AMY ADAMS is the Sara Lee of actresses - nobody doesn't like her.

The blue-eyed, strawberry blonde won the hearts of Oscar voters (and her first nomination) for her work as a rural ditz in "Junebug," and charmed moviegoers as the animated princess come to life in "Enchanted."

Her bubbly appeal could lead her into the career quicksand of typecasting, but so what?

In our new anger, outrage, snark-based economy, it's nice to know somebody can make a mint being a sweetie-pie.

"When people talk about the commonality of the characters I do, I think that's because I'm playing people with a positive outlook. A flawed character really trying to make themselves better, and there are a lot of different ways to play that," she said.

And besides, it's hard to be too worried about your career when you're as busy as Adams.

She's just off her second Oscar nomination for "Doubt," and is now appearing in her first tentpole summer blockbuster "Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian," playing aviator Amelia Earhart.

It's a slightly different role for Adams, who specializes in fragile, delicate characters. Earhart drives much of the action in "Museum" - when the exhibits spring to life, she rallies the good guys (along with Ben Stiller) against the bad guys, and kisses the shy, stammering Stiller when he balks at making the first move.

"I loved the take-charge attitude of Amelia. What Shawn [director Levy] really wanted me to do was bring the fun out in the role. Believe it or not, I did a lot of research into Earhart, what it was like for her at the time, a woman in man's world, being a leader. She had fun doing it, and that's what I wanted to highlight," Adams said.

She loves the idea that so many young girls will see the movie.

"I'd been aware of this part before I was offered it, and it's something I really went after. I learned a lot from 'Enchanted,' the way it impacted kids in a positive way, and that's something I want to keep on doing. I want to keep family films in my rotation of projects."

Adams has just returned from Europe, where she shot an adult romantic comedy about a woman who travels to Ireland to find a fiance with cold feet, then meets a charming Englishman (Matthew Goode).

She's also wrapped "Julie and Julia," based on the book about a women who gets her chaotic life in order by methodically preparing every dish in Julia Child's "Mastering the Art of French Cooking." It's her second movie with Meryl Streep, who plays Child.

Has Adams learned anything from the master?

"She hasn't given any specific advice, or anything. But you learn a lot by watching, how unbelievably prepared she is, always ready to give the director different things. If you can't learn by watching her, there's something wrong with you." *