Rachel McAdams, a renowned Canadian actress, has an estimated net worth of $25 million. She is widely celebrated for her roles in movies such as Mean Girls (2004), The Notebook (2004), Wedding Crashers (2005), Sherlock Holmes (2009), and Game Night (2018). Her remarkable career includes multiple award nominations, including an Oscar nod for her performance in Spotlight (2015). While known for her film roles, McAdams also had notable television appearances in Slings & Arrows (2003–2005) and True Detective (2015).
In 2016, McAdams played Christine Palmer in Doctor Strange, a Marvel film that grossed $677.7 million globally. She reprised her role in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2020). McAdams also starred alongside Will Ferrell in the 2020 Netflix hit Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga, which quickly became the most-streamed film on Netflix during its release weekend.
Early Life and Background
Rachel Anne McAdams was born on November 17, 1978, in London, Ontario, Canada. She grew up in a Protestant family with her parents, Sandra, a nurse, and Lance, a truck driver. McAdams has two siblings, Kayleen and Daniel. She developed a passion for figure skating early on, beginning at age four. McAdams competed in regional skating events before quitting at 18 to pursue acting. As a student at Myrtle Street Public School and Central Elgin Collegiate Institute, McAdams participated in sports like volleyball, soccer, and badminton.
She was involved in the school’s student council and Peer Helping Team and began performing with the Original Kids Theatre Company in London at the age of 12. McAdams also directed children’s plays and earned an acting award at the 1995 Sears Ontario Drama Festival. After high school, McAdams pursued a Bachelor of Fine Arts honors degree from York University in Toronto, graduating in 2001.
Career Beginnings and Rise to Fame
McAdams made her television debut in 2001, starring in the MTV pilot Shotgun Love Dolls and appearing in an episode of The Famous Jett Jackson on the Disney Channel. In 2002, she appeared in films such as My Name is Tanino and Perfect Pie, and she also starred in The Hot Chick, alongside Rob Schneider and Anna Faris. That year, McAdams made guest appearances on the sci-fi series Earth: Final Conflict and the TV movie Guilt by Association.
From 2003 to 2004, McAdams had a significant role in Slings & Arrows, where she played Kate McNab. She landed her big break in 2004, playing the infamous Regina George in the comedy Mean Girls, which became a cult classic. The film grossed $130 million at the box office and was later adapted into a Broadway musical. McAdams’ other notable film from 2004 was The Notebook, a romantic drama that grossed $116.1 million worldwide. She followed this success with hits like Wedding Crashers (2005), Red Eye (2005), and The Family Stone (2005), all of which performed well at the box office.
The Hiatus and Return to Film
McAdams took a break from Hollywood between 2006 and 2007, turning down roles in major films like Get Smart, The Devil Wears Prada, Mission: Impossible III, and Casino Royale. After her hiatus, she returned to acting in 2008 with The Lucky Ones. In 2009, she starred in several successful films, including State of Play, The Time Traveler’s Wife, and Sherlock Holmes. The latter became a major box office hit, grossing $524 million worldwide. She reprised her role as Irene Adler in the 2011 sequel Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows, which grossed $545.4 million globally.
In 2010, McAdams starred alongside Diane Keaton and Harrison Ford in Morning Glory, and in 2011, she appeared in Midnight in Paris. She continued to build her impressive resume with roles in The Vow (2012), Passion (2012), and To the Wonder (2012).
Expanding Her Roles and Diversity in Cinema
In 2013, McAdams starred in About Time, a romantic comedy-drama centered around time travel. The following year, she starred alongside Philip Seymour Hoffman in the spy thriller A Most Wanted Man. She had a busy year in 2015, starring in several films, including The Little Prince (where she voiced The Mother), Every Thing Will Be Fine, Aloha, Southpaw, and Spotlight. McAdams received critical acclaim for her role in Spotlight, earning an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress.
Later in 2016, McAdams joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe with Doctor Strange and appeared in the indie film Disobedience (2017). In 2018, she starred in Game Night, a dark comedy with Jason Bateman. McAdams also featured in the 2020 Netflix film Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga, where she portrayed Icelandic singer Sigrit Ericksdóttir. The film’s music earned nominations for both a Grammy and an Academy Award.
Philanthropy
Rachel McAdams has had a few high-profile relationships. She began dating screenwriter Jamie Linden in April 2016, and the couple welcomed a son in 2018. She previously had relationships with her The Notebook co-star Ryan Gosling and actor Michael Sheen, whom she met on the set of Midnight in Paris.
Apart from her acting career, McAdams is dedicated to environmental and charitable causes. In 2007, she launched the eco-friendly website GreenIsSexy.org to promote sustainable living. She also appeared in two 2013 promotional videos for the Food and Water First Campaign and has volunteered with Habitat for Humanity. In 2005, McAdams traveled to Mississippi and Louisiana to assist in clean-up efforts following Hurricane Katrina. She actively supports charitable organizations like the United Way of Canada, the Alzheimer’s Association, and the Sunshine Foundation of Canada. McAdams is also a member of Represent.Us, an anti-corruption organization dedicated to reforming the U.S. political system.
Recognition and Awards
McAdams has received numerous accolades for her work, including an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress for her role in Spotlight. Her performance earned her a variety of nominations from several prestigious award bodies, such as the Screen Actors Guild and the Broadcast Film Critics Association. She and her Spotlight co-stars were awarded the ensemble cast honor at the Screen Actors Guild Awards.
She also won a Gemini Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Supporting Role in a Dramatic Series for her role in Slings and Arrows. McAdams was named Breakthrough Actress by the Hollywood Film Awards in recognition of her work in Wedding Crashers, The Family Stone, and Red Eye. She also won six Teen Choice Awards, including Best Movie Actress: Drama for The Notebook and Choice Movie Liplock for her famous kiss with Ryan Gosling. In 2014, McAdams was honored with a star on Canada’s Walk of Fame.
