Amy Adams clearly reveres strength in women—real or otherwise. In the time that Adams has embodied the iconic role of Lois Lane in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, she has gained new insight on the star reporter. "She's so focused on her pursuit of truth, and so stubborn. Those are traits that I have, too—it was great to feel that maybe she doesn't have it all together." How does that mettle translate to Adams's own life? This part is trickier.

"I've probably conceded to more that I disagree with as a woman because I felt like I had to," says the actress. "I don't like fighting. Sometimes I just go along with things even though I know they're not in my best interest."

When Jennifer Lawrence wrote about being paid less than her male counterparts in American Hustle, the one person whose voice was conspicuously missing from the discussion was Adams, the other underpaid female star. She even had an appearance on the Today show canceled because the show claimed she wouldn't answer questions on the matter; Adams, at the time, disagreed with that characterization but still didn't speak out. Now that the dust has settled, she's more than eager to talk about it. Unlike Lawrence, who didn't know about the pay discrepancy until she read emails leaked in the Sony hack, Adams knew her salary wasn't as high from the start. "I negotiated, and I tried to get paid as much [as Jeremy Renner and Bradley Cooper]," Adams says.

"But I felt like if I kept pushing, I wouldn't have had the opportunity. So that's on me." Yes, it is—but it's also on the industry. And to be very clear, Adams is certainly not asking for sympathy. "I wasn't comfortable [talking about it] because I don't feel bad for myself as an actress," she says. "I feel really fortunate. I started doing research, and it was striking how women don't feel comfortable negotiating for raises." Adams cringes at the idea of fighting only for her own privilege. "That's what is so great about what [UN Women Goodwill Ambassador] Emma Watson is doing. She's not talking about actresses; she's talking about women all over the world."

Go behind the scenes of Amy Adams's Allure cover shoot: