Rachel McAdams received the 2,833rd star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Tuesday, marking her first major public appearance in over 18 months and celebrating a career spanning decades in film and television.
The 47-year-old actress was honored at a ceremony held at 6922 Hollywood Boulevard in Los Angeles, surrounded by close friends, family, and collaborators. Among those in attendance was her rarely-seen long-term partner, screenwriter and director Jamie Linden, who has been by her side since the couple began dating in 2016. The pair share two children together and have largely maintained their privacy despite nearly a decade together.
McAdams’ return to the spotlight comes as she prepares for her film comeback in the horror-thriller “Send Help,” set to release January 30. In the movie, she plays Linda Liddle, a timid employee whose dynamic with her sexist boss—portrayed by Dylan O’Brien—shifts dramatically when the two become stranded on a deserted island following a plane crash.
A Selective Approach to Acting
The Academy Award-nominated actress has deliberately curated her work in recent years, prioritizing meaningful roles over commercial appeal. Her last film appearance was in 2023’s “Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret,” while her previous major public outing was the 77th Annual Tony Awards in June 2024, where she was nominated for Best Actress in a Play for her Broadway debut in “Mary Jane.”
“I try not to repeat myself,” McAdams told Variety ahead of her Walk of Fame honor. “I try to do something that feels slightly out of reach, something I’m not sure I’ll be good at because I think the most interesting work comes from that sweet spot.”
Despite her acclaimed career, McAdams acknowledged ongoing struggles with self-doubt in her craft, referencing conversations with late actress Diane Keaton about the challenges of the profession.
Celebrating a Decade of Selective Projects
The Walk of Fame ceremony featured appearances from collaborators including director Sam Raimi, who helmed “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness,” and her “About Time” co-star Domhnall Gleeson. Her parents, Lance and Sandra McAdams, also attended the celebration of their daughter’s milestone achievement.
