Rachel McAdams facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Rachel McAdams
McAdams in 2016
Born	Rachel Anne McAdams (1978-11-17) November 17, 1978 (age 46) London, Ontario, Canada
Alma mater	York University (BFA)
Occupation	Actress
Years active	2001–present
Partner(s)	Jamie Linden (2016–present)
Children	2
Awards	Full list
Signature

Rachel Anne McAdams (born November 17, 1978) is a Canadian actress. She studied theatre at York University and started her career in Canadian TV shows and movies. She became famous in 2004 with the movies Mean Girls and The Notebook.

Rachel McAdams has starred in many popular films like Wedding Crashers, Red Eye, and The Family Stone. She was even called Hollywood's new "it girl" and was nominated for a BAFTA Award for Best Rising Star. Later, she appeared in films such as Sherlock Holmes, Midnight in Paris, and The Vow. For her role in the drama Spotlight (2015), she was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. She also joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe in Doctor Strange and its sequel.

On television, she starred in the crime drama True Detective (2015). In 2024, she made her first appearance on Broadway in the play Mary Jane, earning a Tony Award nomination.

Early Life and Education

Rachel Anne McAdams was born on November 17, 1978, in London, Ontario, Canada. Her mother, Sandra, was a nurse, and her father, Lance, was a truck driver. She grew up in St. Thomas and is the oldest of three children. Her family has roots from Scotland, England, Ireland, and Wales.

Rachel started figure skating when she was four years old. She skated competitively until she was 18 and won regional awards. She believes skating helped her with acting by teaching her to be aware of her body.

She went to Myrtle Street Public School and Central Elgin Collegiate Institute. Rachel wasn't always a fan of schoolwork, but she was very active in student life. She played sports like volleyball, badminton, and soccer. She was also part of the student council and other school programs. During summer holidays, she worked at a McDonald's restaurant for three years.

Rachel became interested in performing at age seven. She joined the Original Kids Theatre Company in London when she was 12. As a teenager, she even directed plays for children. Her English and drama teachers inspired her to pursue acting professionally. She then enrolled in York University's four-year theatre program and earned a degree in 2001.

Career Highlights

Early Acting Roles

In 2001, Rachel McAdams started her acting career on TV in an MTV show called Shotgun Love Dolls. That same year, she made her first Canadian movie appearance in the comedy My Name is Tanino. She also received a Genie Award nomination for her role in the drama Perfect Pie.

She played Kate McNab in Slings and Arrows, a comedy series about life behind the scenes at a theatre festival. She won a Gemini Award for her work on this show.

Becoming a Star

Rachel's big break came in 2004 with two major films. First, she starred in the comedy Mean Girls as Regina George, the popular but mean high school queen. Critics praised her funny and "delightfully hateful" performance. The movie was a huge success and helped her win two MTV Movie Awards.

Rachel McAdams with her The Notebook co-star Ryan Gosling at the 2005 MTV Movie Awards

Later in 2004, she starred with Ryan Gosling in the romantic drama The Notebook. To prepare, she learned a Southern accent and took ballet classes. Many critics loved her "spontaneous and combustible" performance. The film was very popular and is often called one of the most romantic movies ever. Rachel won an MTV Movie Award and four Teen Choice Awards for this role.

In 2005, Rachel appeared in three more successful movies. She was in the romantic comedy Wedding Crashers with Owen Wilson and Vince Vaughn. She also starred in the psychological thriller Red Eye and the family comedy-drama The Family Stone. Her performances in these films made her even more popular.

Taking a Break and Returning

After her busy period, Rachel McAdams took a break from movies in 2006 and 2007. She wanted to take time to decide what she truly wanted for her career. During this time, she turned down roles in several big films. In 2006, she was nominated for a Rising Star Award by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts.

She returned to acting in 2008 with the film Married Life. She also starred in the road trip comedy-drama The Lucky Ones, playing a soldier returning from war.

In 2009, Rachel starred in the political thriller State of Play as an online reporter. She visited The Washington Post offices to research her role. She also appeared in the science fiction romantic drama The Time Traveler's Wife, based on a popular novel.

Rachel McAdams at the premiere of Sherlock Holmes in 2009

Later in 2009, she played Irene Adler in the action-adventure film Sherlock Holmes with Robert Downey Jr.. This movie was a huge success worldwide. In 2010, she starred in the comedy Morning Glory as a TV producer.

Working with Famous Directors

In 2011, Rachel starred in Woody Allen's romantic comedy Midnight in Paris. She played a less friendly character than usual, and the film was a big hit. She also returned as Irene Adler in the sequel Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows.

Rachel McAdams at the 2012 Toronto International Film Festival

In 2012, Rachel starred with Channing Tatum in the romantic drama The Vow, based on a true story. She played a woman who loses her memory after an accident. The movie was a major success at the box office. She also appeared in Terrence Malick's romantic drama To the Wonder and the thriller Passion.

In 2013, Rachel starred in Richard Curtis' romantic comedy-drama About Time. The film was a success internationally. In 2014, she appeared in the spy thriller A Most Wanted Man with Philip Seymour Hoffman. Later that year, she received a star on Canada's Walk of Fame.

Recent Projects

Rachel McAdams at the 2015 Toronto International Film Festival

In 2015, Rachel McAdams played journalist Sacha Pfeiffer in the critically acclaimed film Spotlight. To prepare, she spent time with the real Sacha Pfeiffer. The movie won the Academy Award for Best Picture, and Rachel was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.

She also appeared in the romantic comedy-drama Aloha and the boxing drama Southpaw. In 2015, she returned to television as Detective Ani Bezzerides in the second season of HBO's crime drama True Detective, earning another award nomination.

Benedict Cumberbatch, Scott Derrickson, Tilda Swinton, Rachel McAdams, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Mads Mikkelsen and Benedict Wong at San Diego Comic-Con for Doctor Strange (2016)

In 2016, Rachel voiced a character in the animated film The Little Prince. She also co-starred with Benedict Cumberbatch in the superhero film Doctor Strange, playing Christine Palmer. She narrated an audiobook version of Anne of Green Gables that same year.

After a break, Rachel starred in the comedy Game Night (2018), where she showed off her great comedic timing. She also performed some of her own stunt driving in the film. Later in 2018, she starred with Rachel Weisz in the romantic drama Disobedience.

In 2020, she co-starred with Will Ferrell in the musical comedy Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga. She reprised her role as Christine Palmer in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022). In 2023, Rachel starred in Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret., a film based on the famous book by Judy Blume. Critics praised her performance as Margaret's mother.

In 2024, Rachel McAdams made her debut on Broadway in the play Mary Jane, for which she was nominated for a Tony Award.

Activism and Causes

Protecting the Environment

Rachel McAdams is very passionate about the environment. From 2007 to 2011, she ran an eco-friendly website called GreenIsSexy.org with friends. Her home uses renewable energy. She often rides her bicycle in Toronto and tries to live a green lifestyle.

After Hurricane Katrina in 2005, she volunteered in Mississippi and Louisiana to help with clean-up efforts. She has supported various environmental causes, including protests against a proposed quarry in Ontario, Canada. In 2013, she made videos for the Food & Water First Movement, which aims to protect farmland and water sources in Ontario. In 2014, she narrated a documentary called Take Me To The River, about saving important rivers. In 2021, she joined a video campaign asking the government to stop logging old growth rainforests in British Columbia.

Other Important Causes

In 2006, Rachel participated in a demonstration in Los Angeles called "Day Without Immigrants," protesting against laws that would make life harder for immigrants. In 2011, she attended the Occupy Toronto demonstration.

In 2013, she volunteered with Habitat for Humanity in her hometown. She has also worked with other charities like the Sunshine Foundation of Canada, the Alzheimer's Association, and United Way of Canada. She is part of Represent.Us, an organization that fights against corruption.

Filmography

Film

Television

Theatre

Music video

Awards and Nominations

Rachel McAdams has won many awards and received nominations throughout her career. For her role in Spotlight, she won a Screen Actors Guild Award, Critics' Choice Movie Award, Satellite Award, and Independent Spirit Award. She was also nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. Rachel has also been nominated for a BAFTA Rising Star Award and has won several MTV Movie Awards and Teen Choice Awards.

See also

In Spanish: Rachel McAdams para niños

• List of actors with Academy Award nominations