SunNov 17

Rachel McAdams

Rachel McAdams was born on November 17, 1978. She is a Canadian actress who shot to fame after starring in the critically successful 2004 comedy “Mean Girls” as the main antagonist, Regina George. She is a versatile actress who graduated from York University in 2001 with a degree in theatre. Her Hollywood debut took place in 2002 when she starred in “The Hot Chick” alongside Rob Schneider and Anna Faris. McAdams is also known for her role in the 2009 and 2011’s “Sherlock Holmes” with Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law. Among her most recent works was Marvel’s 2022 superhero film “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness” as Christine Palmer, a role that she reprised after the first “Doctor Strange” film in 2016. Today, we invite you to take a look back at her inspiring journey.

Fast Facts

Full Name:

Rachel Anne McAdams

Nickname:

Rach

Birth date:

November 17, 1978

Age:

45

Zodiac Sign:

Scorpio

Height:

5' 4"

Relationship Status:

In a relationship

Net Worth:

$25 million

Background

Rachel Anne McAdams was born on November 17, 1978, in London, Ontario, Canada. Her father, Lance McAdams, worked as a truck driver while her mother, Sandra Gale, was a nurse. She is the eldest of three siblings with a younger sister, Kayleen, who works as a make-up artist, and a younger brother, Daniel, who is a personal trainer. McAdams grew up in St. Thomas and was raised in a Protestant family. She has English, Scottish, Irish, and Welsh ancestry. James Gray, her maternal fifth great-grandfather, was a Ranger who remained loyal to the crown during the American Revolution from 1765 to 1791. He fled to Canada after the Battles of Saratoga in 1777. McAdams discovered her love for performing when she was seven years old. As a child, she used to attend both Disney and Shakespeare summer camps, and she took part in the Original Kids Theatre Company. She was in the company from 12 years old until her late teens when she began to direct children’s theater productions. Among her earlier achievements, she won a performance award at the Sears Ontario Drama Festival. Initially, McAdams thought of taking cultural studies at the University of Western Ontario. However, her drama teacher convinced her to consider a professional acting career. McAdams graduated from York University in 2001 after completing a four-year theater program with a bachelor’s degree in fine arts. During this time, she also worked with the Necessary Angel Theatre Company, which was based in Toronto.

McAdams’ first TV debut took place in the same year she finished her study as the character Beth Swanson in M.T.V.’s 2001 “Shotgun Love Dolls.” Her film debut in Canada was in the 2002’s comedy “My Name is Tanino.” McAdams later moved to Los Angeles and snatched the lead role in “The Hot Chick” opposite Rob Schneider, a 2002 comedy where she played a high school girl who suddenly had her body switched with a male criminal. However, her breakthrough role was none other than the iconic ‘Queen Bee’ Regina George in the critically successful 2004 teen comedy, “Mean Girls.” Cast alongside her was Lindsay Lohan, Amanda Seyfried, and Lacey Chabert. Written by Tina Fey, the movie amassed $129 million worldwide, earning McAdams two M.T.V. Movie Awards. She starred in the 2004 adaptation of “The Notebook,” a best-selling novel by Nicholas Sparks, opposite Ryan Gosling. Her multifaceted talent was further proven through her next roles spanning various genres, including the comedy “Wedding Crashers” and thriller film “Red Eye,” both in 2005.

Between 2006 to 2007, McAdams took a hiatus from her career. She rejected multiple roles, including popular titles like “The Devil Wears Prada,” Mission Impossible III,” and “Casino Royale,” all in 2006. Her comeback to the screen was in the 2009 crime drama film, “State of Play.” She also starred in “The Time Traveler’s Wife” with Eric Bana, a film based on Audrey Niffenegger’s novel. McAdams was the face behind the enigmatic Irene Adler in two “Sherlock Holmes” movies in 2009 and 2011, where she played alongside Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law, who was cast as Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s legendary detective and his trusty partner, Dr. Watson. She continued to shine in numerous movies of diverse genres to this day. Among her most recent works was the character Christine Palmer in Marvel’s 2016 film, “Doctor Strange,” and its 2022 sequel, “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.” Throughout her career, McAdams has received a lot of awards and nominations, including the Screen Actors Guild Award, Satellite Award, the Independent Spirit Award, and the Critics’ Choice Movie for her portrayal of Sacha Pfeiffer in “Spotlight,” a 2015 movie about the Boston’s Catholic Church child abuse scandal. The film itself won the Academy Awards for Best Picture and was praised for its detailed story and cast performance, earning McAdams an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress. She dated her former co-star Ryan Gosling from 2005 to 2007. After a brief reunion in 2008, the two separated for good and McAdams later had a relationship with her “Midnight in Paris” co-star, Michael Sheen, between 2010 and 2013. In 2016, she started dating screenwriter Jamie Linden, with whom she had a son who was born in April 2018. McAdams was reportedly expecting her second child with Linden in August 2020 but has not confirmed it even now, staying true to a statement she made in an interview that she wants to keep her family’s life private.

Career timeline

2001
She Appears on T.V.

McAdams makes her T.V. debut in M.T.V.’s “Shotgun Love Dolls” in the same year as her graduation from York University.

2002
She Makes Her Hollywood Debut

After her debut in Canada with “My Name is Tanino,” McAdams moves to Los Angeles and plays the lead role in “The Hot Chick.”

2004
She Brings Regina George to Life

McAdams stars in one of the most successful teen comedies ever made, “Mean Girls,” as the iconic George, skyrocketing her to great fame.

2006
She Takes a Break

After starring in numerous movies across the years, McAdams decides to go on hiatus.

2009
She Makes a Comeback

McAdams returns to the screen with the “State of Play,” “The Time Traveler’s Wife,” and “Sherlock Holmes.”

2015
She Stars in an Award-Winning Film

McAdams receives an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress due to her portrayal of Sacha Pfeiffer in “Spotlight,” a film that receives 69 awards from different award-giving bodies.

2016
She Enters the Marvel Cinematic Universe

McAdams appears as Christine Palmer in “Doctor Strange,” the love interest of the main character who was portrayed by Benedict Cumberbatch.

Why We Love Rachel McAdams

  1. She is a versatile actress

    From a high school “queen bee” to a woman torn between choices to an investigative journalist to a charming villain, McAdams does not limit herself to just a few types of characters. She was willing to learn new knowledge and gain new skills needed to play every new role. She immersed herself in her roles, too, resulting in realistic portrayals that audiences loved.

  2. She protects the environment

    McAdams is an environmentalist. Her house is powered with renewable energy by Canadian green energy retailer, Bullfrog Power. She ran a website with her two friends named GreenIsSexy.org from 2007 to 2011 to promote an eco-friendly lifestyle. McAdams also filmed multiple videos and documentaries which aimed to protect the environment.

  3. She cares for humanity

    McAdams did volunteer work in 2005 as part of the clean-up effort after Hurricane Katrina. She participated in the 2006 Los Angeles demonstration of “Day Without Immigrants” to criticize the federal government’s attempt to criminalize undocumented immigrants in the U.S. Other than that, she is also known to contribute to numerous charities, including the Alzheimer’s Association, the Sunshine Foundation of Canada, and many more.

5 Surprising Facts

  1. She stays away from the Internet

    Unlike most other celebrities, McAdams does not have social media.

  2. She likes bikes more than cars

    McAdams doesn’t own a car and prefers to ride her bicycle when traveling around Toronto.

  3. She stays away from horses

    McAdams is allergic to horse hair.

  4. She was a McDonald’s employee

    When she was still a student, McAdams used to work at McDonald’s for three years during the summer holidays.

  5. She was a former figure skater

    McAdams learned figure skating at four years old and was a competitive skater until 18 years old, winning a couple of regional awards.

Rachel McAdams FAQs

Why did Rachel McAdams go on hiatus?

In a 2013 interview with “The Times,” McAdams stated the following: “There were a lot of cooks in the kitchen, a lot of voices around me, and I wanted to step away so I could hear my own voice again.”

Why did Rachel McAdams walk out on the “Vanity Fair” shoot?

In 2006, McAdams was supposed to appear on the March cover of “Vanity Fair” with Keira Knightley and Scarlett Johansson. However, she only discovered upon arriving on the photo set that it would be a nude session. McAdams was uncomfortable with the theme, so she declined and left the location. Following the event, she parted ways with her publicist because they didn’t inform her in advance.

Does Rachel McAdams have face moles?

McAdams has some moles on her face and neck. She is proud of her complexion and even appeared without makeup on “Allure” magazine’s August 2014 cover.

Rachel McAdams’s birthday dates

Year Date Day
2024 November 17 Sunday
2025 November 17 Monday
2026 November 17 Tuesday
2027 November 17 Wednesday
2028 November 17 Friday