Rachel McAdams

Rachel Anne McAdams was born on November 17, 1978,{{cite web |url=http://i.imgur.com/5YM53.jpg |title=McAdams birth announcement |work=The London Free Press |date=December 17, 1978 |access-date=May 14, 2012 |quote=...a daughter, Rachel Anne, November 17th, 1978... |archive-date=March 6, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180306214147/https://imgur.com/5YM53 |url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/nation/la-sh-celebrities-canadian-photos-20140124-photogallery.html|title=Celebrities you didn't know were Canadian|work=Los Angeles Times|date=January 24, 2014|access-date=July 5, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240705084629/https://www.latimes.com/nation/la-sh-celebrities-canadian-photos-20140124-photogallery.html|archive-date=July 5, 2024|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/birthdays-today-rachel-mcadams-35-7vw70tg3xz6|title=Birthdays today: Rachel McAdams, 35|work=The Times|url-access=subscription|date=November 17, 2013|access-date=July 5, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240705084335/https://www.thetimes.com/article/birthdays-today-rachel-mcadams-35-7vw70tg3xz6|archive-date=July 5, 2024|url-status=live}} in London, Ontario, Canada, to nurse Sandra ({{nee}} Gale) and truck driver Lance McAdams. She grew up in St. Thomas in a Protestant household.{{cite web |url=http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/movies/new-movies/spotlight-star-rachel-mcadams-talks-oscar-nominations-the-catholic-church-and-the-marvel-universe/news-story/51c0b8fe21a91cd3af462c809bb94c46 |title=Spotlight star Rachel McAdams talks Oscar nominations, the Catholic Church and the Marvel Universe |date=January 27, 2016 |work=news.com.au |access-date=April 15, 2016 |archive-date=April 14, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160414234528/http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/movies/new-movies/spotlight-star-rachel-mcadams-talks-oscar-nominations-the-catholic-church-and-the-marvel-universe/news-story/51c0b8fe21a91cd3af462c809bb94c46 |url-status=live}} The eldest of three children, she has a younger sister who is a make-up artist{{Cite news |last=Nguyen |first=Diana |date=September 29, 2017 |url=http://www.eonline.com/news/883982/rachel-mcadams-makeup-artist-shares-her-beauty-staples#photo-850381 |title=Rachel McAdams' Makeup Artist Shares Her Beauty Staples |work=E! Online |access-date=June 26, 2020 |archive-date=July 16, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200716152747/https://www.eonline.com/news/883982/rachel-mcadams-makeup-artist-shares-her-beauty-staples#photo-850381 |url-status=live}} and a younger brother who is a personal trainer.{{Cite web |url=http://www.mcadamsfitness.ca/ |title=McAdams Fitness | Personal Trainer Toronto |website=www.mcadamsfitness.ca |access-date=June 26, 2020 |archive-date=February 25, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210225060821/http://www.mcadamsfitness.ca/ |url-status=live}}{{cite magazine |title=The Notebook, Part Two |first=Sally |last=Singer |magazine=Vogue |date=January 2010 |issue=8449 |page=92}}{{Cite news |url=https://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-news/news/rachel-mcadams-has-a-hot-brother-named-daniel-photos-2015159/ |title=Rachel McAdams Has a Hot Brother Named Daniel: Photos |date=September 15, 2015 |work=Us Weekly |access-date=November 14, 2017 |archive-date=November 14, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171114202239/https://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-news/news/rachel-mcadams-has-a-hot-brother-named-daniel-photos-2015159/ |url-status=live}} McAdams is of Scottish, English, Irish and Welsh descent.{{cite web |url=http://www.accesshollywood.com/rachel-mcadams-talks-shooting-in-the-rain-for-about-time_video_1832837 |title=Rachel McAdams Talks Shooting In The Rain For About Time |work=Access Hollywood |date=October 28, 2013 |access-date=April 13, 2014 |archive-date=August 6, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150806011137/http://www.accesshollywood.com/rachel-mcadams-talks-shooting-in-the-rain-for-about-time_video_1832837 |url-status=live}}{{cite web |url=http://www.tlc.com/tv-shows/who-do-you-think-you-are/rachel-mcadams-photos.htm |title=Photos: Rachel McAdams Canadian Cinema Darling |publisher=TLC |access-date=August 5, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140808052836/http://www.tlc.com/tv-shows/who-do-you-think-you-are/rachel-mcadams-photos.htm |archive-date=August 8, 2014}}{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/starsandstories/9041802/Rachel-McAdams-I-love-the-British-sense-of-humour.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/starsandstories/9041802/Rachel-McAdams-I-love-the-British-sense-of-humour.html |archive-date=January 10, 2022 |url-status=live |title=Rachel McAdams: 'I love the British sense of humour' |first=Elaine |last=Lipworth |date=February 10, 2012 |access-date=June 26, 2020 |newspaper=The Telegraph |url-access=limited}}{{cbignore}} Her maternal fifth great-grandfather, James Gray, fought as a Loyalist Ranger during the American Revolution and fled to Upper Canada after the Battles of Saratoga.{{cite web |url=http://corporate.ancestry.com/press/press-releases/2014/7/Researchers-from-Ancestrycom-Help-Explore-the-Oregon-Trail-Klondike-Gold-Rush--more-on-New-Season-of-TLC-Series-Who-Do-You-Think-You-Are/ |title=Researchers From Ancestry.com Help Explore the Oregon Trail, Klondike Gold Rush, & More on New Season of TLC Series "Who Do You Think You Are?" |date=July 23, 2014 |work=Ancestry.com |access-date=August 3, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140808054142/http://corporate.ancestry.com/press/press-releases/2014/7/Researchers-from-Ancestrycom-Help-Explore-the-Oregon-Trail-Klondike-Gold-Rush--more-on-New-Season-of-TLC-Series-Who-Do-You-Think-You-Are/ |archive-date=August 8, 2014}}{{cite web |url=http://blogs.ancestry.com/ancestry/2014/08/07/who-do-you-think-you-are-recap-rachel-and-kayleen-mcadams-discover-land-grant-for-a-loyalist/ |title=Who Do You Think You Are? Recap: Rachel and Kayleen McAdams Discover Land Grant for a Loyalist |work=Ancestry.com |date=August 7, 2014 |access-date=August 7, 2014 |archive-date=August 11, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140811045303/http://blogs.ancestry.com/ancestry/2014/08/07/who-do-you-think-you-are-recap-rachel-and-kayleen-mcadams-discover-land-grant-for-a-loyalist |url-status=live}}{{cite web |url=http://blogs.ancestry.com/cm/2014/08/07/kayleen-and-rachel-mcadams-discover-the-sacrifices-their-ancestors-made/ |title=Kayleen and Rachel McAdams Discover the sacrifices Their Ancestors Made |work=Ancestry.com |date=August 7, 2014 |access-date=August 9, 2014 |archive-date=August 10, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140810054008/http://blogs.ancestry.com/cm/2014/08/07/kayleen-and-rachel-mcadams-discover-the-sacrifices-their-ancestors-made/ |url-status=live}}

McAdams began figure skating when she was four, but turned down an opportunity to move to Toronto when she was nine for pair skating training. She skated competitively until she was 18, winning regional awards.{{cite web |url=http://www.people.com/people/rachel_mcadams/biography |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070310140531/http://www.people.com/people/rachel_mcadams/biography|archive-date=March 10, 2007 |title=Rachel McAdams |work=People |access-date=June 11, 2011}}[https://web.archive.org/web/20120406235050/http://www.darkhorizons.com/features/731/rachel-mcadams-lacey-chabert-amanda-seyfried-for-mean-girls Interview: Rachel McAdams, Lacey Chabert, Amanda Seyfried for "Mean Girls"], darkhorizons.com. Accessed April 29, 2004. She has said that skating prepared her for acting by teaching her to be "in tune" with her body.Interview Magazine "Rachel McAdams by Owen Wilson" (July 2005)

McAdams attended Myrtle Street Public School and Central Elgin Collegiate Institute.{{cite web |url=http://www.canada.com/topics/entertainment/story.html?id=4381af31-ed12-42bc-bbab-3c8d46b151d3&k=71091 |title=Rachel McAdams' roots are in smalltown Ontario |work=Postmedia News |date=May 22, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160108020424/http://www.canada.com/topics/entertainment/story.html?id=4381af31-ed12-42bc-bbab-3c8d46b151d3&k=71091 |archive-date=January 8, 2016|access-date=January 25, 2017 |quote=Born at London's St. Joseph's Hospital on Oct. 7, 1978 as the first of three – her siblings are Daniel and Kayleen – to Sandra, a nurse, and Lance, a truck driver, McAdams grew up in a brick house on a quiet block of Chestnut Street in St. Thomas. |last1=Com |first1=Canada }}{{cite web |url=https://www.tmz.com/2007/03/14/a-peak-at-rachels-third-grade-notebook/ |title=A Peek at Rachel's Third Grade "Notebook" |work=TMZ |date=March 14, 2007 |access-date=June 16, 2011 |archive-date=April 3, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120403013846/http://www.tmz.com/2007/03/14/a-peak-at-rachels-third-grade-notebook |url-status=live}} She said that she did not enjoy academic work and often pretended to be sick to avoid going to school.{{cite news |url=http://www.scotsman.com/lifestyle/interview-rachel-mcadams-actor-1-2071793 |title=Interview: Rachel McAdams, actor |newspaper=The Scotsman |date=January 23, 2012 |access-date=April 13, 2014 |archive-date=April 15, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140415125411/http://www.scotsman.com/lifestyle/interview-rachel-mcadams-actor-1-2071793 |url-status=live}} Nonetheless, she was active in student life. In addition to playing sports (including volleyball, badminton, and soccer),{{citation |title=Control freak role was a mean feat for Rachel McAdams: The Two- Minute Interview |work=National Post |date=May 5, 2004}} she was on the student council, participated in the Crime Stoppers program, and was a member of the Peer Helping Team. She worked at a McDonald's restaurant during summer holidays for three years.{{cite web |url=http://www.glamour.com/entertainment/2012/01/rachel-mcadams-glamour-magazine-cover-interview-ok-we-love-this-girl?currentPage=all |title=Rachel McAdams: OK, We Love This Girl! |first=Alexandra |last=Marshall |date=January 2012 |work=Glamour magazine | access-date = January 4, 2012 | archive-date = December 3, 2013 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131203095017/http://www.glamour.com/entertainment/2012/01/rachel-mcadams-glamour-magazine-cover-interview-ok-we-love-this-girl?currentPage=all | url-status = live}}

She developed an interest in performing when she was seven, and while her parents did not discourage her, they did not "go out and find me an agent."{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2005-may-08-ca-mcadams8-story.html |title=Well above the mean |work=Los Angeles Times |date=May 8, 2005 |access-date=January 11, 2012 |first=Robert |last=Abele |archive-date=April 7, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190407203526/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2005-may-08-ca-mcadams8-story.html |url-status=live}} She attended Disney and William Shakespeare summer camps as a child. From age 12, she participated in Original Kids Theatre Company, London productions,{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/31/movies/31roze.html |title=An Actress on the Brink of a Blockbuster |newspaper=The New York Times |first=Leah |last=Rozen |date=October 29, 2010 |access-date=June 26, 2020 |url-access=registration |archive-date=September 10, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200910124718/https://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/31/movies/31roze.html |url-status=live}} and in her late teens directed children's theatre productions. She was also involved in school stage productions, and won a performance award at the Sears Ontario Drama Festival.{{cite web |url=http://professionallyspeaking.oct.ca/december_2005/remarkable.asp |title=Remarkable Teachers – Professionally Speaking – December 2005 |publisher=Professionally Speaking |access-date=January 14, 2012 |archive-date=December 3, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203025752/http://professionallyspeaking.oct.ca/december_2005/remarkable.asp |url-status=live}} She was inspired by two of her teachers, who taught her English and drama, respectively, in grades 11 and 12. She intended to take cultural studies at the University of Western Ontario{{cite news |url=https://lfpress.com/2013/06/13/actress-makes-time-for-wall-of-fame-induction |title=Rachel McAdams credits high school teachers for inspiration |first=Ben |last=Forrest |newspaper=London Free Press |date=June 14, 2013 |access-date=August 31, 2013 |archive-date=October 24, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131024023913/http://www.lfpress.com/2013/06/13/actress-makes-time-for-wall-of-fame-induction |url-status=live}} before being persuaded by her drama teacher that a professional acting career was a viable option.{{cite web |url=http://movies.about.com/od/thenotebook/a/notebkrm062004_3.htm |title=The Notebook Movie – Rachel McAdams Interview |work=Movies.about.com |date=June 17, 2010 |access-date=August 5, 2011 |archive-date=August 22, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120822114347/http://movies.about.com/od/thenotebook/a/notebkrm062004_3.htm |url-status=live}}

She enrolled in York University's four-year theatre program and graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts honours degree in 2001.{{cite web |url=http://www.proactorslab.com/related/macleans050714.htm |title=Rachel's all the rage (MacLean's Interview July 14, 2005) |work=Proactorslab.com |date=July 14, 2005 |access-date=January 11, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120426091709/http://www.proactorslab.com/related/macleans050714.htm |archive-date=April 26, 2012}} While there, she worked with the Toronto-based Necessary Angel Theatre Company.[https://movies.yahoo.com/movie/contributor/1807791956/bio Bio] at Yahoo Movies. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111129201436/http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/contributor/1807791956/bio |date=November 29, 2011}}

In 2001, McAdams made her television debut in the MTV pilot Shotgun Love Dolls as Beth Swanson, which was filmed during March break from York University. She also made her Canadian film debut that year in the comedy My Name Is Tanino. The Italian-Canadian co-production was filmed in Sicily when McAdams was 22 years old, and it marked her first time on an airplane.{{cite magazine |url=http://www.people.com/people/rachel_mcadams |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070310141014/http://www.people.com/people/rachel_mcadams|archive-date=March 10, 2007 |title=Rachel McAdams |magazine=People |access-date=January 11, 2012}}{{cite web |url=http://movies.about.com/od/redeye/a/redeye071705.htm |title=Red Eye Movie – Rachel McAdams on Red Eye, Wes Craven, and Her Fears |work=Movies.about.com |date=August 19, 2005 |access-date=January 11, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110826111345/http://movies.about.com/od/redeye/a/redeye071705.htm |archive-date=August 26, 2011}} McAdams later earned a Genie Award nomination in Canada for her role in the drama Perfect Pie.

In 2002, she made her Hollywood film debut with Rob Schneider and Anna Faris in the comedy The Hot Chick, which McAdams has described as a "huge milestone" in her career.{{cite magazine |title=The Notebook, Part Two |first=Sally |last=Singer |magazine=Vogue |date=January 2010 |issue=8449 |page=90}} She played a catty high school student who swaps bodies with Schneider's character, a small-time criminal. Kevin Thomas of the Los Angeles Times felt she "emerges as a young actress of much promise".{{cite news |last=Thomas |first=Kevin |title=MOVIE REVIEW: There's sly humor in The Hot Chick |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2002-dec-13-et-kevin13-story.html |work=Los Angeles Times |access-date=June 9, 2020 |date=December 13, 2002 |archive-date=June 10, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200610013328/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2002-dec-13-et-kevin13-story.html |url-status=live}} Afterwards, McAdams returned to Canada to star as Kate McNab in Slings and Arrows, a comedy mini-series about backstage theatre life at the fictional New Burbage Shakespearean Festival.{{cite news |url=http://featuresblogs.chicagotribune.com/entertainment_tv/2008/02/enjoy-the-delig.html |title=DVD alert: Enjoy the delightful (and moving) backstage antics of Slings & Arrows |work=Chicago Tribune |date=February 5, 2008 |access-date=February 4, 2012 |archive-date=November 15, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111115003852/http://featuresblogs.chicagotribune.com/entertainment_tv/2008/02/enjoy-the-delig.html}} She was written out of the second season of the program following her success in the United States. She received two Gemini Award nominations for her work on the program, winning one.[http://www.geminiawards.ca/gemini21/releases/gagallnominees.pdf The 21st annual Gemini Awards nominees are...] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120216161519/http://www.geminiawards.ca/gemini21/releases/gagallnominees.pdf |date=February 16, 2012}}

McAdams's break-out role came in 2004, when she starred in the comedy film Mean Girls opposite Lindsay Lohan, Lacey Chabert, and Amanda Seyfried, based on Rosalind Wiseman's book Queen Bees and Wannabes. McAdams 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).Mean Girls star McAdams comes clean about being mean. Nguyen, Hanh. Tribune News Service [Washington]. April 26, 2004.{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/27/movies/from-internet-chat-to-related-projects-mean-girls-endures.html?_r=0 |title=10 Years Later, the Clique Still Reigns |newspaper=The New York Times |date=April 25, 2014 |access-date=June 26, 2020 |first=Megan |last=Angelo |url-access=registration |archive-date=March 8, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308140847/https://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/27/movies/from-internet-chat-to-related-projects-mean-girls-endures.html?_r=0 |url-status=live}} Mike Clark of USA Today praised her "comic flair"{{cite news |last=Clark |first=Mike |url=https://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/reviews/2004-04-29-mean-girls_x.htm |title=Scathing Mean Girls does its job nicely |work=USA Today |date=April 29, 2004 |access-date=July 26, 2011 |archive-date=April 27, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100427192209/http://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/reviews/2004-04-29-mean-girls_x.htm |url-status=live}} while Jenny McCartney of The Daily Telegraph found her "delightfully hateful."Cinema by Jenny McCartney. The Sunday Telegraph [London (UK)]. June 27, 2004. Mick LaSalle of the San Francisco Chronicle felt that "McAdams brings glamour and magnetism to Regina, but also the right hint of comic distance."{{cite news |url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2004/04/30/DDGV56CFRK1.DTL#ixzz1P2xAITuC |title=It's yet another high school comedy, but Mean Girls has a talented cast and a wickedly intelligent script |first=Mick |last=LaSalle |work=San Francisco Chronicle |date=April 30, 2004 |access-date=June 12, 2011 |archive-date=March 15, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120315202328/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=%2Fc%2Fa%2F2004%2F04%2F30%2FDDGV56CFRK1.DTL#ixzz1P2xAITuC |url-status=live}} The film grossed $129{{nbsp}}million worldwide{{cite web |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=meangirls.htm |title=Mean Girls |work=Box Office Mojo |access-date=June 12, 2011 |archive-date=December 29, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201229043421/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/release/rl3395520001/ |url-status=live}} and earned McAdams two MTV Movie Awards.{{cite web |url=http://www.mtv.com/ontv/movieawards/2005/ |title=2005 MTV Movie Awards |work=MTV |access-date=June 10, 2011 |archive-date=November 5, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151105154329/http://www.mtv.com/ontv/movieawards/2005/ |url-status=dead}} Mean Girls later reached No. 12 in an Entertainment Weekly list of the Greatest Ever High School Movies.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.ew.com/ew/gallery/0,,20215825_20016825,00.html#1065822 |title=Head of the Class: The 25 All-Time Best High School Movies |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |date=September 17, 2009 |access-date=January 11, 2012 |archive-date=March 29, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120329222752/http://www.ew.com/ew/gallery/0,,20215825_20016825,00.html#1065822 |url-status=dead}} Tina Fey, who co‑starred in the film and wrote the screenplay, has credited McAdams with teaching her how to act in front of a camera rather than an audience: "She's a film actor. She's not pushing. And so I kind of learned that lesson from watching her."{{cite web |last=Fey |first=Tina |url=https://www.npr.org/2011/04/13/135247195/tina-fey-reveals-all-and-then-some-in-bossypants |title=Tina Fey Reveals All (And Then Some) In Bossypants |work=NPR |date=April 13, 2011 |access-date=June 9, 2020 |archive-date=June 8, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200608152850/https://www.npr.org/2011/04/13/135247195/tina-fey-reveals-all-and-then-some-in-bossypants/ |url-status=live}}

File:HQ-022-8.jpg co-star Ryan Gosling at the 2005 MTV Movie Awards]]

Later in 2004, McAdams starred opposite fellow Canadian Ryan Gosling in the romantic drama The Notebook, based on Nicholas Sparks' novel of the same name. She played Allie Hamilton, a wealthy Southern belle who has a forbidden love affair with Gosling's poor labourer, Noah Calhoun.{{cite news |url=https://www.usatoday.com/life/people/2004-06-24-rachel-mcadams_x.htm |first=Susan |last=Wloszczyna |title=Hot off The Notebook |work=USA Today |date=June 24, 2004 |access-date=June 12, 2011 |archive-date=November 23, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081123010457/http://www.usatoday.com/life/people/2004-06-24-rachel-mcadams_x.htm |url-status=live}} McAdams spent time in Charleston, South Carolina, prior to filming to familiarize herself with the Southern accent,{{cite web |url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/The+gossip's+now+over+Rachel.-a0118313856 |title=The gossip's now over Rachel. – Free Online Library |work=Thefreelibrary.com |date=June 18, 2004 |access-date=January 11, 2012 |archive-date=January 4, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210104094837/https://www.thefreelibrary.com/The+gossip%27s+now+over+Rachel.-a0118313856 |url-status=live}} and took ballet and etiquette classes. Filming took place from late 2002 to early 2003.{{cite news |url=http://www.accessmylibrary.com/article-1G1-97853280/notebook-pivotal-mcadams.html |work=The Post and Courier |first=Bill |last=Thompson |title=Notebook pivotal for McAdams |date=February 19, 2003 | access-date=January 31, 2012 | archive-date=May 15, 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130515024520/http://www.accessmylibrary.com/article-1G1-97853280/notebook-pivotal-mcadams.html | url-status=live}} Although McAdams and Gosling became romantically involved in 2005, they had a combative relationship on set.{{cite news |url=http://www.independent.ie/entertainment/rachel-mcadams-never-expected-to-date-ryan-gosling-after-the-notebook-29522600.html |title=Rachel McAdams 'never expected' to date Ryan Gosling after The Notebook |work=Irish Independent |access-date=August 24, 2013 |date=August 23, 2013 |archive-date=November 3, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131103145551/http://www.independent.ie/entertainment/rachel-mcadams-never-expected-to-date-ryan-gosling-after-the-notebook-29522600.html |url-status=live}}{{cite web |title=Director Baffled By Gosling/Mcadams Romance |url=http://www.contactmusic.com/news/director-baffled-by-goslingmcadams-romance_1016757 |work=Contact Music |access-date=February 4, 2012 |date=December 16, 2006 |archive-date=June 12, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120612182130/http://www.contactmusic.com/news/director-baffled-by-goslingmcadams-romance_1016757 |url-status=live}} "We inspired the worst in each other," Gosling has said. "It was a strange experience, making a love story and not getting along with your co-star in any way."{{cite news |last=Wood |first=Gaby |title='I live on Skid Row. You can't filter out reality there' |url=https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2007/feb/18/awardsandprizes.oscars |work=The Guardian |access-date=February 4, 2012 |date=February 18, 2007 |archive-date=October 2, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131002143620/http://www.theguardian.com/culture/2007/feb/18/awardsandprizes.oscars |url-status=live}} At one point, Gosling asked the film's director Nick Cassavetes to "bring somebody else in for my off-camera shot" because he felt McAdams was being uncooperative. Stephen Holden of The New York Times praised the "spontaneous and combustible" performances of the two leads{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/06/25/movies/film-review-when-love-is-madness-and-life-a-straitjacket.html |work=The New York Times |first=Stephen |last=Holden |title=FILM REVIEW; When Love Is Madness And Life a Straitjacket |date=June 25, 2004 | access-date=June 26, 2020 | url-access=registration | archive-date=November 18, 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201118185449/https://www.nytimes.com/2004/06/25/movies/film-review-when-love-is-madness-and-life-a-straitjacket.html | url-status=live}} while Roger Ebert was won over by the "beauty and clarity" of McAdams's performance.{{cite news |url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-notebook-2004 |title=The Notebook |work=Ebert Digital |date=June 25, 2004 |access-date=January 11, 2012 |archive-date=December 2, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201202100231/https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-notebook-2004 |url-status=live}} Michael Wilmington of the Chicago Tribune declared her "a real discovery" who "infuses young Allie with that radiant, breathlessly winning ingénue grace and charm that breaks hearts".{{cite news |last=Wilmington |first=Michael |title=In Notebook, love transcends youth and age |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2004-06-25-0406250384-story.html |work=Chicago Tribune |access-date=June 9, 2020 |date=June 25, 2004 |archive-date=June 10, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200610013326/https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2004-06-25-0406250384-story.html |url-status=live}} The film grossed over $115{{nbsp}}million worldwide.{{cite web |url=https://boxofficemojo.com/people/chart/?id=ryangosling.htm |title=Ryan Gosling |work=Boxofficemojo.com |access-date=November 6, 2012 |archive-date=September 21, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921183519/http://www.boxofficemojo.com/people/chart/?id=ryangosling.htm |url-status=live}} McAdams won an MTV Movie Award and four Teen Choice Awards.{{cite web |url=https://www.mtv.com/news/1507574/napoleon-dynamite-kelly-clarkson-win-big-at-teen-choice-awards/ |title=Napoleon Dynamite, Kelly Clarkson Win Big At Teen Choice Awards |first=Corey |last=Moss |date=August 16, 2005 |work=MTV |access-date=June 10, 2011 |archive-date=July 28, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140728010340/http://www.mtv.com/news/1507574/napoleon-dynamite-kelly-clarkson-win-big-at-teen-choice-awards/ |url-status=dead}} Entertainment Weekly has said that the movie contains the All-Time Best Movie Kiss{{cite magazine |last=Semigran |first=Aly |url=https://ew.com/article/2011/06/06/the-notebook-all-time-movie-kiss/ |title=All-time best movie kiss: Does anything even come close to The Notebook? |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |date=June 6, 2011 |access-date=December 23, 2011 |archive-date=December 16, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151216054608/http://www.ew.com/article/2011/06/06/the-notebook-all-time-movie-kiss |url-status=live}} while the Los Angeles Times has included a scene from the film in a list of the 50 Classic Movie Kisses.{{cite web |url=http://www.latimesmagazine.com/2010/02/50-kisses.html |title=50: Classic Movie Kisses |work=LA Times Magazine |date=February 2010 |access-date=December 23, 2011 |archive-date=December 27, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101227122509/https://www.latimesmagazine.com/2010/02/50-kisses.html}} The Notebook has appeared on many Most Romantic Movies lists.{{cite magazine |last=McGuire |first=Judy |url=https://content.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1879389_1879392_1879400,00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090612034130/http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1879389_1879392_1879400,00.html |archive-date=June 12, 2009 |title=The Notebook – Romance, Movie Style |magazine=TIME |date=February 28, 2009 |url-status=live |access-date=December 23, 2011}}{{cite web |url=http://www.marieclaire.com/celebrity-lifestyle/celebrities/romantic-movie-moments-the-notebook#fbIndex4 |title=The Most Romantic Scene from The Notebook |work=Marie Claire |date=February 1, 2011 |access-date=December 23, 2011 |archive-date=November 2, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141102155920/http://www.marieclaire.com/celebrity-lifestyle/celebrities/romantic-movie-moments-the-notebook#fbIndex4 |url-status=live}}{{cite web |url=https://extratv.com/2011/02/14/25-most-romantic-movie-quotes/ |title=25 Most Romantic Movie Quotes |work=Extra |date=May 15, 2010 |access-date=December 5, 2021 |archive-date=October 22, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211022164007/https://extratv.com/2011/02/14/25-most-romantic-movie-quotes/ |url-status=live}}{{cite news |url=https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/movies/the-verdict-on-hollywoods-most-romantic-onscreen-couples-20110324-1c7wc.html |title=Leonardo DiCaprio, Kate Winslet Romantic movie couples Photos |work=Smh.com.au |date=March 24, 2011 |access-date=December 23, 2011 |archive-date=August 29, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110829091847/http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/movies/the-verdict-on-hollywoods-most-romantic-onscreen-couples-20110324-1c7wc.html |url-status=live}} "I'm so grateful to have a film that people respond to in that way", McAdams told Elle in 2011. "It was a big deal."

In 2005, McAdams starred with Owen Wilson, Vince Vaughn, and Bradley Cooper in the romantic comedy Wedding Crashers. McAdams played a daughter of an influential politician, who is caught in a love triangle with Wilson and Cooper's characters.{{cite web |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/people/chart/?view=Actor&id=rachelmcadams.htm |title=Rachel McAdams |work=Box Office Mojo |access-date=June 12, 2011 |archive-date=August 18, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110818052917/http://www.boxofficemojo.com/people/chart/?view=Actor&id=rachelmcadams.htm |url-status=live}}{{cite web |url=http://movies.about.com/od/theweddingcrashers/a/weddingrm071005.htm |title=Rachel McAdams Interview – Wedding Crashers, Improv, Christopher Walken |work=Movies.about.com |date=June 17, 2010 |access-date=January 11, 2012|archive-date=January 26, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120126153515/http://movies.about.com/od/theweddingcrashers/a/weddingrm071005.htm}} McAdams listened repeatedly to Fleetwood Mac's 1975 song "Landslide" to prepare for emotional scenes, and Wilson has said the song made her cry immediately: "It was like turning on a faucet." She trained for a sailing certification for a boating sequence because her character was said to be an accomplished sailor.{{cite web |last=Marshall |first=Alexandra |url=https://www.glamour.com/story/rachel-mcadams-glamour-magazine-cover-interview-ok-we-love-this-girl |title=Rachel McAdams: OK, We Love This Girl! |work=Glamour |date=January 6, 2012 |access-date=December 5, 2021 |archive-date=December 6, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211206044506/https://www.glamour.com/story/rachel-mcadams-glamour-magazine-cover-interview-ok-we-love-this-girl |url-status=live}} Manohla Dargis of The New York Times felt McAdams "makes the most of her underdeveloped character" and "grows more appealing with every new role".{{cite news |last=Dargis |first=Manohla |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/15/movies/dudes-toasting-the-newlyweds-and-their-bodacious-guests.html |title=Dudes Toasting the Newlyweds (and Their Bodacious Guests) |work=The New York Times |date=July 15, 2005 |access-date=June 26, 2020 |author-link=Manohla Dargis |quote=Ms. McAdams, who grows more appealing with every new role, makes the most of her underdeveloped character, Claire, the goody-two-shoes daughter of a powerful politician (Christopher Walken, doing his usual weird thing, but doing it well). |url-access=registration |archive-date=September 26, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200926234456/https://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/15/movies/dudes-toasting-the-newlyweds-and-their-bodacious-guests.html |url-status=live}} Brian Lowry of Variety found her "a beguiling presence" who "actually creates a real character – a rarity for females in one of these lad-mag escapades".{{cite magazine |last=Lowry |first=Brian |url=https://variety.com/2005/film/markets-festivals/wedding-crashers-2-1200524683/#! |title=Wedding Crashers |magazine=Variety.com |date=July 7, 2005 |access-date=January 11, 2012 |archive-date=April 7, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150407144709/http://variety.com/2005/film/markets-festivals/wedding-crashers-2-1200524683/#! |url-status=live}} From a production budget of $40{{nbsp}}million, the film grossed over $285{{nbsp}}million worldwide.

Afterwards, McAdams starred opposite Cillian Murphy in Wes Craven's psychological thriller Red Eye, where she played a young hotel manager who is held captive by Murphy's character while aboard a red-eye flight. Craven has said McAdams was the only actress he considered for the part.{{cite web |first=Jeff |last=Otto |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2005/08/17/interview-wes-craven-rachel-mcadams-and-cillian-murphy |title=Interview: Wes Craven, Rachel McAdams and Cillian Murphy |work=IGN |date=August 17, 2005 |access-date=February 28, 2020 |archive-date=February 29, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200229001642/https://www.ign.com/articles/2005/08/17/interview-wes-craven-rachel-mcadams-and-cillian-murphy |url-status=live}} She was drawn to the relatable qualities of her character: "She was not some sweaty, tank-top-wearing, Uzi-carrying super woman".{{cite web |first=Louis B. |last=Hobson |url=http://jam.canoe.ca/Movies/Artists/M/McAdams_Rachel/2005/08/14/pf-1172205.html |title=CANOE – JAM! – All eyes on Rachel McAdams |work=Jam.canoe.ca |date=August 15, 2005 |access-date=January 11, 2012|url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120711223022/http://jam.canoe.ca/Movies/Artists/M/McAdams_Rachel/2005/08/14/pf-1172205.html |archive-date=July 11, 2012}} Robert Koehler of Variety found her "increasingly impressive"{{cite news |url=https://variety.com/2005/film/markets-festivals/red-eye-1200523890/ |title=Red Eye |first=Robert |last=Koehler |work=Variety |date=August 14, 2005 |access-date=August 5, 2011 |archive-date=July 22, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150722045555/http://variety.com/2005/film/markets-festivals/red-eye-1200523890/ |url-status=live}} while Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times asserted that "she brings more presence and credibility to her role than is really expected; she acts without betraying the slightest awareness that she's inside a genre. Her performance qualifies her for heavy-duty roles."{{cite news |url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/red-eye-2005 |title=Red Eye |website=Rogerebert.com |access-date=February 25, 2020 |date=August 18, 2005 |archive-date=February 26, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200226051501/https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/red-eye-2005 |url-status=live}} Upon release, the film, which was made on a budget of $26{{nbsp}}million, earned over $95{{nbsp}}million at the worldwide box office.{{cite web |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=redeye.htm |title=Red Eye (2005) |website=Box Office Mojo |date=October 13, 2005 |access-date=January 11, 2012 |archive-date=March 7, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140307163258/http://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=redeye.htm |url-status=live}} In late 2005, McAdams starred with Sarah Jessica Parker and Diane Keaton in the seasonal family comedy-drama The Family Stone, which gave McAdams an opportunity to play a dishevelled and sardonic sister, rather than the usual "obvious" girlfriend or wife roles.{{cite web |agency=Associated Press |url=http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/2005/08/15/mov_445579.shtml |title=Q&A with actress Rachel McAdams |work=Augusta Chronicle |date=August 15, 2005 |access-date=January 11, 2012 |archive-date=December 27, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131227061739/http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/2005/08/15/mov_445579.shtml |url-status=live}}{{citation |issue=8429 |title=The Girl On Top |first=Judy |last=Bachrach |work=Allure |page=192 |date=November 2005}} She was eager to work with Keaton and remarked, "It's never about line counts for me. It's about the people I get to work with."{{cite web |first=Louis B. |last=Hobson |url=http://jam.canoe.ca/Movies/Artists/M/McAdams_Rachel/2005/08/14/1172205.html |title=CANOE – JAM! Movies – Artists – McAdams, Rachel : All eyes on Rachel McAdams |work=Jam.canoe.ca |date=August 15, 2005 |access-date=January 11, 2012|url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120714055518/http://jam.canoe.ca/Movies/Artists/M/McAdams_Rachel/2005/08/14/1172205.html |archive-date=July 14, 2012}} Justin Chang of Variety noted that "a deglammed but still radiant McAdams proves once again that she's the real deal, delivering a deliciously feisty performance".{{cite magazine |url=https://variety.com/2005/film/awards/the-family-stone-2-1200519728/ |title=The Family Stone |first=Justin |last=Chang |magazine=Variety.com |date=December 12, 2005 |access-date=February 25, 2020 |archive-date=August 6, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806171711/https://variety.com/2005/film/awards/the-family-stone-2-1200519728/ |url-status=live}} Manohla Dargis of The New York Times felt that her "engaging screen presence holds your attention and sympathy despite the handicap presented by her character's personality."{{cite news |last=Dargis |first=Manohla |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/12/16/movies/time-to-drop-the-cellphone-and-pick-up-a-casserole.html |title=Time to Drop the Cellphone and Pick Up a Casserole |work=The New York Times |date=December 16, 2005 |access-date=June 26, 2020 |author-link=Manohla Dargis |url-access=registration |archive-date=November 20, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201120204412/https://www.nytimes.com/2005/12/16/movies/time-to-drop-the-cellphone-and-pick-up-a-casserole.html |url-status=live}} The film was a commercial success: it cost $18{{nbsp}}million to make and grossed over $92{{nbsp}}million worldwide.{{cite web |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=familystone.htm |title=The Family Stone (2005) |website=Box Office Mojo |date=March 30, 2006 |access-date=January 11, 2012 |archive-date=December 27, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111227131458/http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=familystone.htm |url-status=live}}

File:RachelMcAdamsO7TIFF.jpg]]

At this point in her career, McAdams was hailed as "the next Julia Roberts" and the new "Hollywood it girl". Vanity Fair invited McAdams, along with actresses Scarlett Johansson and Keira Knightley, to appear on its March 2006 cover, the annual Hollywood issue. Upon arrival on the photo set, McAdams discovered it was a nude session, declined and left. She later parted ways with her publicist at the time, who had not informed her in advance.{{cite web |url=http://www.radaronline.com/exclusives/2005/12/tom-fords-indecent-proposal.php |title=Tom Ford's Indecent Proposal |work=Radar Online |date=January 30, 2008 |access-date=August 5, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120409074725/http://www.radaronline.com/exclusives/2005/12/tom-fords-indecent-proposal.php |archive-date=April 9, 2012}} Knightley later recounted, "Quite early on Rachel just said, 'No, I'm not into that.' She's a lovely girl, and I really respect her for doing that."{{cite web |url=https://www.cinemablend.com/pop/Keira-Knightley-Downplays-Her-Nude-Shoot-With-McAdams-579.html |title=Keira Knightley Downplays Her Nude Shoot With McAdams |work=Cinemablend.com |date=July 15, 2006 |access-date=August 5, 2011 |archive-date=February 8, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120208144822/http://www.cinemablend.com/pop/Keira-Knightley-Downplays-Her-Nude-Shoot-With-McAdams-579.html |url-status=live}} When asked about the incident in 2008, McAdams had "no regrets".{{cite news |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/where-her-heart-is/article1053240/ |title=Where her heart is |newspaper=The Globe and Mail |date=March 17, 2008 |first=Bob |last=Strauss |access-date=October 26, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141026073706/http://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/where-her-heart-is/article1053240/ |archive-date=October 26, 2014}} McAdams took a break from her film career from 2006 to 2007.{{cite magazine |url=https://ew.com/article/2009/06/15/rachel-mcadams/ |title=Can Time Traveler's Wife reestablish Rachel McAdams as Hollywood's 'it' girl? |first=Jeremy |last=Medina |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |date=June 15, 2009 |access-date=November 21, 2019 |archive-date=August 28, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190828051100/https://ew.com/article/2009/06/15/rachel-mcadams/ |url-status=live}} "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", McAdams said in 2013. "Truthfully, I never really wanted to be a big movie star. I never even wanted to work outside of Canada, or outside of the theatre."{{cite news |url=https://www.thetimes.com/travel/destinations/north-america-travel/us-travel/california/rachel-mcadams-the-100-million-queen-of-the-screen-2rj000bk5vm |title=Rachel McAdams: the $100{{nbsp}}million queen of the screen |first=Kevin |last=Maher |work=The Times |date=August 23, 2013 |access-date=June 26, 2020 |url-access=subscription |archive-date=November 20, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161120102606/http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/arts/film/article3850348.ece?CMP=OTH-gnws-standard-2013_08_22 |url-status=live}} During that period, McAdams turned down roles in the films The Devil Wears Prada (2006), Casino Royale (2006), Mission: Impossible III (2006), Iron Man (2008),{{cite web |title=ACTORS WHO TURNED DOWN MARVEL ROLES |url=https://screencrush.com/actors-who-turned-down-marvel-roles |website=Screen Crush |date=January 21, 2022 |access-date=July 21, 2022 |archive-date=July 22, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220722005840/https://screencrush.com/actors-who-turned-down-marvel-roles/ |url-status=live}} and Get Smart (2008).{{Citation |last=Millea |first=Holly |title=Next Stop Wonderland |url=https://www.elle.com/culture/celebrities/a9189/next-stop-wonderland-19272/ |newspaper=Elle |page=288 |issue=260 |date=March 12, 2007 |access-date=July 31, 2018 |archive-date=July 31, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180731213249/https://www.elle.com/culture/celebrities/a9189/next-stop-wonderland-19272/ |url-status=live}} In February 2006, she made a one-off stage appearance in The Vagina Monologues at St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts, Toronto to raise funds for V-Day.{{cite web |title=Feminine expressions for v-day |url=http://www.canada.com/story_print.html?id=c3bdfedd-1be7-4c09-b4b1-c5c59fe13796&sponsor= |work=canada.com |access-date=February 4, 2012 |date=February 25, 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120827205839/http://www.canada.com/story_print.html?id=c3bdfedd-1be7-4c09-b4b1-c5c59fe13796&sponsor= |archive-date=August 27, 2012}} That same year, McAdams received a Rising Star Award nomination from the British Academy of Film and Television Arts{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/4596368.stm |title=Britons up for 'new star' award |work=BBC News |date=January 10, 2006 |access-date=June 10, 2011 |archive-date=March 31, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120331145621/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/4596368.stm |url-status=live}} and hosted the Academy Awards for Technical Achievement.{{cite web |url=http://www.instyle.com/instyle/package/transformations/photos/0,,20290122_20296471_20654643,00.html |title=Rachel McAdams 2006 |work=InStyle |access-date=June 12, 2011 |archive-date=November 4, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111104182035/http://www.instyle.com/instyle/package/transformations/photos/0,,20290122_20296471_20654643,00.html |url-status=live}}

McAdams returned to her film career in 2008. She starred with Pierce Brosnan and Chris Cooper in the 1940s film noir Married Life where she played Kay Nesbitt, a young widow who wins the affections of Brosnan and Cooper's older characters. In preparation for the role, McAdams studied old films, particularly those of Kim Novak.{{cite web |url=http://www.thecinemasource.com/blog/interviews/rachel-mcadams-interview-for-married-life/ |title=Rachel McAdams Interview for Married Life |work=The Cinema Source |date=March 11, 2008 |access-date=January 11, 2012 |archive-date=August 23, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110823173622/http://www.thecinemasource.com/blog/interviews/rachel-mcadams-interview-for-married-life/ |url-status=live}} She has said the film shoot re-energized and re-inspired her and made her eager to continue working more often again.{{cite web |url=https://collider.com/entertainment/article.asp/aid/7200/cid/13/tcid/1 |title=Rachel McAdams Interview – Married Life |author=Frosty |website=Collider |date=March 6, 2008 |access-date=June 11, 2011 |archive-date=April 21, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110421030111/http://collider.com/entertainment/article.asp/aid/7200/cid/13/tcid/1}} Lisa Schwarzbaum of Entertainment Weekly found McAdams "a particularly delightful vision after her two-year intermission".{{cite magazine |first=Lisa |last=Schwarzbaum |url=https://ew.com/article/2008/03/06/married-life-2/ |title=Married Life |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |date=March 6, 2008 |access-date=August 5, 2011 |archive-date=December 3, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171203124620/http://ew.com/article/2008/03/06/married-life-2/ |url-status=live}} Todd McCarthy of Variety criticized her break from the big screen but felt that, despite a performance of "tender feeling", "her natural vivaciousness and spontaneity are straitjacketed" by the film noir format.{{cite magazine |url=https://variety.com/2008/film/reviews/married-life-1200536011/ |title=Married Life |first=Todd |last=McCarthy |magazine=Variety.com |date=March 6, 2008 |access-date=August 5, 2011 |archive-date=December 28, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131228095703/http://variety.com/2008/film/reviews/married-life-1200536011/ |url-status=live}} The film had a limited release and was a box-office failure. It grossed just over $2{{nbsp}}million worldwide, failing to recoup its production budget of $12{{nbsp}}million.{{cite web |url=https://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=marriedlife.htm |title=Married Life (2008) |website=Box Office Mojo |access-date=August 5, 2011 |archive-date=December 4, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111204004329/http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=marriedlife.htm |url-status=live}}

Afterwards, McAdams starred with Tim Robbins and Michael Peña in the road trip comedy-drama The Lucky Ones, a story about three Iraq War soldiers on a brief road trip back in the United States. She trained at a real boot camp, at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, prior to filming.{{cite web |url=http://knowshi.com/?p=3803 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120712103635/http://knowshi.com/?p=3803|archive-date=July 12, 2012 |title=Interview: Director Neil Buger on His Film "The Lucky Ones" |work=Knowshi.com |date=September 7, 2011 |access-date=January 14, 2012}} In 2011, McAdams said that Colee Dunn was "probably one of my favorite characters I've ever played".{{cite web |url=http://www.buzzinefilm.com/interviews/film-interview-midnight-paris-rachel-mcadams-05162011 |title=Film Interview: Rachel Mcadams |work=buzzinefilm.com |date=May 20, 2011 |access-date=January 11, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120106023005/http://www.buzzinefilm.com/interviews/film-interview-midnight-paris-rachel-mcadams-05162011 |archive-date=January 6, 2012}} The film also had a limited release and Laura Kern of The New York Times found her "luminous as always"{{cite news |last=Kern |first=Laura |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/26/movies/26luck.html |title=Surprises and Epiphanies for Soldiers on a Road Trip |work=The New York Times |date=September 25, 2008 |access-date=June 26, 2020 |url-access=registration |archive-date=November 28, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201128195156/https://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/26/movies/26luck.html |url-status=live}} while Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times hailed the performance as "her coming of age as an actress".{{cite news |url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-lucky-ones-2008 |title=The Lucky Ones |website=Rogerebert.com |access-date=February 25, 2020 |date=September 25, 2008 |archive-date=February 17, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200217162213/https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-lucky-ones-2008 |url-status=live}} "Previously she has been seen mostly as a hot chick or an idealized sweetheart", he wrote. "Here she is feisty, vulnerable, plucky, warm, funny ... Watch the poignancy of the scene when she meets her boyfriend's family." Owen Gleiberman of Entertainment Weekly found her "feisty, gorgeous, and as mercurial as a mood ring".{{cite magazine |first=Owen |last=Gleiberman |date=September 24, 2008 |url=https://ew.com/article/2008/09/24/lucky-ones-3/ |title=The Lucky Ones |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |access-date=February 25, 2020 |archive-date=February 26, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200226051503/https://ew.com/article/2008/09/24/lucky-ones-3/ |url-status=live}} The Lucky Ones is the least commercially successful film of McAdams's career as of 2012, having grossed just $266,967 worldwide.{{cite web |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=luckyones.htm |title=The Luck Ones |work=Box Office Mojo |access-date=June 11, 2011 |archive-date=July 4, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110704142332/http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=luckyones.htm |url-status=live}}

In 2009, McAdams starred with Russell Crowe, Helen Mirren and Ben Affleck in the political thriller State of Play, based on the BBC drama television series of the same name. McAdams played Della Frye, an online reporter who investigates a possible conspiracy with Crowe's character, a veteran print journalist.{{cite news |url=http://www.salon.com/entertainment/movies/review/2009/04/17/state_play/index.html |title=State of Play |first=Stephanie |last=Zacharek |work=Salon.com |date=April 14, 2009 |access-date=June 10, 2011 |archive-date=February 17, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110217190657/http://www.salon.com/entertainment/movies/review/2009/04/17/state_play/index.html}} McAdams visited The Washington Post{{'}}s offices and met with politicians on Capitol Hill for her research.{{cite web |url=https://collider.com/rachel-mcadams-interview-state-of-play/ |title=Rachel McAdams Interview STATE OF PLAY |work=Collider.com |date=April 14, 2009 |access-date=February 25, 2020 |archive-date=February 26, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200226051501/https://collider.com/rachel-mcadams-interview-state-of-play/ |url-status=live}} Gleiberman of Entertainment Weekly felt she was "perfectly cast as an ambitious wonkette"{{cite magazine |first=Owen |last=Gleiberman |url=https://ew.com/article/2009/04/15/state-play-2/ |title=State of Play |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |date=April 15, 2009 |access-date=August 5, 2011 |archive-date=June 21, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170621014930/http://ew.com/article/2009/04/15/state-play-2/ |url-status=live}} while Sukhdev Sandhu of The Daily Telegraph noted that "McAdams, with her lively eyes and large, expressive forehead, holds her own against Crowe. Mercifully, she avoids any temptation to play girly and demure to his grizzled alpha male."{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/filmreviews/5207131/State-of-Play-review.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/filmreviews/5207131/State-of-Play-review.html |archive-date=January 10, 2022 |url-status=live |title=State of Play: review |work=The Daily Telegraph |first=Sukhdev |last=Sandhu |date=April 24, 2009 |access-date=June 26, 2020 |url-access=limited}}{{cbignore}} The film grossed over $87{{nbsp}}million worldwide.{{cite web |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=stateofplay.htm |title=State of Play (2009) |website=Box Office Mojo |date=June 18, 2009 |access-date=January 11, 2012 |archive-date=January 27, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120127062540/http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=stateofplay.htm |url-status=live}} Also in 2009, McAdams starred opposite Eric Bana in the science fiction romantic drama The Time Traveler's Wife, based on Audrey Niffenegger's best-selling novel of the same name.{{cite news |first1=Michael |last1=Fleming |first2=Dave |last2=McNary |url=https://variety.com/2007/digital/news/new-line-finds-its-cast-on-time-1117963298/ |title=New Line finds its cast on Time |work=Variety |date=April 17, 2007 |access-date=February 25, 2020 |archive-date=February 26, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200226051502/https://variety.com/2007/digital/news/new-line-finds-its-cast-on-time-1117963298/ |url-status=live}}{{cite web |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/2430724/rachel-mcadams-left-bookish-by-the-time-travelers-wife/ |title=Rachel McAdams Left Bookish By The Time Traveler's Wife |first=Larry |last=Carroll |work=MTV |date=September 29, 2008 |access-date=February 25, 2020 |archive-date=February 26, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200226051501/http://www.mtv.com/news/2430724/rachel-mcadams-left-bookish-by-the-time-travelers-wife/ |url-status=dead}} McAdams fell "madly in love" with the novel,{{cite web |url=http://www.metro.co.uk/showbiz/717774-rachel-dreamed-of-traveller-role |title=Rachel 'dreamed' of Traveller role |work=Metro.co.uk |date=August 11, 2009 |access-date=January 11, 2012 |archive-date=September 14, 2012 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120914050609/http://www.metro.co.uk/showbiz/717774-rachel-dreamed-of-traveller-role |url-status=live}} but was initially slightly hesitant to accept the role because she felt Clare Abshire, the long-suffering wife, was a "character that people have already cast in their heads".{{cite web |url=http://jam.canoe.ca/Movies/Artists/M/McAdams_Rachel/2009/08/07/pf-10391521.html |title=CANOE – JAM! – McAdams happy with career path |work=Jam.canoe.ca |date=August 9, 2009 |access-date=January 11, 2012|url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120712012425/http://jam.canoe.ca/Movies/Artists/M/McAdams_Rachel/2009/08/07/pf-10391521.html |archive-date=July 12, 2012}} Peter Travers of Rolling Stone said, "I'd watch the vibrant Rachel McAdams and Eric Bana in anything, but The Time Traveler's Wife is pushing it."{{cite magazine |first=Peter |last=Travers |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/movies/movie-reviews/time-travelers-wife-247546/ |title=Time Traveler's Wife |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=August 13, 2009 |access-date=August 5, 2011 |archive-date=August 4, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190804184604/https://www.rollingstone.com/movies/movie-reviews/time-travelers-wife-247546/ |url-status=live}} Betsy Sharkey of the Los Angeles Times found her "luminous [yet], sadly, her facility as an actress is mostly wasted."{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2009-aug-14-et-time-traveler14-story.html |title=Out of sync in love and in storytelling |work=Los Angeles Times |date=August 14, 2009 |access-date=February 25, 2020 |first=Betsy |last=Sharkey |archive-date=February 26, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200226051501/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2009-aug-14-et-time-traveler14-story.html |url-status=live}} Writing in The Chicago Tribune, Michael Phillips, in an otherwise tepid review, said of her performance: "Every scene she's in, even the silly ones, becomes better—truer, often against long odds—because she's in it. Her work feels emotionally spontaneous yet technically precise. She has an unusually easy touch with both comedy and drama, and she never holds a melodramatic moment hostage."{{cite web |last=Phillips |first=Michael |url=http://chicago.metromix.com/movies/movie_review/movie-review-the-time/1391079/content |title=Movie review: The Time Travell?er's Wife |work=MetroMix Chicago |date=August 13, 2009 |access-date=August 5, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090820034732/http://chicago.metromix.com/movies/movie_review/movie-review-the-time/1391079/content |archive-date=August 20, 2009}} The film was a commercial success, earning over $101{{nbsp}}million worldwide.{{cite web |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=timetravelerswife.htm |title=The Time Traveler's Wife (2009) |website=Box Office Mojo |date=December 3, 2009 |access-date=January 11, 2012 |archive-date=January 20, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120120095517/http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=timetravelerswife.htm |url-status=live}}

File:Rachel McAdams 3 (cropped).jpg in 2009]]

In late 2009, McAdams starred in the mystery/action-adventure film Sherlock Holmes with Robert Downey, Jr. and Jude Law. She played Irene Adler, an antagonist and love interest of Downey's title character Sherlock Holmes, and welcomed the opportunity to play a character who is "her own boss and a real free spirit".{{cite news |first=Jeanne |last=Wolf |url=http://www.parade.com/celebrity/celebrity-parade/2009/0811-rachel-mcadams-time-travelers-wife.html |title=Rachel McAdams: Nudity Shouldn't Be A Big Deal |work=Parade |date=August 11, 2009 |access-date=June 10, 2011 |archive-date=May 9, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120509064014/http://www.parade.com/celebrity/celebrity-parade/2009/0811-rachel-mcadams-time-travelers-wife.html |url-status=live}} Todd McCarthy of Variety felt her character was "not very well integrated into the rest of the story, a shortcoming the normally resourceful McAdams is unable to do much about".{{cite news |url=https://variety.com/2009/film/reviews/sherlock-holmes-1200477873/ |work=Variety |first=Todd |last=McCarthy |title=Sherlock Holmes |date=December 14, 2009 | access-date=February 25, 2020 | archive-date=August 6, 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806132537/https://variety.com/2009/film/reviews/sherlock-holmes-1200477873/ | url-status=live}} A. O. Scott of The New York Times stated, "Ms.{{nbsp}}McAdams is a perfectly charming actress and performs gamely as the third wheel of this action-bromance tricycle. But Irene feels in this movie more like a somewhat cynical commercial contrivance. She offers a little something for the ladies and also something for the lads, who, much as they may dig fights and explosions and guns and chases, also like girls."{{cite news |first=A. O. |last=Scott |author-link=A. O. Scott |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/25/movies/25sherlock.html |title=The Brawling Supersleuth of 221B Baker Street Socks It to 'Em |work=The New York Times |date=December 24, 2009 |access-date=June 26, 2020 |quote=Ms. McAdams, in any case, is a perfectly charming actress and performs gamely as the third wheel of this action-bromance tricycle. But Irene, though she figures in a few of Conan Doyle's stories, feels in this movie more like a somewhat cynical commercial contrivance. She offers a little something for the ladies — who, according to airtight Hollywood corporate logic, are more likely to see a movie like this one if there's a feisty woman in it — and also something for the lads, who, much as they may dig fights and explosions and guns and chases, also like girls. |url-access=registration |archive-date=January 6, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200106014231/https://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/25/movies/25sherlock.html |url-status=live}} The film was a major commercial success, earning over $524{{nbsp}}million at the worldwide box office.{{cite web |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=sherlockholmes.htm |title=Sherlock Holmes (2009) |work=Box Office Mojo | access-date = February 4, 2012 | archive-date = May 12, 2010 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100512094015/http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=sherlockholmes.htm | url-status = live}}

In 2010, McAdams starred with her The Family Stone co-star Diane Keaton and Harrison Ford in the comedy Morning Glory. She played a television producer attempting to improve the poor ratings of a morning television program. The film was billed as a starring vehicle for McAdams. She initially felt she was unsuited to the role saying, "I'm not funny. So I said, 'if you need me to be funny, you might want to look somewhere else'".{{cite web |url=http://media.rachelmcadams.org/videos/421/morning-glory;-madrid-press-conference-interview-#1 |title=Morning Glory; Madrid Press Conference Interview #1 |work=Media.rachelmcadams.org |access-date=January 14, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110316151144/http://media.rachelmcadams.org/videos/421/morning-glory;-madrid-press-conference-interview-#1 |archive-date=March 16, 2011}} The film's director Roger Michell had a number of dinners with McAdams and persuaded her to join the cast.{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EOJ3wycvez0 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/EOJ3wycvez0 |archive-date=December 21, 2021 |url-status=live |title=Roger Michell on Morning Glory |via=YouTube |date=January 24, 2011 |access-date=January 14, 2012}}{{cbignore}} Since working with Keaton, McAdams has described her as a mentor figure.{{cite web |last=Marshall |first=Alexandra |url=http://www.glamour.com/entertainment/2012/01/rachel-mcadams-glamour-magazine-cover-interview-ok-we-love-this-girl?currentPage=all |title=Rachel McAdams: OK, We Love This Girl!: Entertainment |work=glamour.com |date=January 6, 2012 |access-date=January 11, 2012 |archive-date=December 3, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203095017/http://www.glamour.com/entertainment/2012/01/rachel-mcadams-glamour-magazine-cover-interview-ok-we-love-this-girl?currentPage=all |url-status=live}} Kenneth Turan of the Los Angeles Times said McAdams "gives the kind of performance we go to the movies for"{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2010-nov-10-la-et-morning-glory-20101110-story.html |title=Movie review: Morning Glory |first=Kenneth |last=Turan |work=Los Angeles Times |date=November 10, 2010 |access-date=June 10, 2011 |archive-date=February 26, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200226051459/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2010-nov-10-la-et-morning-glory-20101110-story.html |url-status=live}} while Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times felt she played "as lovable a lead as anyone since Amy Adams in Junebug" in an otherwise "routine" movie.{{cite news |last=Ebert |first=Roger |title=Morning Glory |url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/morning-glory-2010 |work=RogerEbert.com |access-date=February 4, 2012 |date=November 9, 2010 |archive-date=June 3, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130603172640/http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/morning-glory-2010 |url-status=live}} Variety{{'}}s Andrew Barker was impressed by her gift for physical comedy.{{cite magazine |last=Barker |first=Andrew |url=https://variety.com/2010/film/reviews/morning-glory-1117943985/ |title=Variety Reviews – Morning Glory |magazine=Variety |date=November 3, 2010 |access-date=January 11, 2012 |archive-date=July 7, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130707000054/http://variety.com/2010/film/reviews/morning-glory-1117943985/ |url-status=live}} While Manohla Dargis of The New York Times felt she "plays her role exceptionally well" and is "effortlessly likable", it called on Hollywood to give her parts "worthy" of her talent. "Ms.{{nbsp}}McAdams has to rely on her dimples to get by. She does, but she could do better."{{cite news |last=Dargis |first=Manohla |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/10/movies/10morning.html |title=Plenty of Perky, Even This Early |work=The New York Times |date=November 9, 2010 |access-date=June 26, 2020 |author-link=Manohla Dargis |quote=As might be expected, Ms. McAdams plays her role exceptionally well: as the young actress on the verge of the big time, who can win the boy, tame the beast, flash her panties and make you smile without making you cringe, she is a natural. Now, if she can just persuade Mr. Abrams to give her a role worthy of them both. More than 20 years ago, Holly Hunter played an unapologetically smart female professional with a quiver full of comebacks: "It must be nice," her boss says "to always think you're the smartest person in the room." To which she admits, "No, it's awful." By contrast, Ms. McAdams has to rely on her dimples to get by. She does, but she could do better. |url-access=registration |archive-date=March 11, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210311043856/https://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/10/movies/10morning.html |url-status=live}} The film was a modest commercial success, grossing $58{{nbsp}}million worldwide from a production budget of $40{{nbsp}}million.{{cite web |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?page=main&id=morningglory10.htm |title=Morning Glory |work=Box Office Mojo |access-date=June 10, 2011 |archive-date=August 28, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110828205241/http://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?page=main&id=morningglory10.htm |url-status=live}} McAdams later expressed her disappointment that the film failed to find a larger audience.{{Citation |last=Shone |first=Tom |title=The Romantic |url=http://rachelmcadams.org/library/elle-the-romantic/ |newspaper=Elle |page=222 |issue=310 |date=June 2011 |access-date=May 14, 2012 |archive-date=May 14, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120514214615/http://rachelmcadams.org/library/elle-the-romantic/ |url-status=live}}

In 2011, McAdams starred in Woody Allen's fantasy romantic comedy Midnight in Paris with her Wedding Crashers co-star Owen Wilson and Michael Sheen. The film opened the 2011 Cannes Film Festival.{{cite news |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/woody-allens-midnight-paris-open-95633 |first=Rebecca |last=Leffler |title=Woody Allen's Midnight in Paris to Open Cannes Film Festival |work=The Hollywood Reporter |date=February 2, 2011 |access-date=June 9, 2011 |archive-date=August 9, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200809141647/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/woody-allens-midnight-paris-open-95633 |url-status=live}} McAdams played Inez, the shrewish fiancée of Wilson's character Gil. Allen wrote McAdams' part for her, after hearing "glowing reports" from his friend and her former co-star Diane Keaton.{{Citation |last=Shone |first=Tom |title=The Romantic |newspaper=Elle |page=221 |issue=310 |date=June 2011}} He said that he was "crazy about Rachel"{{cite web |last=Hirschberg |first=Lynn |url=http://www.wmagazine.com/celebrities/2011/06/woody-allen-movie-muses |title=Woody's Women: Celebrities |work=Wmagazine.com |date=August 1, 2011 |access-date=January 14, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120102180234/http://www.wmagazine.com/celebrities/2011/06/woody-allen-movie-muses |archive-date=January 2, 2012}} and wanted to give her the opportunity to play something other than "beautiful girls".{{cite news |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/midnight-in-paris-woody-allen-279390 |title=Woody Allen Reveals How He Conjured Up His Biggest Hit Midnight in Paris |work=The Hollywood Reporter |date=January 7, 2012 |access-date=January 14, 2012 |first=Gregg |last=Kilday |archive-date=January 14, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120114072156/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/midnight-in-paris-woody-allen-279390 |url-status=live}} The film was shot on location in Paris and McAdams has said that the experience "will always have a great place in my heart".OK Magazine. Romance in Paris. July 13, 2011. The Guardian criticized that she "has morphed from the sweet thing in Wedding Crashers to the dream-crushing bitch that, according to American comedies, women become once they ensnare their man".{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2011/may/31/hadley-freeman-hangover-funny-women |work=The Guardian |first=Hadley |last=Freeman |title=Funny women do exist in the movies – Hadley Freeman |date=May 31, 2011 | access-date=June 26, 2020 | archive-date=August 7, 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200807012147/https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2011/may/31/hadley-freeman-hangover-funny-women | url-status=live}} Richard Corliss of Time "felt sorry for McAdams, whose usually winning presence is ground into hostile cliché".{{cite magazine |last=Corliss |first=Richard |url=http://specials.blogs.time.com/2011/05/11/midnight-in-paris-woody-allens-off-key-love-song/ |title=Midnight in Paris: Woody Allen's Off-Key Love Song – Corliss at Cannes |magazine=Time |date=May 11, 2011 |access-date=January 11, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110516122847/http://specials.blogs.time.com/2011/05/11/midnight-in-paris-woody-allens-off-key-love-song/ |archive-date=May 16, 2011}} However, Kenneth Turan of the Los Angeles Times felt she "deftly handles a part that is less amiable than usual for her"{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/la-xpm-2011-may-20-la-et-midnight-paris-20110520-story.html |work=Los Angeles Times |first1=Kenneth |last1=Turan |title=Movie review: Midnight in Paris |date=May 20, 2011 |access-date=February 26, 2020 |archive-date=February 26, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200226051501/https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/la-xpm-2011-may-20-la-et-midnight-paris-20110520-story.html |url-status=live}} and A. O. Scott of The New York Times found her "superbly speeded-up".{{cite news |first=A. O. |last=Scott |author-link=A. O. Scott |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/20/movies/midnight-in-paris-by-woody-allen-with-owen-wilson-review.html |title=The Old Ennui and the Lost Generation |work=The New York Times |date=May 19, 2011 |access-date=June 26, 2020 |quote=Back in the daylight world of 21st-century Paris, he must contend with a materialistic fiancée (a superbly speeded-up Rachel McAdams; |url-access=registration |archive-date=June 25, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200625085156/https://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/20/movies/midnight-in-paris-by-woody-allen-with-owen-wilson-review.html |url-status=live}} It became Allen's highest-grossing film ever in North America{{cite news |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/midnight-paris-becomes-woody-allens-212254 |title=Midnight in Paris Becomes Woody Allen's Top Film of All Time in North America |work=The Hollywood Reporter |date=July 16, 2011 |access-date=July 26, 2011 |first=Pamela |last=McClintock |archive-date=August 9, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200809143301/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/midnight-paris-becomes-woody-allens-212254 |url-status=live}} and was the most commercially successful independent film of 2011.{{cite web |url=https://www.indiewire.com/2012/01/midnight-in-paris-top-grossing-indie-film-of-2011-paramount-leads-majors-at-the-box-office-254663/ |title=Midnight in Paris Top Grossing Indie Film Of 2011; Paramount Leads Majors At The Box Office |work=IndieWire |date=January 3, 2012 |access-date=February 25, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303210612/http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/midnight-in-paris-top-grossing-indie-films-of-2011-paramount-leads-majors-at-the-box-office |archive-date=March 3, 2016}} With a production budget of $17{{nbsp}}million, the film has grossed over $151{{nbsp}}million worldwide.{{cite web |url=https://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=midnightinparis.htm |title=Midnight in Paris (2011) |website=Box Office Mojo |access-date=January 11, 2012 |archive-date=June 25, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120625055906/http://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=midnightinparis.htm |url-status=live}} McAdams, along with six other members of the cast, received a Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture nomination.{{cite web |last=Murray |first=Rebecca |title=2012 Screen Actors Guild Nominees and Winners |url=http://movies.about.com/od/awards/a/2012-sag-awards.htm |work=About.com |access-date=February 4, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120828044643/http://movies.about.com/od/awards/a/2012-sag-awards.htm |archive-date=August 28, 2012}} Allen won the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay and the film itself was nominated for three other Academy Awards, including Best Picture.{{cite news |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/oscars-winners-list-academy-awards-295127 |title=Oscars 2012: Complete Winners List |work=The Hollywood Reporter |date=February 26, 2012 |access-date=March 17, 2012 |archive-date=May 20, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160520113526/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/oscars-winners-list-academy-awards-295127 |url-status=live}}

File:Rachel McAdams, TIFF 2012 (bright crop).jpg]]

McAdams reprised her role as Irene Adler in the mystery/action-adventure sequel Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows,{{cite magazine |first=Mandi |last=Bierly |url=https://ew.com/article/2011/02/04/rachel-mcadams-sherlock-holmes-2/ |title=Rachel McAdams cameo confirmed for Sherlock Holmes sequel |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |date=February 4, 2011 |access-date=February 25, 2020 |archive-date=February 17, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200217162210/https://ew.com/article/2011/02/04/rachel-mcadams-sherlock-holmes-2/ |url-status=live}} but the female lead role was played by Noomi Rapace. Joel Silver, the film's producer, has said that "we always intended to have a different kind of girl for each movie" in the vein of Bond girls.{{cite web |url=http://www.iamrogue.com/news/interviews/item/5456-iar-exclusive-interview-producers-joel-silver-and-susan-downey-talk-sherlock-holmes-a-game-of-shadows.html |title=IAR EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: Producers Joel Silver and Susan Downey talk Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows |work=iamROGUE.com |access-date=January 11, 2012 |archive-date=March 9, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120309111102/http://www.iamrogue.com/news/interviews/item/5456-iar-exclusive-interview-producers-joel-silver-and-susan-downey-talk-sherlock-holmes-a-game-of-shadows.html}} He found it "complicated" to persuade McAdams to return in a smaller role: "She loved being with us, but she hoped to have a bigger role." Joe Morgenstern of The Wall Street Journal felt "she vanishes all too soon in this overproduced, self-enchanted sequel, and so does the spirit of bright invention that made the previous film such a pleasant surprise."{{cite news |last=Morgenstern |first=Joe |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052970204026804577100360158018568 |title=Stylish Spectacle Makes This Mission Possible |work=The Wall Street Journal |date=December 16, 2011 |access-date=January 14, 2012 |archive-date=May 1, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150501162848/http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052970204026804577100360158018568 |url-status=live}} Scott Mendelson of The Huffington Post remarked that she "exhibits far more personality and roguish charm in her few moments here than she did in all of the previous film. Freed from the constraints of being the de-facto love interest, McAdams relishes the chance to go full-villain."{{cite news |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/sherlock-holmes-a-game-of-shadows_b_1140172 |first=Scott |last=Mendelson |title=Review: Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows |website=HuffPost |date=December 9, 2011 |access-date=January 14, 2012 |archive-date=August 4, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190804174650/https://www.huffpost.com/entry/sherlock-holmes-a-game-of-shadows_b_1140172 |url-status=live}} The film has grossed over $543{{nbsp}}million worldwide.{{cite web |url=https://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=sherlockholmes2.htm |title=Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows (2011) |website=Box Office Mojo |date=December 16, 2011 |access-date=January 11, 2012 |archive-date=August 10, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190810220501/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=sherlockholmes2.htm |url-status=live}}

In 2012, McAdams starred opposite Channing Tatum in the romantic drama The Vow, based on a true story.{{cite news |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/entertainment/rachel-mcadams-film-the-vow-shoots-in-toronto-1.900801 |title=Rachel McAdams film The Vow shoots in Toronto |work=CBC News |date=September 3, 2010 |access-date=June 9, 2011 |archive-date=January 14, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120114045057/http://www.cbc.ca/news/arts/film/story/2010/09/03/vow-rachel-mcadams.html |url-status=live}} McAdams and Tatum played a newlywed couple who try to rebuild their relationship after a car crash leaves the wife with no recollections of who he is or their marriage. McAdams was drawn to the "roller coaster" faced by her character{{cite web |last=Marshall |first=Alexandra |url=http://www.glamour.com/entertainment/2012/01/rachel-mcadams-glamour-magazine-cover-interview-ok-we-love-this-girl?currentPage=3 |title=Rachel McAdams: OK, We Love This Girl!: Entertainment |work=Glamour |date=January 6, 2012 |access-date=January 11, 2012 |archive-date=January 8, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120108230741/http://www.glamour.com/entertainment/2012/01/rachel-mcadams-glamour-magazine-cover-interview-ok-we-love-this-girl?currentPage=3 |url-status=live}} and found it interesting that the story was told "through the guy's eyes".{{cite web |last=Thompson |first=Bob |title=Rachel McAdams' return to romantic love |url=http://www.timescolonist.com/entertainment/Rachel+McAdams+return+romantic+love/6079400/story.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130204095329/http://www.timescolonist.com/entertainment/Rachel+McAdams+return+romantic+love/6079400/story.html|archive-date=February 4, 2013 |work=Times Colonist |access-date=February 4, 2012 |date=January 31, 2012}} A. O. Scott of The New York Times stated that "the dimply and adorable Rachel McAdams" brings "enough physical charm and emotional warmth to distract from the threadbare setting and the paper-thin plot".{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/10/movies/the-vow-with-rachel-mcadams-and-channing-tatum.html |work=The New York Times |first=A. O. |last=Scott |title=Can Amnesia Block the Path of Romance? Forget About It |date=February 9, 2012 | author-link=A. O. Scott | access-date=June 26, 2020 |quote=When they are on the screen together here, there is enough physical charm and emotional warmth to distract from the threadbare setting and the paper-thin plot. | url-access=registration | archive-date=May 13, 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200513120844/https://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/10/movies/the-vow-with-rachel-mcadams-and-channing-tatum.html | url-status=live}} Joseph Amodio of Newsday felt that McAdams, "exuding her usual uncanny warmth on-screen", "is the real draw".{{cite web |url=http://www.newsday.com/entertainment/movies/review-she-s-got-amnesia-in-the-vow-1.3514404 |title=Review: She's got amnesia in The Vow |work=Newsday |date=February 8, 2012 |access-date=March 17, 2012 |archive-date=April 18, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120418091407/http://www.newsday.com/entertainment/movies/review-she-s-got-amnesia-in-the-vow-1.3514404 |url-status=live}} However, Betsy Sharkey of the Los Angeles Times felt she was "wasted" in the role: "She is such an appealing actress that it's hard not to wish someone could make better use" of her.{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/movies/la-et-the-vow-20120210,0,4999213.story |work=Los Angeles Times |first1=Betsy |last1=Sharkey |first2=Film |last2=Critic |title=Movie review: The Vow |date=February 10, 2012 | access-date=April 17, 2020 | archive-date=February 12, 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120212070200/http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/movies/la-et-the-vow-20120210,0,4999213.story | url-status=live}} Mary Pols of Time found the film an example of McAdams "coasting" in "unabashedly romantic" movies and asserted that "she's a much more versatile and clever actress" than such projects would suggest.{{cite magazine |last=Pols |first=Mary |url=https://entertainment.time.com/2012/02/10/the-vow-how-many-more-movie-romances-does-rachel-mcadams-have-in-her/?iid=ent-main-lede#ixzz1m4wPoWOo |magazine=Time |date=February 10, 2012 |title=The Vow: How Many More Movie Romances Does Rachel McAdams Have In Her? | access-date=June 26, 2020 | archive-date=June 28, 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200628092017/https://entertainment.time.com/2012/02/10/the-vow-how-many-more-movie-romances-does-rachel-mcadams-have-in-her/?iid=ent-main-lede#ixzz1m4wPoWOo | url-status=live}} The film, financed for $30{{nbsp}}million, was a major commercial success and became her biggest box-office hit in a leading role.{{cite web |title=Rachel McAdams' Biggest Hit: THE VOW |url=http://www.altfg.com/blog/movie/rachel-mcadams-biggest-hit-the-vow/ |work=Alt Film Guide |access-date=May 22, 2012 |first=D. |last=Zhea |date=March 4, 2012 |archive-date=November 12, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131112065520/http://www.altfg.com/blog/movie/rachel-mcadams-biggest-hit-the-vow/ |url-status=live}} It topped the U.S. box office and has grossed over $196{{nbsp}}million worldwide.{{cite news |url=https://latimesblogs.latimes.com/entertainmentnewsbuzz/2012/02/vow-safe-house-star-wars-box-office.html |work=Los Angeles Times |title=Box office: The Vow leads strong weekend with $41.7{{nbsp}}million [Updated] |date=February 12, 2012 |access-date=February 26, 2020 |archive-date=February 17, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200217162210/https://latimesblogs.latimes.com/entertainmentnewsbuzz/2012/02/vow-safe-house-star-wars-box-office.html |url-status=live}}{{cite web |url=https://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=vow.htm |title=The Vow (2012) |website=Box Office Mojo |date=February 10, 2012 |access-date=March 17, 2012 |archive-date=March 14, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120314050717/http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=vow.htm |url-status=live}}

In 2013, McAdams co-starred opposite Ben Affleck in Terrence Malick's romantic drama To the Wonder.{{cite web |url=https://collider.com/to-the-wonder-release-date-april-2013/210900/ |first=Adam |last=Chitwood |title=Terrence Malick's To the Wonder Aiming for April 2013 US Release |website=Collider |access-date=August 31, 2013 |archive-date=December 26, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131226215158/http://collider.com/to-the-wonder-release-date-april-2013/210900/ |url-status=live}} McAdams played a horse ranch worker in Oklahoma and the love interest of Affleck's character.{{cite news |url=https://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/news/story/2012-02-05/rachel-mcadams-woody-allen-terrence-malick/52978870/1 |title=Rachel McAdams torn between two directors – |work=USA Today |date=February 5, 2012 |access-date=March 17, 2012 |archive-date=April 15, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120415234720/http://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/news/story/2012-02-05/rachel-mcadams-woody-allen-terrence-malick/52978870/1 |url-status=live}} She found Malick to be an "incredibly helpful" director; they discussed her character in detail and he took her on a tour of the local town, pointing out which house she would have grown up in and where she would have attended school. Upon its limited theatrical American release, the film polarized film critics.{{Cite web |url=https://www.indiewire.com/2012/09/rachel-mcadams-olga-kurylenko-discuss-the-challenges-thrills-of-terrence-malicks-to-the-wonder-251121/ |title=Rachel McAdams & Olga Kurylenko Discuss The Challenges & Thrills Of Terrence Malick's To The Wonder |first1=Oliver |last1=Lyttelton |work=IndieWire |date=September 14, 2012 |access-date=July 25, 2019 |archive-date=July 25, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190725081220/https://www.indiewire.com/2012/09/rachel-mcadams-olga-kurylenko-discuss-the-challenges-thrills-of-terrence-malicks-to-the-wonder-251121/ |url-status=live}} Oliver Lyttelton of IndieWire noted that "McAdams has the least to do of the principals, but is wonderfully haunted and sad in her brief appearances".{{cite web |url=https://www.indiewire.com/2012/09/venice-review-terrence-malicks-to-the-wonder-is-a-raw-heartfelt-film-of-loss-and-longing-251259/ |title=Venice Review: Terrence Malick's To The Wonder Is A Raw & Heartfelt Film Of Loss And Longing |first=Oliver |last=Lyttelton |website=Indiewire |date=September 2, 2012 |access-date=November 21, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303231157/http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/venice-review-terrence-malicks-to-the-wonder-is-a-raw-heartfelt-film-of-loss-and-longing-20120902 |archive-date=March 3, 2016}} Afterwards, McAdams starred in Brian De Palma's erotic thriller Passion opposite Noomi Rapace. They played two business executives engaged in a power struggle.{{cite web |first=Nancy |last=Tartaglione |url=https://deadline.com/2011/12/brian-de-palma-has-passion-for-rachel-mcadams-and-noomi-rapace-205705/ |title=Brian De Palma Has Passion For Rachel McAdams And Noomi Rapace – |website=Deadline Hollywood |date=December 15, 2011 |access-date=January 11, 2012 |archive-date=January 11, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120111061053/http://www.deadline.com/2011/12/brian-de-palma-has-passion-for-rachel-mcadams-and-noomi-rapace/ |url-status=live}} De Palma saw McAdams' performance in Mean Girls and decided to cast her as Christine.{{cite web |url=https://www.indiewire.com/2013/08/brian-de-palma-q-a-passion-mcadams-vs-rapace-sex-tools-updated-new-trailer-196317/ |title=Brian De Palma Q & A: Passion, McAdams vs. Rapace, Sex Tools UPDATED (New Trailer) |first=Anne |last=Thompson |work=IndieWire |date=August 30, 2013 |access-date=April 17, 2020 |archive-date=August 13, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200813031717/https://www.indiewire.com/2013/08/brian-de-palma-q-a-passion-mcadams-vs-rapace-sex-tools-updated-new-trailer-196317/ |url-status=live}} The movie was released in selected theatres in the US. Gleiberman of Entertainment Weekly noted that McAdams "uses her sexy billboard smile and emphatic delivery to nail a certain type of troublemaker boss who embeds her aggression in pert 'sincerity'"{{cite magazine |url=https://ew.com/article/2013/08/31/passion-movie/ |title=Passion (2013) |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |first=Owen |last=Gleiberman |date=August 31, 2013 |access-date=November 21, 2019 |archive-date=April 14, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190414222430/https://ew.com/article/2013/08/31/passion-movie/ |url-status=live}} while Robert Abele of the Los Angeles Times remarked: "McAdams and Rapace are gesturally awkward and wildly miscast—more sorority sisters in a spat than cross-generational power antagonists."{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/moviesnow/la-et-mn-passion-review-20130831,0,3307853.story |title=Review: Passion? It's not visible in Brian De Palma's directing |first=Abele |last=Robert |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |date=August 30, 2013 |access-date=August 31, 2013 |archive-date=September 1, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130901031548/http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/moviesnow/la-et-mn-passion-review-20130831,0,3307853.story |url-status=live}}

In 2013, McAdams starred in Richard Curtis' romantic comedy-drama About Time opposite Domhnall Gleeson.{{cite news |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/rachel-mcadams-about-time-working-title-323151 |title=Rachel McAdams to Star in Working Title's About Time (Exclusive) |work=The Hollywood Reporter |date=November 17, 2011 |access-date=May 23, 2012 |first=Borys |last=Kit |archive-date=May 13, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120513214904/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/rachel-mcadams-about-time-working-title-323151 |url-status=live}} Zooey Deschanel was originally slated to play McAdams's role but dropped out shortly before filming began.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/rachel-mcadams-star-working-titles-323151 |title=Rachel McAdams to Star in Working Title's About Time (Exclusive) |magazine=The Hollywood Reporter |date=May 10, 2012 |access-date=August 31, 2013 |first=Borys |last=Kit |archive-date=January 26, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140126040656/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/rachel-mcadams-star-working-titles-323151 |url-status=live}} A fan of Curtis for years, McAdams wanted to work with him on what he stated would be his last project as a director.{{cite web |url=https://collider.com/rachel-mcadams-about-time-interview/ |title=Rachel McAdams Talks ABOUT TIME, Why She Loves Love Stories, Working on Cameron Crowe's Next Movie, and More |website=Collider |date=October 29, 2013 |access-date=April 17, 2020 |archive-date=January 8, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200108210157/https://collider.com/rachel-mcadams-about-time-interview/ |url-status=live}} The film was a commercial success at the international box office,{{cite web |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/release/rl272664065/ |title=About Time (2013) - Box Office Mojo |work=Box Office Mojo |access-date=June 26, 2020 |archive-date=June 28, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200628002758/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/release/rl272664065/ |url-status=live}} and McAdams had a positive reception among critics, with Leslie Felperin of Variety praising her and Gleeson for their "radiant, believable chemistry" which "keeps the film aloft."{{cite magazine |url=https://variety.com/2013/film/reviews/film-review-about-time-1200575189/ |title=Film Review: About Time |magazine=Variety |first=Leslie |last=Felperin |date=August 8, 2013 |access-date=August 31, 2013 |archive-date=September 29, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130929193216/http://variety.com/2013/film/reviews/film-review-about-time-1200575189/ |url-status=live}} The following year, McAdams starred opposite Philip Seymour Hoffman in an adaptation of John le Carré's espionage thriller A Most Wanted Man, directed by Anton Corbijn.{{cite web |url=https://www.indiewire.com/2012/05/its-about-time-for-rachel-mcadams-actress-lines-up-anton-corbijns-a-most-wanted-man-110608/ |title=It's About Time For Rachel McAdams & Richard Curtis; Actress Lines Up Anton Corbijn's A Most Wanted Man |work=IndieWire |date=May 10, 2012 |access-date=February 26, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120513211722/http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/its-about-time-for-rachel-mcadams-richard-curtis-actress-lines-up-anton-corbijns-a-most-wanted-man-20120510 |archive-date=May 13, 2012}}{{cite magazine |last=Holdsworth |first=Nick |url=https://variety.com/2012/film/markets-festivals/senator-boards-wanted-1118054325/ |title=Senator boards Wanted |magazine=Variety |date=May 19, 2012 |access-date=February 26, 2020 |archive-date=February 26, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200226051501/https://variety.com/2012/film/markets-festivals/senator-boards-wanted-1118054325/ |url-status=live}}{{cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2013/07/lionsgate-acquires-a-most-wanted-man-john-le-carre-adaptation-stars-philip-seymour-hoffman-and-rachel-mcadams-553024/?_r=true |title=Lionsgate Acquires A Most Wanted Man; John Le Carre Adaptation Stars Philip Seymour Hoffman And Rachel McAdams |last=Fleming |first=Mike Jr. |website=Deadline Hollywood |date=July 30, 2013 |access-date=August 31, 2013 |archive-date=May 6, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220506121009/https://deadline.com/2013/07/lionsgate-acquires-a-most-wanted-man-john-le-carre-adaptation-stars-philip-seymour-hoffman-and-rachel-mcadams-553024/?_r=true |url-status=live}} McAdams' attempt at a German accent was criticised by some reviewers.{{cite news |url=https://www.indiewire.com/2014/07/review-spy-tale-a-most-wanted-man-starring-philip-seymour-hoffman-rachel-mcadams-and-more-274207/ |title=Review: Spy Tale A Most Wanted Man Starring Philip Seymour Hoffman, Rachel McAdams And More |first=Cory |last=Everett |date=July 23, 2014 |work=The Playlist |access-date=November 27, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141204194954/http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/review-spy-tale-a-most-wanted-man-starring-philip-seymour-hoffman-rachel-mcadams-and-more-20140723 |archive-date=December 4, 2014}} Richard Lawson of Vanity Fair noted that McAdams had a "little less success with her accent" than her co-star Hoffman but, nonetheless, she "proves as intelligent, soulful, and magnetic a presence as ever".{{cite magazine |last=Lawson |first=Richard |date=July 25, 2014 |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2014/07/a-most-wanted-man-review |title=A Most Wanted Man Features a Great, Sad Philip Seymour Hoffman Performance |magazine=Vanity Fair |access-date=June 26, 2020 |archive-date=August 11, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200811194439/https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2014/07/a-most-wanted-man-review |url-status=live}} In late 2014, McAdams received a star on Canada's Walk of Fame.{{cite web |url=http://www.canadaswalkoffame.com/inductees/2014/rachel-mcadams |title=Rachel McAdams |publisher=Canada's Walk of Fame |date=September 16, 2014 |access-date=September 16, 2014 |archive-date=September 21, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140921032359/http://www.canadaswalkoffame.com/inductees/2014/rachel-mcadams |url-status=live}}{{cite web |url=http://www.ctvnews.ca/entertainment/rachel-mcadams-ryan-reynolds-slated-for-stars-on-canada-s-walk-of-fame-1.2009631?hootPostID=7f7497877627511d9d8960ef90a5e4f2 |title=Rachel McAdams, Ryan Reynolds slated for stars on Canada's Walk of Fame |work=CTV News |date=September 16, 2014 |access-date=September 16, 2014 |archive-date=July 24, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150724013828/http://www.ctvnews.ca/entertainment/rachel-mcadams-ryan-reynolds-slated-for-stars-on-canada-s-walk-of-fame-1.2009631?hootPostID=7f7497877627511d9d8960ef90a5e4f2 |url-status=live}}

File:Princess Bride 15 (20780221703).jpg]]

In 2015, McAdams starred with Michael Keaton, Mark Ruffalo and Stanley Tucci as journalist Sacha Pfeiffer in Tom McCarthy's Spotlight, a drama about the child-abuse scandal in Boston's Catholic Church.{{cite web |first=Jeff |last=Sneider |url=https://www.thewrap.com/mark-ruffalo-michael-keaton-stanley-tucci-in-talks-to-star-in-catholic-church-sex-scandal-drama-exclusive/ |title=Mark Ruffalo, Michael Keaton, Rachel McAdams in Talks to Star in Catholic Church Sex Scandal Drama (Exclusive) |work=TheWrap |date=August 8, 2014 |access-date=March 4, 2018 |archive-date=May 14, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190514111217/https://www.thewrap.com/mark-ruffalo-michael-keaton-stanley-tucci-in-talks-to-star-in-catholic-church-sex-scandal-drama-exclusive/ |url-status=live}} To prepare for her role, McAdams spent time with Pfeiffer.{{cite web |first=Grace |last=Gavilanes |url=https://people.com/celebrity/rachel-mcadams-sacha-pfeiffer-boston-globe-spotlight-critics-choice-awards/ |title=VIDEO: Who Did Rachel McAdams 'Bug' to Ace Her Performance in Spotlight? |work=People |date=January 8, 2016 |access-date=March 4, 2018 |archive-date=July 10, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170710110047/http://people.com/celebrity/rachel-mcadams-sacha-pfeiffer-boston-globe-spotlight-critics-choice-awards/ |url-status=live}}{{cite news |first=Tristram |last=Fane Saunders |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/film/movie-news/oscars-best-supporting-actress-nominees/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/film/movie-news/oscars-best-supporting-actress-nominees/ |archive-date=January 10, 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Who are the 2016 Best Supporting Actress nominees? |work=The Daily Telegraph |date=January 31, 2016 |access-date=June 26, 2020}}{{cbignore}} The film garnered critical acclaim{{Cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/spotlight |title=Spotlight |via=www.metacritic.com |access-date=June 26, 2020 |archive-date=April 17, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190417141339/https://www.metacritic.com/movie/spotlight |url-status=live}} and won the Academy Award for Best Picture. Though Justin Chang of Variety felt McAdams imbued her character with "sensitivity and grit", he was nonetheless surprised by her subsequent Academy Award nomination: "[The performance] has the sort of fine-grained subtlety that voters too rarely notice. Take another look at that scene in which she gently, skillfully encourages an abuse survivor to lay bare his most lacerating secrets—a small master class in how the simple act of listening can become a conduit for compassion."{{cite web |first=Justin |last=Chang |url=https://variety.com/2015/film/reviews/spotlight-review-michael-keaton-tom-mccarthy-venice-film-festival-1201580933/ |title=Film Review: Spotlight |work=Variety |date=September 3, 2015 |access-date=March 28, 2016 |archive-date=March 27, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160327020744/http://variety.com/2015/film/reviews/spotlight-review-michael-keaton-tom-mccarthy-venice-film-festival-1201580933/ |url-status=live}}{{cite web |first=Justin |last=Chang |url=https://variety.com/2016/film/columns/oscars-silver-linings-mad-max-charlotte-rampling-1201680126/ |title=6 Silver Linings to the Oscar Nominations: From Mad Max to Charlotte Rampling |work=Variety |date=January 14, 2016 |access-date=March 28, 2016 |archive-date=March 29, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160329133006/http://variety.com/2016/film/columns/oscars-silver-linings-mad-max-charlotte-rampling-1201680126/ |url-status=live}} For her role, McAdams received nominations for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Supporting Actress and Screen Actors Guild Award nominations in the categories of Outstanding Actress in a Supporting Role and Outstanding Cast in a Motion Picture.{{cite web |url=https://variety.com/2015/film/awards/sag-award-nominations-2016-nominees-full-list-1201657169/ |title=SAG Awards Nominations: Complete List |work=Variety |date=December 9, 2015 |access-date=December 10, 2015 |archive-date=December 11, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151211013650/https://variety.com/2015/film/awards/sag-award-nominations-2016-nominees-full-list-1201657169/ |url-status=live}}{{cite web |first=Patrick |last=Hipes |url=https://www.deadline.com/2015/12/critics-choice-awards-nominations-2016-full-list-1201666326 |title=Critics' Choice Awards Nominations: Mad Max Leads Film; ABC, HBO, FX Networks & Fargo Top TV |website=Deadline Hollywood |date=December 14, 2015 |access-date=December 14, 2015 |archive-date=December 15, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151215222621/http://deadline.com/2015/12/critics-choice-awards-nominations-2016-full-list-1201666326/ |url-status=live}}

She next starred with her Wedding Crashers co-star Bradley Cooper, Emma Stone and John Krasinski in Cameron Crowe's romantic comedy-drama Aloha. She played the ex-girlfriend of Cooper's character, who is married to Krasinski's character with two children.{{cite web |first=Germain |last=Lussier |url=https://www.slashfilm.com/untitled-hawaii-project-cameron-crowe/ |title=Cameron Crowe's Untitled Hawaii Project Delayed to 2015 |work=Slashfilm |date=July 21, 2014 |access-date=March 4, 2018 |archive-date=June 12, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612140354/http://www.slashfilm.com/untitled-hawaii-project-cameron-crowe/ |url-status=live}} While the film received a negative reaction and controversy from critics and audiences alike,{{cite web |first=Dave |last=McNary |url=https://variety.com/2015/film/news/aloha-box-office-flop-cameron-crowe-bradley-cooper-1201508928/ |title=Aloha Sinks Under Wave of Harsh Reviews With $10{{nbsp}}Million |work=Variety |date=May 31, 2015 |access-date=March 1, 2018 |archive-date=March 5, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180305142657/https://variety.com/2015/film/news/aloha-box-office-flop-cameron-crowe-bradley-cooper-1201508928/ |url-status=live}} Wesley Morris of Grantland remarked: "Someone who can speak Crowe's language really helps. McAdams might be the best he's ever had ... [She] puts the perfect amount of air in her lines, giving the words a lightness that conflates optimism, amusement, and resignation. She's never seemed lovelier, more instinctive, or more present."{{cite web |first=Wesley |last=Morris |url=http://grantland.com/hollywood-prospectus/quakes-in-san-andreas-aloha/ |title=Whose fault is this? Learning to like the mega-quakes in San Andreas and the sloppiness of Aloha |work=Grantland |date=May 5, 2015 |access-date=March 28, 2016 |archive-date=March 13, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160313063424/http://grantland.com/hollywood-prospectus/quakes-in-san-andreas-aloha/ |url-status=live}} Mark Olsen of the Los Angeles Times felt she "plays likely the strongest, most rounded female character Crowe has ever written, a woman suddenly lips to lips with the life she has and the one she might have had, and the actress brings a grounded, unforced earthiness to the role that is a joy to watch."{{cite news |first=Mark |last=Olsen |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-aloha-review-20150529-story.html |title=Cameron Crowe's Aloha has its charms despite some of its baggage |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |date=May 28, 2015 |access-date=March 28, 2016 |archive-date=April 13, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160413105043/http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-aloha-review-20150529-story.html |url-status=live}}

File:Doctor Strange cast by Gage Skidmore.jpg, Scott Derrickson, Tilda Swinton, McAdams, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Mads Mikkelsen and Benedict Wong at San Diego Comic-Con for Doctor Strange (2016)]]

She co-starred with Jake Gyllenhaal in the boxing drama Southpaw (2015), where she played the wife of Gyllenhaal's character.{{cite web |first=Mike Jr. |last=Fleming |url=https://deadline.com/2014/06/southpaw-adds-ex-champ-victor-ortiz-to-southpaw-cast-791753/ |title=Southpaw Adds Ex-Champ Victor Ortiz To Cast |website=Deadline Hollywood |date=June 17, 2014 |access-date=March 4, 2018 |archive-date=July 29, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140729003515/http://www.deadline.com/2014/06/southpaw-adds-ex-champ-victor-ortiz-to-southpaw-cast/ |url-status=live}} A.O. Scott of The New York Times conceded: "It features some pretty appealing players. There are worse things to see at the multiplex than Ms. McAdams playing a tough cookie standing by her man."{{cite web |first=A.O. |last=Scott |author-link=A.O. Scott |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/24/movies/review-in-southpaw-jake-gyllenhaal-tries-to-box-his-way-back-from-tragedy.html |title=In Southpaw Jake Gyllenhaal tries to box his way back from tragedy |work=The New York Times |date=July 24, 2015 |access-date=June 26, 2020 |url-access=registration |archive-date=March 8, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308161107/https://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/24/movies/review-in-southpaw-jake-gyllenhaal-tries-to-box-his-way-back-from-tragedy.html |url-status=live}} She co-starred with James Franco, Charlotte Gainsbourg and Marie-Josée Croze in Wim Wenders' drama Every Thing Will Be Fine. The film received a U.S. limited release in December 2015.{{cite web |first=Jeff |last=Sneider |url=https://www.thewrap.com/movies/column-post/rachel-mcadams-lilah-fitzgerald-join-james-franco-canadian-drama-112066 |title=Rachel McAdams, Lilah Fitzgerald Join James Franco in Drama Every Thing Will Be Fine |work=TheWrap |date=August 20, 2013 |access-date=March 4, 2015 |archive-date=October 27, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141027110305/http://www.thewrap.com/movies/column-post/rachel-mcadams-lilah-fitzgerald-join-james-franco-canadian-drama-112066/ |url-status=live}} Guy Lodge of Variety remarked: "Poor McAdams, sporting sensible hair and a truly mystifying cod-Continental accent, continues her thankless run of needy, tossed-aside love interests in big-name auteur projects."{{cite web |first=Guy |last=Lodge |url=https://variety.com/2015/film/festivals/berlin-film-review-every-thing-will-be-fine-1201429546/ |title=Berlin film review: Everything Will Be Fine |work=Variety |date=February 10, 2015 |access-date=March 28, 2016 |archive-date=March 5, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305205142/http://variety.com/2015/film/festivals/berlin-film-review-every-thing-will-be-fine-1201429546/ |url-status=live}} That same year, McAdams returned to television and starred as Det. Ani Bezzerides in the second season of HBO's anthology crime drama True Detective with her Wedding Crashers co-star Vince Vaughn, Colin Farrell and Taylor Kitsch.{{cite web |url=http://hbob2b.vo.llnwd.net/u/mr_twitter/November2014/truedetective_season2_alert2.pdf |title=Rachel McAdams, Taylor Kitsch and Kelly Reilly join Colin Farrell and Vince Vaughn in HBO's True Detective |access-date=March 28, 2016 |archive-date=March 4, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304025320/http://hbob2b.vo.llnwd.net/u/mr_twitter/November2014/truedetective_season2_alert2.pdf |url-status=live}} Richard Vine of The Guardian remarked: "If there's anyone with any chance of enjoying a McConaughaissance here it's probably McAdams – an actor whose characters are more usually associated with the death of the romcom than murders involving people with eyes burned out by acid. Here, her Ani is a convincing mess."{{cite web |first=Richard |last=Vine |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2015/jun/23/true-detective-two-review |title=True Detective review: 'Bad, bad men are still doing bad, bad things' |work=The Guardian |date=June 23, 2015 |access-date=March 28, 2016 |archive-date=March 5, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305060244/http://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2015/jun/23/true-detective-two-review |url-status=live}} She received a nomination for the Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Actress in a Movie/Miniseries for her role. Also in 2015, McAdams played Buttercup in a one-off, staged LACMA Live Read of The Princess Bride.{{cite web |first=Cara |last=Buckley |url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/projects/cp/film-festivals/toronto-2015/the-princess-bride-live-and-in-person |title=The Princess Bride, Live and In Person |work=The New York Times |date=September 13, 2015 |access-date=June 26, 2020 |archive-date=March 9, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210309011853/https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/projects/cp/film-festivals/toronto-2015/the-princess-bride-live-and-in-person |url-status=live}}

The following year, McAdams voiced The Mother of The Little Girl in an animated version of The Little Prince,{{cite web |first=Zach |last=Dionne |url=https://www.vulture.com/2013/06/voice-the-little-prince-movie.html |title=Lots of A-Listers You Love Will Voice The Little Prince Movie |work=Vulture.com |date=June 5, 2013 |access-date=August 31, 2013 |archive-date=August 20, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130820150215/http://www.vulture.com/2013/06/voice-the-little-prince-movie.html |url-status=live}} and co-starred with Benedict Cumberbatch in the Marvel Cinematic Universe superhero film Doctor Strange.{{cite web |first=Andrew |last=Kelly |url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/movies/news/rachel-mcadams-confirmed-for-dr-strange/ar-AAehxTg |title=Rachel McAdams confirmed for 'Dr. Strange' |website=MSN |agency=Reuters |date=September 15, 2015 |access-date=March 28, 2016 |archive-date=March 4, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304074459/http://www.msn.com/en-us/movies/news/rachel-mcadams-confirmed-for-dr-strange/ar-AAehxTg |url-status=live}} Peter Debruge of Variety said McAdams played "the most competent—and human—of Marvel's window-dressing girlfriends,"{{cite magazine |first=Peter |last=Debruge |url=https://variety.com/2016/film/reviews/doctor-strange-review-marvel-studios-1201895862/ |title=Film Review: Doctor Strange |magazine=Variety |date=October 23, 2016 |access-date=March 4, 2018 |archive-date=November 8, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201108135844/https://variety.com/2016/film/reviews/doctor-strange-review-marvel-studios-1201895862/ |url-status=live}} while Gregory Ellwood of Indiewire remarked: "It goes without saying that McAdams will never get the credit she deserves for transforming the barely sketched out role of Strange's former medical colleague Christine Palmer into a captivating three-dimensional character that feels like an integral part of the storyline even when she isn't."{{cite web |first=Gregory |last=Ellwood |url=http://theplaylist.net/doctor-strange-benedict-cumberbatch-visual-wonder-enough-review-20161023/ |title=Doctor Strange With Benedict Cumberbatch Is A Visual Wonder But Is That Enough? [Review] |work=ThePlaylist.net |date=October 23, 2016 |access-date=March 4, 2018 |archive-date=November 27, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171127163138/https://theplaylist.net/doctor-strange-benedict-cumberbatch-visual-wonder-enough-review-20161023/ |url-status=live}} Also in 2016, McAdams narrated an audiobook version of L. M. Montgomery's novel Anne of Green Gables, released by Audible.{{cite book |title=Anne of Green Gables narrated by Rachel McAdams |url=http://www.audible.com/pd/Classics/Anne-of-Green-Gables-Audiobook/B01KGL13FI?ref_=a_hp_c2_3 |via=Audible.com |access-date=November 27, 2016 |archive-date=November 27, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161127151853/http://www.audible.com/pd/Classics/Anne-of-Green-Gables-Audiobook/B01KGL13FI?ref_=a_hp_c2_3 |url-status=live}}

After a year-long absence from the screen, McAdams co-starred with Jason Bateman in the comedy Game Night (2018). Glenn Kenny of The New York Times said the film served as a "reminder that Ms. McAdams is one of cinema's most accomplished and appealing comic actresses."{{cite news |first=Glenn |last=Kenny |title=Review: Game Night Has a Winning Rachel McAdams and Charades With a Twist |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/21/movies/game-night-review-rachel-mcadams-jason-bateman.html |work=The New York Times |date=February 21, 2018 |access-date=June 26, 2020 |url-access=registration |archive-date=June 8, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200608100522/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/21/movies/game-night-review-rachel-mcadams-jason-bateman.html |url-status=live}} Richard Lawson of Vanity Fair felt her character lacked "any real arc or motivation of her own", but "It's a testament to McAdams's talent and charm, then, that she doesn't get lost in the movie, asserting herself in every scene with a goofy brightness."{{cite news |first=Richard |last=Lawson |title=Game Night Review: Surprisingly Stylish Fun That Could Use More Rachel McAdams |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2018/02/game-night-rachel-mcadams-review |work=Vanity Fair |date=February 21, 2018 |access-date=March 4, 2018 |archive-date=January 11, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190111140749/https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2018/02/game-night-rachel-mcadams-review |url-status=live}} She performed some of her own stunt driving in a getaway scene.{{cite news |first=Peter |last=Howell |title=Rachel McAdams on taking the wheel — and driving for change in Hollywood |url=https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/movies/2018/02/22/rachel-mcadams-on-taking-the-wheel-and-driving-for-change-in-hollywood.html |work=The Toronto Star |date=February 22, 2018 |access-date=February 22, 2018 |archive-date=February 23, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180223065600/https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/movies/2018/02/22/rachel-mcadams-on-taking-the-wheel-and-driving-for-change-in-hollywood.html |url-status=live}} Later in 2018, McAdams starred opposite Rachel Weisz in Sebastián Lelio's romantic drama Disobedience, based on Naomi Alderman's novel.{{cite web |first=Justin |last=Kroll |url=https://variety.com/2016/film/news/rachel-mcadams-cast-in-disobediance-naomi-alderman-book-adaptation-1201876705/ |title=Rachel McAdams to Star With Rachel Weisz in Love Story Disobedience (EXCLUSIVE) |work=Variety |date=October 4, 2016 |access-date=March 4, 2018 |archive-date=June 12, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612141054/https://variety.com/2016/film/news/rachel-mcadams-cast-in-disobediance-naomi-alderman-book-adaptation-1201876705/ |url-status=live}} Manohla Dargis of The New York Times said McAdams "does some lovely work here to convey a woman agonizing over her existential situation".{{cite news |last1=Dargis |first1=Manohla |title=Review: The Flesh Is Willing in Disobedience |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/25/movies/disobedience-review-rachel-mcadams.html |access-date=June 26, 2020 |work=The New York Times |date=April 25, 2018 |url-access=registration |archive-date=August 9, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200809123416/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/25/movies/disobedience-review-rachel-mcadams.html |url-status=live}}

In 2020, she co-starred with Will Ferrell in the Netflix musical comedy film Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga. McAdams reprised the role of Christine Palmer in the superhero sequel Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. Released in May 2022, it garnered mixed reviews.{{cite web |last1=Davids |first1=Brian |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-features/doctor-strange-2-rachel-mcadams-made-peace-mcu-one-and-done-1235140590/ |title=Doctor Strange 2 Star Rachel McAdams Made Peace Being MCU One and Done |work=The Hollywood Reporter |date=May 4, 2022 |access-date=May 6, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220506115922/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-features/doctor-strange-2-rachel-mcadams-made-peace-mcu-one-and-done-1235140590/ |archive-date=May 6, 2022 |url-status=live}}{{cite web |last1=Chilton |first1=Louis |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/news/doctor-strange-2-multiverse-of-madness-reviews-metacritic-score-b2071142.html |title=Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness polarises critics as full reviews drop |work=The Independent |date=May 4, 2022 |access-date=May 6, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220506113047/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/news/doctor-strange-2-multiverse-of-madness-reviews-metacritic-score-b2071142.html |archive-date=May 6, 2022 |url-status=live}}{{Cite web |title=Top 2022 Movies at the Worldwide Box Office |url=https://www.the-numbers.com/box-office-records/worldwide/all-movies/cumulative/released-in-2022 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230319032303/https://www.the-numbers.com/box-office-records/worldwide/all-movies/cumulative/released-in-2022 |archive-date=March 19, 2023 |access-date=May 12, 2023 |website=The Numbers}} McAdams starred in Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret., a film adaptation of Judy Blume's novel of the same name. The film was released in April 2023 to positive reviews. Vanity Fair{{'}}s Richard Lawson wrote in his review that McAdams "deftly paints a thorough and compelling picture of a woman of the era" in her portrayal of the titular Margaret's mother, Barbara.{{cite web |last1=Murphy |first1=J. Kim |url=https://variety.com/2023/film/box-office/super-mario-bros-beats-are-you-there-god-its-me-margaret-opening-1235598446/ |title=Box Office: Mario Bros. Beats 'Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret' |work=Variety |date=April 29, 2023 |access-date=May 1, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230430111810/https://variety.com/2023/film/box-office/super-mario-bros-beats-are-you-there-god-its-me-margaret-opening-1235598446/ |archive-date=April 30, 2023 |url-status=live}}{{cite web |last1=Lawson |first1=Richard |author-link1=Richard Lawson (writer) |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2023/04/are-you-there-god-its-me-margaret-does-justice-to-a-treasured-novel |title='Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret.' Does Justice to a Treasured Text |magazine=Vanity Fair |date=April 25, 2023 |access-date=May 1, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230425171346/https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2023/04/are-you-there-god-its-me-margaret-does-justice-to-a-treasured-novel |archive-date=April 25, 2023 |url-status=live}}

McAdams appeared as a cameo guest on Saturday Night Live in January 2024, introducing Reneé Rapp as musical guest{{Cite web |title=Rachel McAdams Makes Surprise Saturday Night Live Appearance Introducing Reneé Rapp as Musical Guest |url=https://people.com/rachel-mcadams-cameo-renee-rapp-saturday-night-live-musical-guest-8431953 |access-date=January 23, 2024 |website=Peoplemag |archive-date=January 23, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240123075844/https://people.com/rachel-mcadams-cameo-renee-rapp-saturday-night-live-musical-guest-8431953 |url-status=live }} and appeared as a look-a-like of herself in a comedy sketch where the look-a-like asked Jacob Elordi for acting advice.{{Cite web |title=Surprise SNL guest Rachel McAdams asks Jacob Elordi for acting advice: Give up |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/tv/2024/01/21/snl-recap-rachel-mcadams-jacob-elordi-renee-rapp/72303127007/ |access-date=January 23, 2024 |website=USA TODAY |archive-date=January 21, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240121222041/https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/tv/2024/01/21/snl-recap-rachel-mcadams-jacob-elordi-renee-rapp/72303127007/ |url-status=live }} McAdams made her Broadway debut in 2024, starring in Amy Herzog's play Mary Jane at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre.[https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/11/theater/rachel-mcadams-mary-jane-broadway.html 'The New York Times McAdams to make Broadway Debut in Mary Jane] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230918090604/https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/11/theater/rachel-mcadams-mary-jane-broadway.html |date=September 18, 2023 }} accessed 09/19/023 Performances started April 2 with opening night set for April 23, 2024.{{cite web|url= https://www.playbill.com/production/mary-jane-broadway-samuel-j-friedman-theatre-2024|title= Mary Jane (Broadway, 2024)|website= Did They Like It?|accessdate= April 8, 2024}} Adrian Holden of The Guardian described her performance as "magnetic", adding, "The role of Mary Jane ... is a perfect fit for McAdams".{{cite news|url= https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2024/apr/23/rachel-mcadams-mary-jane-review|title= Mary Jane review – Rachel McAdams makes a magnetic Broadway debut|website= The Guardian|date= April 24, 2024|accessdate= April 25, 2024|last1= Horton|first1= Adrian}} Variety noted that McAdams' "projection was muted at a recent performance" but added "[She] masters her portrayal of a determined caregiver continually sitting in the uncertainty of worry, despite constantly leaning toward positivity."{{cite web|url= https://variety.com/2024/legit/reviews/mary-jane-broadway-review-rachel-mcadams-1235978406/|title= 'Mary Jane' Review: Rachel McAdams Makes a Solid Broadway Debut Depicting the Sacrifice of Motherhood|website= Variety|date= April 24, 2024|accessdate= April 25, 2024}} For her performance, she earned a Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play nomination.{{cite web|url= https://www.npr.org/2024/04/30/1247946069/tony-nominees-name|title= 'Hell's Kitchen' and 'Stereophonic' lead Tony Awards with 13 nominations each|website= NPR|accessdate= April 30, 2024}}

McAdams is an environmentalist. She ran an eco-friendly lifestyle website, GreenIsSexy.org, with two of her friends for five years from 2007 to 2011.{{cite web |first=Liz |last=Berman |url=https://people.com/movies/rachel-mcadams-i-just-heard-about-twitter/ |title=Rachel McAdams: I Just Heard About Twitter |work=People |date=March 30, 2009 |access-date=February 26, 2020 |archive-date=February 26, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200226051501/https://people.com/movies/rachel-mcadams-i-just-heard-about-twitter/ |url-status=live}} Her house is powered by Bullfrog renewable energy.{{cite news |first=Mark |last=Ellwood |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv-movies/rachel-mcadams-headliner-sees-side-news-coverage-state-play-article-1.364485 |title=Rachel McAdams: A headliner sees the other side of news coverage in State of Play |work=New York Daily News |date=April 11, 2009 |access-date=April 19, 2014 |archive-date=April 20, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140420025418/http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv-movies/rachel-mcadams-headliner-sees-side-news-coverage-state-play-article-1.364485 |url-status=live}} She travels around Toronto by bicycle and does not own a car,{{cite web |first=Sierra |last=Marquina |url=http://www.ryanseacrest.com/2013/10/30/rachel-mcadams-doesnt-own-a-car-so-how-does-she-get-around/ |title=Rachel McAdams Doesn't Own a Car, So How Does She Get Around? |work=RyanSeacrest.com |date=October 30, 2013 |access-date=April 13, 2014 |archive-date=April 14, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140414133851/http://www.ryanseacrest.com/2013/10/30/rachel-mcadams-doesnt-own-a-car-so-how-does-she-get-around/ |url-status=live}} but drives when in Los Angeles because it is "a harder town to cycle in". She volunteered in Biloxi, Mississippi, and Louisiana{{cite news |first=Kate |last=Kelly |url=https://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB115585918251238897 |title=Playing Harder to Get |work=The Wall Street Journal |date=August 18, 2006 |access-date=April 15, 2014 |archive-date=May 6, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220506120950/https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB115585918251238897 |url-status=live}} in fall of 2005, as part of the clean-up effort following Hurricane Katrina.{{cite web |url=http://www.canada.com/story_print.html?id=9ea0d079-2fa2-4a37-8fad-f89b99035f9e&sponsor= |title=Just how special is this pair? |work=Canada.com |date=December 8, 2005 |access-date=January 11, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120822212142/http://www.canada.com/story_print.html?id=9ea0d079-2fa2-4a37-8fad-f89b99035f9e&sponsor= |archive-date=August 22, 2012}} McAdams sat on a TreeHugger/Live Earth judging panel in 2007.{{cite web |last=Alter |first=Lloyd |url=http://www.treehugger.com/about-treehugger/msn-treehugger-present-green-theatre-a-live-earth-video-contest.html |title=MSN & Treehugger Present Green Theatre: A Live Earth Video Contest |work=TreeHugger |date=June 5, 2007 |access-date=January 14, 2012 |archive-date=June 11, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120611045949/http://www.treehugger.com/about-treehugger/msn-treehugger-present-green-theatre-a-live-earth-video-contest.html |url-status=live}} She appealed for donations during the Canada for Haiti telethon in 2010.{{cite news |last=Szklarski |first=Cassandra |url=http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/canada/celebrities-issue-emotional-pleas-for-haiti-82487497.html |title=Celebrities issue emotional pleas for Haiti |newspaper=Winnipeg Free Press |date=January 23, 2010 |access-date=January 14, 2012 |archive-date=March 5, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120305012132/http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/canada/celebrities-issue-emotional-pleas-for-haiti-82487497.html |url-status=live}} She was involved in Matter of Trust's "hair boom" efforts following the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill.{{cite web |url=https://nationalpost.com/opinion/columnists/story.html?id=9a2b31ce-36da-4aa5-9218-72a291b2af24 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120908033424/http://www.nationalpost.com/opinion/columnists/story.html?id=9a2b31ce-36da-4aa5-9218-72a291b2af24|archive-date=September 8, 2012 |title=The Trouble With Tresses |work=Nationalpost.com |access-date=January 14, 2012}}{{cite news |url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/greenspace/2010/05/gulf-oil-spill-hair-boom-effort-cut-short-.html |title=Gulf oil spill: Hair boom effort is cut short |work=Los Angeles Times |date=May 21, 2010 |access-date=January 14, 2012 |archive-date=May 23, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120523225800/http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/greenspace/2010/05/gulf-oil-spill-hair-boom-effort-cut-short-.html |url-status=live}} In 2011, McAdams supported Foodstock, a protest against a proposed limestone mega quarry in Melancthon, Ontario.{{cite web |last=Liss |first=Sarah |url=http://www.thegridto.com/city/people/the-1st-annual-menschies/3/ |title=The 1st annual Menschies! |work=The Grid TO |date=December 23, 2011 |access-date=January 11, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140705013503/http://www.thegridto.com/city/people/the-1st-annual-menschies/3/ |archive-date=July 5, 2014}}{{cite news |url=https://www.thestar.com/living/food/article/1054611--chefs-farmers-unite-for-foodstock |title=Chefs, farmers unite for Foodstock |work=thestar.com |date=September 17, 2011 |access-date=January 11, 2012 |first=Jennifer |last=Bain |archive-date=January 1, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120101165317/http://www.thestar.com/living/food/article/1054611--chefs-farmers-unite-for-foodstock |url-status=live}} In 2013, she filmed two promotional videos for the Food & Water First Movement, aiming to preserve prime farmland and source water in Ontario, Canada.{{cite AV media |year=2013 |title=People for food and water |url=http://vimeo.com/77280156 |via=Vimeo |access-date =October 23, 2013 |archive-date =October 24, 2013 |archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20131024065949/http://vimeo.com/77280156 |url-status =live}}{{cite web |url=http://www.orangeville.com/news-story/4170692-rachel-mcadams-toronto-promote-food-and-water-first/ |title=Rachel McAdams, Toronto, promote Food and Water First |date=October 23, 2014 |access-date=April 16, 2014 |work=Orangeville.com |first=Bill |last=Tremblay |archive-date=April 17, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140417090000/http://www.orangeville.com/news-story/4170692-rachel-mcadams-toronto-promote-food-and-water-first/ |url-status=live}} In 2014, she narrated the feature documentary Take Me To The River, which investigates what is being done to try to save iconic rivers.{{cite web |url=https://www.facebook.com/takemetotheriverthefilm/info |title=TAKE ME TO THE RIVER |work=Facebook |access-date=December 21, 2013 |archive-date=January 8, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160108020423/https://www.facebook.com/takemetotheriverthefilm/info |url-status=live}}{{cite web |url=http://spiralentertainment-ltd.com/ |title=Spiral Entertainment - |access-date=April 13, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140105023338/http://spiralentertainment-ltd.com/ |archive-date=January 5, 2014}} In 2021, she participated in a video produced by Stand.earth calling on the government of British Columbia, Canada to stop logging the last old growth rainforests across the province.{{cite tweet |url=https://twitter.com/i/status/1410400282962534409 |number=1410400282962534409 |user=standearth |title=Canadian actor, Rachel McAdams, has joined Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, @MarkRuffalo and David Suzuki to call on the B.C. government to stop logging the last old growth forests across the province |date=June 30, 2021 |access-date=July 20, 2021}}

In 2006, McAdams took part in the "Day Without Immigrants" demonstration in Los Angeles, protesting the federal government's attempts to further criminalize immigrants living illegally in the United States.{{cite web |author=marQy |url=http://www.marqsish.com/2006/05/marqs-ish-70-day-without-immigrants.html |title=marQ's ish: Marq's Ish #70: A Day Without Immigrants |website=Marqsish.com |date=March 7, 2011 |access-date=January 11, 2012|url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120210014842/http://www.marqsish.com/2006/05/marqs-ish-70-day-without-immigrants.html |archive-date=February 10, 2012}} In 2011, she attended the Occupy Toronto demonstration. In 2013, McAdams volunteered with Habitat for Humanity in her hometown of St. Thomas.{{cite news |url=http://blackburnnews.com/london/2013/08/30/hollywood-star-helps-habitat-for-humanity/ |title=Hollywood Star Helps Habitat For Humanity |first=Scott |last=Kitching |work=Blackburn News |date=August 30, 2013 |access-date=August 31, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140308063218/http://blackburnnews.com/london/2013/08/30/hollywood-star-helps-habitat-for-humanity/ |archive-date=March 8, 2014}} She has also worked with charities including the Sunshine Foundation of Canada,{{cite web |url=http://www.canada.com/entertainment/story.html?id=3227911 |title=Fashion File |work=Canada.com |date=July 2, 2010 |access-date=January 14, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120821195313/http://www2.canada.com/entertainment/story.html?id=3227911 |archive-date=August 21, 2012}}{{cite web |url=http://www.sunshine.ca/ |title=Sunshine Foundation of Canada |work=Sunshine.ca |access-date=January 14, 2012 |archive-date=January 8, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120108103915/http://sunshine.ca/ |url-status=live}} the Alzheimer's Association,{{cite web |url=http://elephantproject.org/AuctionPage.html |title=AuctionPage |work=Elephantproject.org |access-date=January 14, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111010030538/http://elephantproject.org/AuctionPage.html |archive-date=October 10, 2011}} the READ Campaign,{{cite web |url=http://www.alastore.ala.org/detail.aspx?ID=2734 |title=Rachel McAdams Poster – I Love Libraries |work=Alastore.ala.org |access-date=January 14, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120110142516/http://www.alastore.ala.org/detail.aspx?ID=2734 |archive-date=January 10, 2012}}{{cite news |url=http://www.express.co.uk/news/showbiz/480858/Taylor-Swift-and-Rachel-McAdams-join-reading-campaign |title=Taylor Swift and Rachel McAdams join reading campaign |newspaper=Daily Express |date=June 7, 2014 |access-date=June 7, 2014 |archive-date=June 7, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140607134017/http://www.express.co.uk/news/showbiz/480858/Taylor-Swift-and-Rachel-McAdams-join-reading-campaign |url-status=live}} and United Way of Canada.{{cite web |url=http://www.proactorslab.com/related/macleans050714.htm |title=Rachel's all the rage (MacLean's Interview July 14, 2005) |work=Proactorslab.com |access-date=January 14, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120426091709/http://www.proactorslab.com/related/macleans050714.htm |archive-date=April 26, 2012}} She is a member of Represent.Us, an anti-corruption activist organisation, and is part of its creative council.{{Cite web |url=https://represent.us/about/ |title=About |website=RepresentUs |access-date=February 27, 2018 |archive-date=October 23, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161023054916/https://represent.us/about/ |url-status=live}}

McAdams was listed on the Maxim Hot 100 in 2005 and 2013.{{cite web| url=https://www.maxim.com/women/2005-hot-100-post/ |title=2005 Hot 100 List |work=Maxim |date=May 1, 2005 |access-date=July 5, 2024}}{{cite web|url=https://www.huffpost.com/archive/ca/entry/nina-dobrev-rachel-mcadams-elisha-cuthbert-maxim-hot-100-list_n_3252829 |title=Nina Dobrev, Rachel McAdams, Elisha Cuthbert: Maxim Hot 100 List Ranks Canadians (PHOTOS) |work=HuffPost |date=May 10, 2013 |access-date=July 5, 2024}}

In 2016, McAdams started dating American screenwriter Jamie Linden.{{Cite news |last=Fernandez |first=Alexia |date=April 10, 2018 |url=http://people.com/babies/rachel-mcadams-welcomes-son/ |title=Rachel McAdams Welcomes a Son with Boyfriend Jamie Linden: Report |work=People |access-date=June 26, 2020 |archive-date=August 13, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180813071340/https://people.com/babies/rachel-mcadams-welcomes-son/ |url-status=live}} The couple have a son, born in 2018, and a daughter, born in 2020.{{cite web |last1=Ritschel |first1=Chelsea |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/rachel-mcadams-bustle-photos-armpit-hair-b2322421.html |title=Rachel McAdams praised for photoshoot with 'minimal' retouching |work=The Independent |date=April 21, 2023 |access-date=August 23, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230518011452/https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/rachel-mcadams-bustle-photos-armpit-hair-b2322421.html |archive-date=May 18, 2023 |url-status=live}}{{cite web |last1=Estera |first1=Christine |url=https://www.news.com.au/entertainment/celebrity-life/celebrity-photos/rachel-mcadams-shows-armpit-hair-in-untouched-magazine-shoot/news-story/4f082761ad49a355099b748bc2648729 |title=Rachel McAdams shows armpit hair in untouched magazine shoot |work=news.com.au |date=April 19, 2023 |access-date=August 23, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230823113531/https://www.news.com.au/entertainment/celebrity-life/celebrity-photos/rachel-mcadams-shows-armpit-hair-in-untouched-magazine-shoot/news-story/4f082761ad49a355099b748bc2648729 |archive-date=August 23, 2023 |url-status=live}}

{{Main|List of awards and nominations received by Rachel McAdams}}

McAdams has received numerous awards and nominations throughout her career. For her performance in Spotlight, she was awarded a Screen Actors Guild Award, Critics' Choice Movie Award, Satellite Award, and Independent Spirit Award, as well as a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. McAdams has also been nominated for a BAFTA Rising Star Award and won numerous MTV Movie Awards and Teen Choice Awards.

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• List of actors with Academy Award nominations

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Category:1978 births

Category:21st-century Canadian actresses

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Category:Actresses from London, Ontario

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Category:Living people

Category:Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture Screen Actors Guild Award winners

Category:People from St. Thomas, Ontario

Category:Theatre World Award winners

Category:York University alumni