Amy Adams came onstage at Variety‘s Power of Women event Thursday night after a rousing introduction from her friend Elizabeth Banks.
“One of the lessons that Amy is teaching me is how to have a real fuck it attitude about aging in this industry. She is not slowing down at all,” Banks said. “Amy is always thinking about the people around her, trying to build a better world for us and the next generation.”
Adams was honored for her work with the RightWay Foundation, an organization that provides foster youth who are aging out of the foster care system with the resources they need to build a sustainable adulthood.
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“Being included tonight has given me a moment of reflection on how I have viewed power in the past and how I want to shape the narrative around it moving forward. I don’t think that power needs to be about what we control — it can be about what we contribute,” Adams said.
She went on to talk about her work with the Right Way Foundation, founded by Franco Vega. “He called upon his own traumatic childhood to inspire him because he understood the barriers that are put in place for foster youth aging out of the system,” she explained. “He developed a comprehensive program that assists with mental health, supportive housing, work programs, financial literacy and so much more for foster youth in Los Angeles County and his goal is to stop the flow of foster youth into homelessness, incarceration, and poverty.”
Adams brought up RightWay participant Natalie Sanchez to the stage, who thanked the organization for helping her find a job and other services. “They have expanded my mind to contributing to Los Angeles. It’s a true blessing to have such amazing support.”
“It’s no dog and pony show. She’s the real deal,” RightWay Foundation CEO and founder Franco Vega told Variety of Adams’ hands-on involvement over the past decade. “She’s shining a light on us. And it’s a big light.”
In her Variety cover story in the Power of Women issue, Adams opened up about her wild role in Marielle Heller’s upcoming film “Nightbitch,” which sees her transform into a dog.
While the Searchlight film’s fantastical premise may be what draws folks to theaters this December, “Nightbitch” isn’t really about becoming a dog, but a commentary on the way mothers are often expected to stifle their own primal urges. “I love the metaphor of her connecting with a more primal and feral side of herself in order to learn how to let go and be present and engaged and flexible and find her joy,” Adams says.
Adams also opened up about Bond Group, the production company she founded alongside her manager, Stacy O’Neil, with the goal of building a ladder to elevate women in Hollywood. “When we were at Toronto, I was so excited to see so many, not only female-led, but female-directed films,” Adams says. “I think those stories should be told. I think it starts really important conversations that should be had. So for me, that was a big part of [producing].”
Variety‘s Power of Women is presented by Lifetime.
