Amy Adams explains how she got under the skin of Camille Parker for 'Sharp Objects'

Actor Amy Adams has said that she needs to know the background of a character before she can embody it on screen.

According to Femalefirst, the Arrival star said that it adds to her performance if she can give her character a good back story.

"For each character, I build a psychological back story from the age of around three - I'll imagine their whole life leading up to the present day," Adams said.

Adams most recently starred in HBO series Sharp Objects where she played Camille Preaker, an emotionally troubled reporter who returns to her hometown to cover the murders of two young girls.

The 43-year-old actor said she is very grateful to her family for helping her during the making of show which often required her to visit "uncomfortable" places.

"You have to go and live in a place that's rather uncomfortable, but I am lucky that I have great friends and family and they pull you right out at the end of the day. It was darker and deeper than I first thought though," Adams said.