Rachel McAdams Felt ‘Guilty’ Taking A 2-Year Break From Acting
Rachel McAdams is reflecting on her decision to take a break from acting for two years. In a new interview with Bustle, McAdams said of pausing her career, “I guess…
Rachel McAdams attends the “Are You There God It’s Me, Margaret.” Los Angeles Premiere at the Regency Village Theatre on April 15, 2023 in Los Angeles, California.
Amanda Edwards/Getty ImagesRachel McAdams is reflecting on her decision to take a break from acting for two years. In a new interview with Bustle, McAdams said of pausing her career, "I guess I always had a sense that it would be OK. Either it's going to work out, or it's not."
McAdams, 44, has taken time off from acting in the past. She did not appear in any films in 2006 or 2019. Her upcoming film, Are You There, God? It's Me, Margaret marks her third feature film since 2020's Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga. The breaks from acting “really helped me feel empowered," the Mean Girls alum told the publication. "It helped me feel like I was taking back some control. And I think it sort of allowed me to come in from a different doorway.”
Guilty, But No Regrets
She did not feel entirely confident her break was the right decision after her success in 2004's Mean Girls. Rachel turned down parts in big movies like The Devil Wears Prada, Casino Royale, Mission: Impossible III, Iron Man, and Get Smart. The Canadian actress felt "anxious" about her decision, wondering if she was "just throwing it all away." She admits, "It's taken years to understand what I intuitively was doing."
Despite feeling "guilty for not capitalizing on the opportunity" she was being given, the Notebook star knew "it wasn't quite jiving with my personality and what I needed to stay sane." Stepping back, the actors who ultimately took on those movies were "the right person for that," she said.
Rachel will next be seen in Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret, out in theaters on April 28. Based on the Judy Blume coming-of-age novel of the same name, it follows sixth-grader Margaret Simon as her family moves from New York City to the suburbs of New Jersey. Margaret, whose parents are Christian and Jewish, has been raised without an affiliation to one faith and thus goes on a quest to explore her religious identity. Watch the trailer below:
Ranking the ‘Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness’ Red Carpet Premiere
Marvel fans have been eagerly looking forward to the next installment of Doctor Strange's story following his role in last year's Spider-Man: No Way Home. Now, Benedict Cumberbatch's Doctor Strange takes center stage for Doctor Strange In The Multiverse of Madness. Joining him is Benedict Wong playing the character named Wong, Wanda Maximoff, played by Elizabeth Olsen, Rachel McAdams' Christine Palmer and Xochitl Gomez as America Chavez.
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness opens in theaters this Friday, May 6.
The time has now come, as the film's Hollywood premiere took place Monday evening and the stars looked glamorous on the red carpet. See below our rankings of the event:
22. Sam Raimi
(Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - MAY 02: Director Sam Raimi attends Marvel Studios' "Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness" premiere at Dolby Theatre on May 02, 2022 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
21. Mayim Bialik
Frazer Harrison/Getty ImagesHOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - MAY 02: Mayim Bialik attends Marvel Studios' "Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness" premiere at Dolby Theatre on May 02, 2022 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
20. Omarion
Frazer Harrison/Getty ImagesHOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - MAY 02: Omarion attends Marvel Studios' "Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness" premiere at Dolby Theatre on May 02, 2022 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
19. Adam Hugill
Frazer Harrison/Getty ImagesHOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - MAY 02: Adam Hugill attends Marvel Studios' "Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness" premiere at Dolby Theatre on May 02, 2022 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
18. Thuso Mbedu
Frazer Harrison/Getty ImagesHOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - MAY 02: Thuso Mbedu attends Marvel Studios' "Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness" premiere at Dolby Theatre on May 02, 2022 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
17. Samantha Hanratty
Frazer Harrison/Getty ImagesHOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - MAY 02: Samantha Hanratty attends Marvel Studios' "Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness" premiere at Dolby Theatre on May 02, 2022 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
16. Tatiana Maslany
Frazer Harrison/Getty ImagesHOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - MAY 02: Tatiana Maslany attends Marvel Studios' "Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness" premiere at Dolby Theatre on May 02, 2022 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
15. Benedict Wong
Frazer Harrison/Getty ImagesHOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - MAY 02: Benedict Wong attends Marvel Studios' "Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness" premiere at Dolby Theatre on May 02, 2022 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
14. Michael Evans Behling
Frazer Harrison/Getty ImagesHOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - MAY 02: Michael Evans Behling attends Marvel Studios' "Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness" premiere at Dolby Theatre on May 02, 2022 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
13. Sheila Atim
Frazer Harrison/Getty ImagesHOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - MAY 02: Sheila Atim attends Marvel Studios' "Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness" premiere at Dolby Theatre on May 02, 2022 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
12. Woosung
(Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - MAY 02: Woosung attends Marvel Studios' "Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness" premiere at Dolby Theatre on May 02, 2022 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
11. Tiffany Haddish
Frazer Harrison/Getty ImagesHOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - MAY 02: Tiffany Haddish attends Marvel Studios' "Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness" premiere at Dolby Theatre on May 02, 2022 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
10. Savannah Moss
Frazer Harrison/Getty ImagesHOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - MAY 02: Savannah Moss attends Marvel Studios' "Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness" premiere at Dolby Theatre on May 02, 2022 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
9. Benedict Cumberbatch
Frazer Harrison/Getty ImagesLOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MAY 02: Benedict Cumberbatch attends Marvel Studios "Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness" at El Capitan Theatre on May 02, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
8. Jett Klyne and Julian Hilliard
Frazer Harrison/Getty ImagesHOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - MAY 02: (L-R) Jett Klyne and Julian Hilliard attend Marvel Studios' "Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness" premiere at Dolby Theatre on May 02, 2022 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
7. Hayley Atwell
Frazer Harrison/Getty ImagesHOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - MAY 02: Hayley Atwell attends Marvel Studios' "Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness" premiere at Dolby Theatre on May 02, 2022 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
6. Frank Grillo
Frazer Harrison/Getty ImagesHOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - MAY 02: Frank Grillo attends Marvel Studios' "Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness" premiere at Dolby Theatre on May 02, 2022 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
5. Sir Patrick Stewart and Sunny Ozell
Frazer Harrison/Getty ImagesHOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - MAY 02: Sir Patrick Stewart and Sunny Ozell attend Marvel Studios' "Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness" premiere at Dolby Theatre on May 02, 2022 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
4. Rune Temte
Frazer Harrison/Getty ImagesHOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - MAY 02: Rune Temte attends Marvel Studios' "Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness" premiere at Dolby Theatre on May 02, 2022 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
3. Elizabeth Olsen
Frazer Harrison/Getty ImagesHOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - MAY 02: Elizabeth Olsen attends Marvel Studios' "Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness" premiere at Dolby Theatre on May 02, 2022 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
2. Xochitl Gomez
Frazer Harrison/Getty ImagesHOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - MAY 02: Xochitl Gomez attends Marvel Studios' "Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness" premiere at Dolby Theatre on May 02, 2022 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
1. Rachel McAdams
Frazer Harrison/Getty ImagesHOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - MAY 02: Rachel McAdam attends Marvel Studios' "Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness" premiere at Dolby Theatre on May 02, 2022 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
