Gallo — seen here at the 2015 Vanity Fair Oscars party — finally tied the knot in May 2015. Amy later told Britain's The Times newspaper that they decided to make things official and get married because of their daughter. "The truth is, I feel a stronger sense of family, a bigger sense of permanence, which is a nice thing for me," Amy explained. She also took some time off and didn't appear in any movies released in 2015.

After taking a brief break from the big screen, Amy Adams was back with a vengeance in 2016. First up? Her highest grossing film ever, "Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice." Amy returned to the role of Lois Lane in the flick, which earned more than $870 million at the box office.

On the Forbes list again! In 2016, Amy Adams — seen here at the Toronto International Film Festival premiere of "Nocturnal Animals" that September — made her second appearance on the Forbes World's Highest Paid Actresses list, coming in seventh. Amy, who took home a reported $13.5 million the previous year, was ahead of Mila Kunis and Julia Roberts. Her "American Hustle" co-star Jennifer Lawrence topped the list that year.

Amy Adams brought mom Kathryn along when the actress was honored alongside seven of her peers at ELLE's 23rd Annual Women in Hollywood Awards in October 2016.

Amy Adams finished off 2016 with two very different films — first, the dramatic science-fiction flick "Arrival" with Jeremy Renner. She played Dr. Louise Banks, a linguist experiencing strange visions who's hired to interpret the language of extraterrestrials that landed on Earth. The film ended up on many critics' best films of the year lists and Amy picked up a Golden Globe nomination for best actress in a drama.

"Arrival" wasn't Amy Adams' only award-worthy film in 2016. One week after its November release, she followed it up with "Nocturnal Animals," the psychological thriller produced and directed by fashion designer Tom Ford. The stunningly shot flick co-starred Jake Gyllenhaal, Michael Shannon and Aaron Taylor-Johnson.

Amy Adams received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in January 2017, and she made the event a family affair, posing with husband Darren Le Gallo and daughter Aviana.

Amy Adams' only role in 2017 was taking on Lois Lane one more time in "Justice League." This DC Universe film, however, didn't fare as well as previous movies in the franchise.

In 2017, Amy Adams — seen here at the Vanity Fair Oscar party that February — once again landed on the Forbes World's Highest Paid Actresses list. She was ranked at No. 10 with estimated earnings of $11.5 million the previous year.

Three of Amy Adams' six siblings joined her on the red carpet when the five-time Oscar nominee was honored at the American Cinematheque's annual benefit gala in Beverly Hills in November 2017.

Back to the small screen! Amy Adams' first project of 2018 is the HBO eight-episode miniseries "Sharp Objects," in which she stars as Camille Preaker, a troubled reporter who heads back to her hometown to cover a murder. Amy's seen here at a New York City screening for the highly anticipated project — which she also executive produced — in June 2018.