Amy Adams has shared an incredible real-life story that proves some lessons from acting can be useful off-screen, too.
The Oscar-nominated actor said she helped save the life of a man who had been stabbed in the neck by using basic medical advice she learned while playing nurse in the 2004 CBS series.
How Amy Adams Used The Lessons She Learned From ‘Dr. Vegas’
Adams shared the story during the latest episode of the Smartless podcast. She said she, her husband, and her family had just finished eating at their favorite restaurant in Santa Monica when they suddenly saw a man who had been stabbed in the neck.
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She explained that they were “the first people on the scene.” People around the injured man were panicking. Adams recalled, “These people were screaming, and a guy was walking, and they were yelling, ‘He’s dying!’ And my husband’s like, ‘That’s blood!’”
At the time, Adams had already played nurse Alice Doherty in the 2004 CBS medical drama ‘Dr. Vegas‘. She quickly grabbed some beach towels and pressed them against the man’s neck to help stop the bleeding while waiting for emergency responders.
Adams said one important lesson from ‘Dr. Vegas‘ stayed in her mind long after filming ended. She remembered that keeping a badly injured person calm could slow the bleeding.
“He was bleeding, and his friends were freaking out,” she said. Adams stayed calm and told the injured man, “The more you struggle, the faster you’re going to bleed. Just lay down,” explaining that she had learned that advice while working on the medical drama.
The Emotional Reunion One Year Later
Adams never imagined that a television role would prepare her for a real emergency. But in that moment, the training she received for the show helped her stay focused and take action.
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About a year after the incident, Adams had an unexpected meeting with the man she had helped. She was eating at another restaurant when a stranger walked up to her and said, “I heard a story that you and your dad were on the scene of a guy getting stabbed.”
Adams suddenly realized who he was. “And I was like, ‘Oh my God, it’s you.’ And it was him.” She described the reunion as “crazy” and said the man became “teary” during the emotional conversation.
Although CBS canceled the show after just five episodes, the complete 10-episode season was later released internationally, including in Ireland and the U.K., and gained quite a popularity.
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