Rachel McAdams Shares Her Experience with Age Criticism While Filming Mean Girls: ‘I Saw It as a Compliment’

Rachel McAdams as Regina George in Mean Girls, 2004.
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What You Need to Know

• Rachel McAdams reflects on auditioning for Lindsay Lohan’s role in Mean Girls
• She stated, “I just did not think I was at that point in my life where I would be chosen for that.”
• Ultimately, she was cast as the film’s antagonist, Regina George.

Rachel McAdams significantly impacted pop culture with her role as the formidable Regina George in the 2004 film Mean Girls. However, her initial audition was for a different character.

The Ontario native first read for Cady Heron, the naive protagonist portrayed by Lindsay Lohan. Reflecting on her experience at that time, McAdams shared, “I remember thinking, ‘This is a futile exercise. I will never be hired for Cady.’” At 25, she felt that the role was out of her reach.

“I was just starting out, and it was the main character,” she continued. “I just did not think I was at that point in my life where I would be chosen for that. So I just kind of went in and had fun.”

Despite her apprehensions, McAdams expressed a strong desire to be involved in the project, describing it as “brilliant,” particularly appreciating the script by Tina Fey. “I remember closing that script and calling up my manager and saying, ‘Please, even just playing a character that has one line I would take.’”

Mean Girls.

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In an unexpected turn, director Mark Waters remarked, “You’re too old to play Cady, but you’re just right for Regina,” suggesting that Regina, an experienced character, was a better fit for McAdams. “So I took it as a compliment,” she stated.

When Mean Girls premiered in April 2004, it marked a pivotal moment in McAdams’ career. She described playing the villain as “the best,” and two months later, her role in The Notebook further established her as a rising star.

“The timing was just something totally out of my control,” McAdams reflected. “I’ve heard that maybe luck gets your foot in the door, but it doesn’t keep you in the room. I don’t know who said that, but I think that’s really true.”

Rachel McAdams.

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Reflecting on her success, McAdams remarked, “They were two totally different movies, back to back, and they both got some attention. So that’s where I really think the luck of the draw was for me in my life.”

Over two decades into her career, McAdams has showcased her versatility across genres, earning acclaim for roles in iconic films like Wedding Crashers, The Time Traveler’s Wife, Marvel’s Doctor Strange, and receiving an Oscar nomination for Spotlight. “I feel really lucky to still be here,” she said. “I’m still pinching myself.”

Currently, McAdams is starring in the psychological thriller Send Help, which is in theaters now.