Rachel McAdams is a Canadian actress known for her versatility in various film genres.
Born on November 17, 1978, in London, Ontario, Canada, she comes from a family of English, Welsh, Irish, and Scottish descent.
McAdams became involved with acting as a teenager, performing in Shakespearean productions in summer theater camp, and later graduated with honors with a BFA degree in Theater from York University.
In addition to her film work, McAdams has been romantically linked with her Midnight in Paris (2011) co-star Michael Sheen.
She has received numerous awards and nominations for her performances, including a ShoWest Supporting Actress of the Year Award and a Breakthrough Actress of the Year at the Hollywood Film Awards.
Net worth
McAdams has an estimated net worth of $25 million.
She primarily generates her wealth through her successful acting career in film and television, lucrative endorsement deals, and entrepreneurial ventures.
Her diverse roles in blockbuster hits like The Notebook and Sherlock Holmes have solidified her status as a leading actress, contributing significantly to her net worth.
Additionally, McAdams has ventured into producing and has secured endorsement deals with renowned brands, further boosting her income.
Her commitment to philanthropy and environmental causes also showcases her dedication to making a positive impact beyond the entertainment industry
Early career
McAdams began acting as a teenager, performing in Shakespearean productions at summer theater camp.
She went on to graduate with honors with a BFA degree in Theater from York University in Toronto.
McAdams made her television debut in 2001 with a minor role on the Disney Channel series, The Famous Jett Jackson. That same year, she made her film debut in the Canadian/Italian co-production My Name Is Tanino.
In 2002, McAdams had her Hollywood film debut in the comedy The Hot Chick with Rob Schneider and Anna Faris.
She was praised for her performance, with a critic saying she “emerges as a young actress of much promise”.
McAdams then returned to Canada to star in the comedy TV series Slings and Arrows from 2003 to 2005, for which she won a Gemini Award.
She also earned a Genie Award nomination in Canada for her role in the 2002 drama film, Perfect Pie
Breakthrough
McAdams’ breakthrough role came in 2004 when she starred in the comedy film Mean Girls opposite Lindsay Lohan, Lacey Chabert, and Amanda Seyfried.
She was 24 years old when she was cast as the mean high school queen bee Regina George, and she modelled her character on Alec Baldwin’s performance in the drama Glengarry Glen Ross (1992).
Her portrayal of Regina George was widely praised by critics, with Mike Clark of USA Today noting her “comic flair,” Jenny McCartney of The Daily Telegraph finding her “delightfully hateful,” and Mick LaSalle of the San Francisco Chronicle feeling that “McAdams brings glamour and magnetism to Regina, but also the right hint of comic distance”.
The film grossed $129 million worldwide and earned McAdams two MTV Movie Awards.
Mean Girls later reached No. 12 in an Entertainment Weekly list of the Greatest Ever High School Movies.
Awards and accolades
Some of McAdam’s major accolades include an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress for Spotlight (2015) and a Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture for Spotlight (2015).
Others are a Critics’ Choice Movie Award for Best Acting Ensemble for Spotlight (2015), a Critics’ Choice Movie Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress for Spotlight (2015) and a BAFTA Rising Star Award nomination in 2005.
McAdams also won the ShoWest’s Supporting Actress of the Year Award in 2005, ShoWest’s Breakthrough Actress of the Year Award in 2005, ShoWest’s Female Star of the Year Award in 2009 and numerous MTV Movie Awards and Teen Choice Awards.
She has also received critical acclaim and awards recognition for her performances in films like Mean Girls (2004), The Notebook (2004), Wedding Crashers (2005), Midnight in Paris (2011) and Disobedience (2018).
McAdams is considered one of the most talented and versatile actresses of her generation.
Personal life
McAdams has been in a long-term relationship with screenwriter Jamie Linden since 2016. The couple has two children together – a son born in 2018 and a daughter born in 2020.
However, McAdams and Linden have chosen to keep their children’s names and identities private.
McAdams has spoken about how becoming a mother has been “the greatest thing that’s ever happened” to her.
She has described her son as “entertaining” and said he has been a bright spot during difficult times like the COVID-19 lockdown.
The actress has also expressed excitement about having a daughter, saying she might have been “secretly yearning” for a girl.
McAdams feels a personal connection to playing a mother in the film adaptation of Judy Blume’s novel Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret because of her own experiences as a parent.
Real estate
McAdams owns two main properties.
The first is a $3.82 million home in Los Angeles, California that she shares with her partner and their two children.
The 1949 home sits on 0.35 acres, has 3,862 square feet of living space, four bedrooms, five bathrooms, elevated ceilings, a spacious living room with a fireplace, a modern kitchen, and a media room.
The second property is a late 1880s Victorian-style semi-detached row house in the Harbord Village neighborhood of Toronto, Canada.
McAdams has lived in this modest home, which likely originally cost around $750,000, for many years.
It has an extension in the back, a private backyard rooftop, and a lush garden where McAdams enjoys spending time.
She shares this home with her younger brother and gets around the city by bicycle.
McAdams has chosen to live a relatively simple life with just these two homes, in contrast to the stereotype of Hollywood stars owning multiple lavish properties.
Her Toronto home reflects her down-to-earth personality, while her LA residence provides a comfortable family retreat.
