Amy Adams Explains Why Her Daughter Wasn’t Allowed to Watch Denis Villeneuve’s Oscar-Nominated Film Until Recently

Amy Adams has yet to secure an Oscar, yet she remains one of the most respected actresses of her generation. Her first Academy Award nomination came in 2006 for her role in the film Junebug, and since then, she has been nominated for a variety of projects, including The Fighter and American Hustle. This year, she is once again in the running for potential Oscar recognition for her performance in Nightbitch, a surreal horror comedy with an intriguing canine theme. Although this year’s competition for Best Actress is fierce, Adams has already garnered a nomination for a Golden Globe.

Throughout her career, Adams collaborated with acclaimed director Denis Villeneuve on only one project. Like Adams, Villeneuve has also been nominated for an Academy Award for his directing and writing prowess. This year, he is in contention for recognition for the highly anticipated film Dune: Part Two, which was well-received by critics and audiences alike when it premiered in March. The collaboration between Adams and Villeneuve resulted in an Oscar-nominated film, and Adams later shared insights about her experience working on it.

Why Amy Adams Delayed Showing Arrival to Her Daughter

A Film with Numerous Oscar Nominations

Arrival Scene with Amy Adams and Jeremy Renner

Adams reflected on her decision to wait until recently to show her daughter Arrival, her renowned film directed by Villeneuve. Released in 2016, this science fiction story, inspired by Ted Chiang’s short story “Story of Your Life,”features a stellar cast alongside Adams, including Jeremy Renner and Forest Whitaker. The film received multiple Oscar nominations, such as Best Picture and Best Adapted Screenplay, stirring controversy over Adams’ omission from the Best Actress category that year, given the audience’s appreciation for her role.

In an interview with Vanity Fair, Adams explained her decision to delay showing the film to her daughter. She shared that Villeneuve’s assurance that she “owned”her character of Louise was a powerful motivator for her. Adams revealed that her daughter, Aviana, watched the movie for the first time six months ago. Initially, she had reservations about showing it to Aviana due to her apprehension about her daughter witnessing her portrayal of motherhood on screen.

I’d done so much work and came in with all of this energy, and I still remember the first day we were going through the script and I was just hammering you with questions and thoughts. The next day you gave me one of the greatest gifts a director has ever given me where you said, “you own her. I’m giving her to you. I know that you know her, and she’s yours now.” I don’t know why I’d never really thought about being able to have that kind of faith in myself, but when you had that faith in me, I just felt free. It was transformative for me. [Adams’ daughter] Aviana finally watched the movie six months ago. I let her watch the movie and she loved it.

I didn’t want her to see Arrival, because I don’t like her watching me mother other people. I don’t want her to think that my mothering is in any way performative, so that’s why I was always careful.

Our Perspective on Adams’ Decision Regarding Arrival

Exploring the Film’s Potentially Disturbing Themes

Adams’ reasons for hesitating to show her daughter Arrival are not what many would expect. The film’s narrative includes the heartbreaking story of Louise’s daughter, Hannah, who tragically passes away at the young age of 12 due to an incurable illness. While Aviana does not face any such illness in real life, the film’s emotional themes could have been unsettling for her. Especially in light of her latest project, Nightbitch, it is intriguing to understand why Adams is “always careful”about introducing her daughter to films where she plays a parental role.

Source: Vanity Fair

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