Rachel McAdams now has permanent proof of her Hollywood status: a star on the Walk of Fame unveiled Tuesday in front of family, friends and fans.
The Canadian-born actress, known for roles in “Mean Girls,” “The Notebook” and her Oscar-nominated turn in “Spotlight,” accepted the 2,833rd star with tears and a heartfelt tribute to her parents.
At a Glance
- Rachel McAdams received her Walk of Fame star on Tuesday at 6922 Hollywood Blvd.
- The ceremony came 10 days before her new film “Send Help” hits theaters
- McAdams thanked her parents for supporting her childhood dream of stardom
- Why it matters: The honor caps a two-decade career that jumped from Canadian theater to global blockbusters
Emotional Ceremony
Standing on the sidewalk between Highland Avenue and Orange Drive, near the El Capitan Theatre, McAdams grew emotional while recounting her earliest ambitions.
“When I was about 8 years old, growing up in tiny little St. Thomas, Canada, I wrote my parents a very desperate letter, asking them to figure out how to fulfill my greatest dream – to be on Ed McMahon’s ‘Star Search’,” she told the crowd.
Her parents, seated in the front row, received the bulk of her gratitude.
“I do want to freeze time for a second because you only get a few of these moments in life to thank you on a stage for everything. All of it. All of it is because of you and the love you gave us and the beautiful childhood you gave us, and for believing in me long before I could grasp how to believe in myself.”
Director Sam Raimi and actor Domhnall Gleeson flanked McAdams during the ceremony. Both have shared the screen with her: Raimi directed her in the 2022 Marvel sequel “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness,” while Gleeson co-starred in the 2013 romance “About Time.”
Upcoming Release
The timing of the honor is no accident. McAdams’ new psychological thriller “Send Help” opens in 10 days. Directed by Raimi, the film casts her as an overlooked employee who survives a plane crash with her dismissive new boss, played by Dylan O’Brien. The two must coexist on a deserted island, forcing a power shift between them.
Career Milestones
McAdams was born November 17, 1978, in London, Ontario, and raised 17 miles south in St. Thomas. She caught the acting bug early, participating in local theater throughout childhood. After earning a bachelor of fine arts from York University in Toronto in 2001, she jumped straight into work.
Her first on-screen role arrived that same year in the unaired MTV pilot “Shotgun Love Dolls,” filmed during spring break. She quickly followed with:
- “My Name Is Tanino” (2001) – Italian-Canadian comedy
- “The Hot Chick” (2002) – Hollywood comedy opposite Rob Schneider
- “Mean Girls” (2004) – breakout as queen-bee Regina George
- “The Notebook” (2004) – romantic drama that cemented her stardom
The one-two punch of “Mean Girls” and “The Notebook” in the same year made her a household name. She rounded out 2005 with the comedy hit “Wedding Crashers.”
Awards Recognition
McAdams earned her lone Oscar nomination to date in 2016 for “Spotlight,” playing Boston Globe investigative journalist Sacha Pfeiffer. The Best Supporting Actress race that year went to Alicia Vikander for “The Danish Girl,” but McAdams’ performance anchored the ensemble drama that won Best Picture.
She transitioned smoothly between studio fare and indie dramas, stacking credits that include:
- “Midnight in Paris”
- “Sherlock Holmes” and its sequel “A Game of Shadows”
- “The Little Prince”
- “Morning Glory”
- “The Time Traveler’s Wife”
- “The Family Stone”
On television, she headlined the second season of HBO’s “True Detective,” and in 2024 she earned a Tony nomination for Best Actress in a Play for her Broadway debut in “Mary Jane,” portraying a mother caring for a chronically ill son.
Star Details
The terrazzo and brass star sits at 6922 Hollywood Blvd., nestled among more than 2,800 others laid since the Walk of Fame was completed in 1961 with the first 1,558 stars. Each star requires a $75,000 sponsorship fee, customarily paid by the honoree’s studio or record label.
McAdams joins fellow Canadians such as Jim Carrey, Celine Dion and Keanu Reeves who have received the sidewalk accolade.
Key Takeaways
- McAdams accepted the honor with her parents watching, citing their early encouragement as the foundation of her career
- The star placement promotes her upcoming thriller “Send Help,” directed by ceremony attendee Sam Raimi
- The 2,833rd star bookends a resume that spans teen comedies, romantic dramas, superhero blockbusters and Broadway stages
- From writing childhood letters about “Star Search” to earning Oscar and Tony nominations, McAdams has parlayed small-town dreams into a multi-platform career spanning more than 20 years
