A WOMAN TRANSFORMED

Hollywood actress Amy Adams on her surprising new role and what brings out her feral side

- GILL PRINGLE

As some women might verify, life as a stayat-home mum can be challenging. With the joys of motherhood can come sleeplessness and the monotony of daily life, and being torn away from activities and friendships.

Certainly, Amy Adams recognised those themes when she read Rachel Yoder's debut novel Nightbitch, based on the author's frustrations upon experiencing new motherhood.

Under Marielle Heller's direction and script, Nightbitch becomes a magical realist-style story about Mother, a home-maker who transforms into a dog at night, unleashing her inner self.

"I don't think there's one universal experience of motherhood," says 50-year-old Amy, who has a teenage daughter, Aviana, with her husband, actor and painter Darren Le Gallo.

"In this perception-driven snapshot society of social media, we can sometimes see it as glorification, but I think each woman has their unique and individual experience with motherhood or their choice not to have children. It's really personal to them," continues the six-time Academy Award nominee.

"We meet Mother when she's in an interesting transitional period of her life. She's two years postpartum after giving up her job to focus on her family, while her husband has taken a job that often requires him to be away from home.