Rachel McAdams is an award-winning Canadian actor who has become one of Hollywood’s leading stars. From her breakthrough role in the cult classic movie Mean Girls, to her later successes in romantic comedies such as The Notebook and Morning Glory, Rachel has established herself as one of Hollywood’s most bankable actors. Here we explore her filmography, career milestones, red carpet appearances, personal life and relationships, philanthropic work, interests and hobbies, and influences and inspirations.
Early Life & Education
Rachel McAdams was born in London, Ontario on November 17th, 1978. She attended Central Elgin Collegiate Institute before attending York University in Toronto where she studied Theatre. After graduating with a BFA degree in 2001, Rachel decided to pursue acting full-time.
Breakthrough Role in ‘Mean Girls’
In 2004, Rachel starred alongside Lindsay Lohan in the popular teen comedy Mean Girls. Her performance as Regina George earned her two MTV Movie Award nominations for Best Comedic Performance and Best On-Screen Team (shared with co-stars Lindsay Lohan, Amanda Seyfried and Lacey Chabert). The success of this movie led to many offers from major studios and directors.
Career Milestones & Awards
Following Mean Girls’ success, Rachel went on to star in some of Hollywood’s biggest movies including Wedding Crashers (2005), Red Eye (2005), The Family Stone (2005) and Sherlock Holmes (2009). For her performance in the 2008 drama The Lucky Ones, Rachel received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress in a Motion Picture Comedy or Musical. Other awards include ShoWest Convention Female Star of Tomorrow (2006) and Phoenix Film Critics Society Award for Best Cast (2007).
Romantic Comedy Successes
In 2004, Rachel starred opposite Ryan Gosling in the romance movie The Notebook which catapulted her into global stardom. This movie became a box office hit grossing over $115 million worldwide. In 2010, Rachel starred opposite Harrison Ford in the romantic comedy Morning Glory for which she won the People’s Choice Award for Favorite Leading Lady.
More Recent Projects
Recent projects include the superhero movie Doctor Strange (2016), historical drama Disobedience (2017), and science fiction actioner Alita: Battle Angel (2019). In 2019, Rachel also starred in the highly acclaimed Netflix original series “The Big Steal” playing the lead role of Jessica Wells.
Accolades from Critics
Rachel has been praised by critics for her performances throughout her career. Peter Travers of Rolling Stone called her “one of our finest actors”. Richard Roeper said that she “can convey more emotion with just a look than some actresses can do with pages of dialogue.”
Personal Life & Relationships
Since 2013, Rachel has been dating screenwriter Jamie Linden with whom she shares a son born in 2018. Previous partners include Michael Sheen (2010–2013) and Josh Lucas (2009–2010).
Philanthropic Work & Causes
In addition to her acting career, Rachel is committed to helping those less fortunate than herself. She supports various charities including World Vision Canada, Waterkeeper Alliance and Aviva Canada. She is also involved in animal welfare causes like SPCA and Humane Society International.
Interests & Hobbies
When not working, Rachel enjoys photography, cooking, traveling, going to the theatre and art galleries. She is a self-described homebody who loves spending time at home with friends and family.
Influences & Inspirations
When asked about what inspires her, Rachel cites Meryl Streep and Robert De Niro as being among her heroes. She also admires Jack Nicholson and Albert Brooks.
Conclusion
From her breakout performance in Mean Girls to her recent roles in blockbuster films such as Doctor Strange and Alita: Battle Angel, Rachel McAdams has demonstrated an extraordinary talent for capturing emotions on screen. With so many successful projects under her belt, it seems certain that there will be plenty more accolades for this award-winning Canadian actor in years to come.