Rachel McAdams (BFA ’01), Academy Award nominated actress and an alumna of York University’s School of the Arts, Media, Performance & Design, has received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
The ceremony took place on January 20, 2026, in Hollywood, where McAdams received a star in the Motion Pictures category. The event was hosted by Emmy-winning writer and producer Jenelle Reilly, with remarks from filmmakers Sam Raimi and Domhnall Gleeson.
Speaking at the ceremony, Gleeson described McAdams as “a Hollywood star and a character actor,” noting her ability to move effortlessly between comedy and drama, and to work without being restricted by genre or expectation.
Career highlights and recognition
McAdams has built a career spanning acclaimed work across film, television and theatre. Her screen credits include Mean Girls, The Notebook, Midnight in Paris, About Time, Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret and the Sherlock Holmes films, along with television roles including HBO’s True Detective.
The 2009 film The Time Traveler's Wife starring McAdams featured scenes filmed at York's Glendon Campus, highlighting its historic mansion and grounds.
Beyond screen work, she made her Broadway debut in Mary Jane in 2024, earning a Tony Award nomination and multiple critics’ honours.
Her performance in Spotlight also earned an Academy Award nomination, with further recognition including nominations from the Screen Actors Guild, Golden Globe Awards, Critics’ Choice Awards and BAFTA.
McAdams will next appear in Send Help, directed by Sam Raimi and co-starring Dylan O’Brien, scheduled for release on January 30, 2026.
Photo by Kevin Paul, via Wikimedia Commons, license under CC BY 4.0.
Hollywood Walk of Fame
McAdams’ star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame recognizes a body of work in a remarkable career still very much in motion.
In a past York University profile, McAdams described her education at York as something she continues to draw on in her work every day. Her achievements reflect the depth of training and creative possibility fostered at AMPD, and the lasting impact its alumni continue to have across the arts.
We congratulate Rachel McAdams on this well-deserved recognition.
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