Rachel Anne McAdams (born November 17, 1978) is a Canadian actress. After graduating from a four-year theatre program at
York University in 2001, she initially worked in Canadian television and film productions such as the drama film
Perfect Pie (2002) (for which she received a
Genie Award nomination), the comedy film
My Name Is Tanino (2002), and the comedy mini-series
Slings and Arrows (for which she won a
Gemini Award). In 2002, she made her Hollywood film debut in the comedy
The Hot Chick. McAdams found fame in 2004, with the character of Regina George in the comedy
Mean Girls and with her performance in the romantic drama
The Notebook. In 2005, she starred in the romantic comedy
Wedding Crashers, the psychological thriller
Red Eye, and the family comedy-drama
The Family Stone. She was hailed by the media as Hollywood's new "
it girl", and received a
BAFTA nomination for
Best Rising Star.