Film Real Catch For 'Catch Me' Co-Star

Sure, Leonardo DiCaprio is an easy "catch" for co-star Amy Adams in the blockbuster caper "Catch Me if You Can," but in real life, the "Titanic" star is the one who almost got away from the relative newcomer.

"I had a crush on him in 'Growing Pains,' which a lot of girls did -- but then I followed his career because he was such a good actor," Adams recalled for me in a recent @ The Movies interview. "After I saw him in 'The Basketball Diaries' and 'What's Eating Gilbert Grape,' I stopped paying attention to how dreamy he was.

"Then suddenly 'Titanic' comes and everyone fell in love with him. I felt robbed! I thought, "Hey wait a minute, this is my guy. He is not for the world to know about."

But, Adams, playfully added, her interest in DiCaprio was strictly professional.

"I had what I call a 'talent crush.' I'm not one of those girls swayed by the pretty boys if they have nothing to offer," Adams said.

Based on a true story, "Catch Me if You Can" follows the exploits of Frank Abagnale Jr. (DiCaprio), a young con artist on the run from FBI Agent Carl Hanratty. Adams plays the pivotal role of Brenda Strong, an innocent hospital candy striper who becomes the only pure and honest love Abagnale finds on his never-ending path of cheating others out of millions of dollars.

While he's truly fallen for her, though, Frank's future with Brenda is uncertain. But that was hardly the case for DiCaprio and Adams during the making of the film, as the actor proved time and again not only his dedication to the role and the production, but his commitment to his co-stars, including Adams.

In the end, Adams said, working with DiCaprio was an invaluable learning experience.

"I learned a lot about committing to each moment -- that's one thing that Leonardo does so well," Adams praised. "He's so committed to the work he's doing."

"It's not that I wasn't committed before, but watching people who are so good, and so comfortable in their own skin and so confident and competent -- you can't help but learn," she added." Leonardo was so available and was there every take whether he was on camera or off camera. He really taught me that that's how I want to be."

Perhaps Adams greatest teacher, though, was director Steven Spielberg, whom she said was supportive of her from the first time they met.

"He's very considerate of the fact that this is all new to me and exciting to me," Adams said. "He invited me in to watch him edit of the scenes -- it was so fascinating."

Adams observed that the whole filmmaking experience seemed as fresh and exciting to Spielberg as it did to her -- and he's been in the business about 30 years longer than she has.

"I was also so excited to get to work every morning because Spielberg was already there," Adams enthused. "He would talk to you about the scenes and tell you 'I'm really excited -- we've got some good stuff to do today.' By the time you got in front of the camera, you were so excited, focused and thrilled -- because everybody is 100 percent there. It was the ideal working environment."

"While Adams approaches the business as a professional, it's obvious she has a love for movies as an audience member, too. And if working with DiCaprio, Spielberg and Martin Sheen (who plays her father in the film) wasn't enough, she also shot a pivotal scene with Tom Hanks: she only wishes she could remember it.

"I can't even tell you what it was like because I trying so hard to focus on the character," Adams said, laughing. "I've watched Tom Hanks for pretty much my entire life. I've laughed with his films, and cried with them. And then, I'm suddenly there with this person who's made us feel so many things, but I had to be Brenda. I really had to shut Amy down at that point. I had a great time, but Amy wasn't there."

Even though she had to shut herself down in front of Hanks, Adams says the differences between the real Amy and her "Catch Me" character aren't really that far apart.

"I had to make sure that Brenda was Brenda, and Amy was Amy, and not let the lines bleed. There's definitely an aspect of Brenda in me. I'm really goofy like her, and she has a freedom that I'm trying not to lose," Adams said. "There's definitely a part of me that's scared and vulnerable and wants to believe that I hear, and that's the part that I fight with."

And with "Catch Me if You Can," she was more than happy to show that innocent side. Out in Hollywood since 1998 with roles in such films as "Drop Dead Gorgeous" and "Serving Sara," and television guest shots on "That '70s Show," "Buffy, the Vampire Slayer," "Smallville" and "The West Wing" -- she's learned to adjust to the ups and downs of the entertainment business.

"As an actress you have to put the strong foot forward," Adams concluded. "When you're out in Los Angeles and pursuing this career, you have to toughen up and develop a thick skin. So, it's nice to get to honor that (innocent) side of you in a professional setting and have people value it."