Amy Adams plays Sister James, an inexperienced young nun whose unwitting observations regarding a new priest spark suspicions on the part of the older Sister Aloysius.

This is Amy Adams' second Academy Award Oscar nomination.

Amy Adams was nominated for her supporting role in the movie "Junebug" (2005).

Sister James, played by Amy Adams, is the lamb caught between two wolves, whose suspicion that Father Flynn may have entered into an improper or abusive relationship with a 12-year-old student -- the sole African-American in a sea of Irish and Italians -- provides "Doubt" with its narrative suspense.

Amy Adams

Academy Award® nominated actress Amy Adams recently wrapped production on Shawn Levy's Night At The Museum 2: Battle at The Smithsonian starring as Amelia Earhart opposite Ben Stiller. Twentieth Century Fox is scheduled to release the film in May 2009.

Adams will star in Nora Ephron's Julie and Julia opposite Meryl Streep. The Columbia Pictures film is adapted from Julie Powell's book Julie and Julia: 365 Days, 524 Recipes, 1 Tiny Apartment Kitchen. The film is scheduled to be released in August 2009.

Adams will also star in Christine Jeffs and Karen Moncrieff's Sunshine Cleaning opposite Emily Blunt and Alan Arkin. The dark family comedy film is about two lost sisters (Adams, Blunt) who find themselves after starting an unlikely business in crimescene cleanup. Overture Films is scheduled to release the film in March 2009.

Adams most recently starred in Bharat Nalluri's Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day opposite Frances McDormand. She also starred in Kevin Lima's Enchanted opposite James Marsden, Idina Menzel, Patrick Dempsey and Susan Sarandon. The film grossed over 400 million dollars worldwide and garnered her a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress. Adams also recently starred in Mike Nichols' Charlie Wilson's War opposite Tom Hanks, Julia Roberts and Philip Seymour Hoffman. Adams role in Phil Morrison's Junebug in 2005 earned her nominations for an Academy Award® and a SAG Award.

She won an Independent Spirit Award, Broadcast Film Critics Association Award, National Society of Film Critics Award, a San Francisco Film Critics Society Award, as well as the Breakthrough Gotham Award. Adams also won the Special Jury Prize for Acting at the 2005 Sundance Film Festival for her role as the pregnant, childlike 'Ashley,' who is awe-struck by the arrival of her glamorous sister-in-law. Adams' other film credits include Adam McKay's Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby with Will Ferrell, and Steven Spielberg's Catch Me If You Can with Leonardo DiCaprio.

2009 Best Supporting Actress Oscar Nominations
81st Academy Awards 2009 Actress in a Supporting Role Oscar Nominations

Penélope Cruz as Maria Elena in the movie "Vicky Cristina Barcelona"

Penélope Cruz portrays the fiery Maria Elena, a divorced woman still locked in a complex relationship with her ex-husband.

This is the second Academy Award Oscar nomination for Penélope Cruz. Penélope Cruz was previously nominated for her leading role in the movie "Volver" (2006).

Viola Davis as Mrs. Miller in the movie "Doubt"

Viola Davis plays Mrs. Miller, an African-American woman who learns that her son may be the victim of abuse by a priest at his school.

This is the first Academy Award Oscar nomination for Viola Davis.

Taraji P. Henson as Queenie in "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"

Taraji P. Henson plays Queenie, the woman who acts as nursemaid to Benjamin Button, a man who is aging backwards and has been born with the body of an old man.

This is the first Academy Award Oscar nomination for Taraji P. Henson.

Marisa Tomei as Cassidy in "The Wrestler"

As Cassidy, Marisa Tomei portrays a middle-aged stripper entering into a tentative relationship with a down-on-his-luck professional wrestler.

This is the 3rd Academy Award Oscar nomination for Marisa Tomei. Previous nominations for Marissa Tomei were My Cousin Vinny (1992), for which she won the Oscar, and In the Bedroom (2001).