Rachel McAdams Reveals Her Favorite Movie of All Time

Many fans first became acquainted with Rachel McAdams during her iconic breakout in 2004. As the leader of the high-school clique in Mean Girls, her portrayal of Regina George solidified her as a household name alongside co-stars Lindsay Lohan and Amanda Seyfried. This classic comedy remains a cultural touchstone, showcasing the power dynamics and social hierarchies of teenage life.

McAdams quickly transitioned from high-school royalty to a romantic lead in the beloved drama The Notebook, starring opposite Ryan Gosling. This role highlighted her immense charisma and paved the way for a string of successful romantic films, including The Time Traveler’s Wife and Midnight in Paris. Her ability to anchor emotional stories with a sense of genuine warmth made her one of the most sought-after actresses of the decade.

In recent years, she has leaned back into her comedic roots with high-energy performances in films like Game Night and the quirky Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga. Despite her vast range, many have wondered what specific films shaped her artistic sensibilities during her younger years.

In an interview for the 2007 book, You Gotta See This, she revealed a deep affection for the 1971 classic Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, which she described as so weird and such a creepy movie.

Specifically, she pointed to the character of Veruca Salt as her favorite, admiring how she was awesomely horrible to the maximum. This first adaptation of Roald Dahl’s work is a global favorite, largely due to the eccentric and wonderful lead performance by Gene Wilder. For McAdams, the film was more than just entertainment; it served as a primary source of inspiration for her own work.

The actress confessed that Veruca Salt’s petulant and arrogant nature provided the perfect template for developing her own “mean girl” persona on screen. She found the character’s unfiltered entitlement to be delicious and used it to help craft the sharp edges of Regina George. It is a testament to the longevity of the 1971 film that its characters continue to influence modern cinematic icons.

As of this year, Rachel McAdams is celebrating a major return to the horror-thriller genre with the release of Send Help. Directed by Sam Raimi, the film hit theaters on January 30, and stars McAdams as a corporate employee stranded on a desert island with her entitled boss, played by Dylan O’Brien. The project marks her second collaboration with Raimi following their work together on the Marvel blockbuster Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.

The actress has also been receiving rave reviews for her stage work, having made her Tony-nominated Broadway debut in the play Mary Jane. In that production, she took on the emotionally taxing role of a single mother caring for a chronically ill child, further proving her incredible versatility.

Do you think Veruca Salt’s influence is clearly visible in the character of Regina George, or did McAdams make the role entirely her own? Share your thoughts in the comments.