Rachel McAdams

Rachel McAdams Biography

Canadian born actress Rachel McAdams had her breakthrough moment after portraying Ryan Gosling's love interest, Allie, in the romantic drama The Notebook (2004). Previously, she was cast as Regina George in the smash hit Mean Girls (2004). Rachel's brilliant portrayal in the films handed her MTV 2005 Movie Award nominations. On stage, Rachel's performance also captured public attention. She received the Ontario Showcase Award for her role in Live in a Little Town when it was presented at the Sears Drama Festival.

Off screen, blonde, slim and good-looking, Rachel was rumored to have had a romantic relationship with actor Ryan Gosling while filming The Notebook. Neither actor verified the rumor.

Childhood and Family
The first daughter of truck driver Lance and nurse Sandy, Rachel McAdams was born on October 7, 1976. Along with her younger brother Daniel and sister Kayleen, Rachel was raised in a small town near London,
Ontario, Canada.

Rachel was fond of skating. She joined numerous skating competitions and continued the activity until high school. Finding an interest in acting, Rachel attended the Original Kids Theatre Company in Ontario. She
then took a drama program at York University, Canada, graduated with honors, and earned a B.F.A in Theatre.

Career
Before Rachel McAdams appeared on screen, she acted on stage. She performed in Shakespearean productions at a theater camp when she was thirteen. While studying at college, she continued to act in many stage and
student film productions, one of which was The Piper (1995) with Toronto's Necessary Angel Theatre Company. She won an Ontario Showcase Award for her stage performance in Live in a Little Town when it was presented at the Sears Drama Festival.

In 1998, Rachel made her on-screen debut after being cast as a victim of bulimia in the Disney series The Famous Jett Jackson (1998). Her role helped cast her in Shotgun Love Dolls (2001, TV) and Guilt by Association (2002, TV). Rachel landed her first wide screen role as Sally Garfield in the teen drama My Name Is Tanino (2002, helmed by Paolo Virzi). The film premiered at the Venice Film Festival in 2002. Rachel's breakout role was that of Regina George in the blockbuster Mean Girls (2004). She starred opposite Lindsay Lohan and Tina Fey.

Adding to her success, Rachel starred in the romantic drama The Notebook (2004), a movie based on Nicholas Sparks' best-selling novel. Rachel's outstanding performance in the film brought her another MTV Movie Award nomination (2005), this time for Best Female Performance and Best Kiss (with
Ryan).

Awards
Ontario Showcase Award: I Live in a Little Town, 1995.