Harry Potter Star Shares Surprising Reaction to Rachel McAdams’ Hollywood Walk of Fame Honor

So, the Hollywood Walk of Fame has finally caught up and given Rachel McAdams the shiny sidewalk star she should've had ages ago. If you’re raising an eyebrow and thinking 'wait, she didn’t have one already?', you're not alone. Honestly, how it took this long, I have no idea.

The ceremony wasn't short on company. Rachel had two of her big-name former co-stars hanging around: Dylan O'Brien (his fans are everywhere) and Domhnall Gleeson (of ‘About Time’ and ‘those Harry Potter movies’ fame). Gleeson actually took the mic and delivered what may have been the most British Isles compliment-that's-actually-roasting speech of the year:

'Rachel, I don’t think you deserve this. Life has taught me that you’re not supposed to have it all. It’s not fair to be everyone’s favorite person on set and the best actor in the room.'

Never let it be said that the Irish can't cut to the heart of things (or your ego) with a single line.

How Rachel McAdams Accidentally Became a Big Deal

Fun fact (and a little surprising): McAdams never really set out to be a movie star. Doing theater as a kid? Sure. But Hollywood ambitions? Not so much. She actually thought she’d stick to the stage—until, as she tells it, a network cold-called her to try out for a Nancy Drew TV show. She lost the gig, but since she was already in LA, she kept auditioning. Worked out okay, I’d say—she soon wound up in that oddball Rob Schneider body-swap comedy The Hot Chick.

Things absolutely exploded for her after that with Mean Girls and The Notebook (if you were a teenager in the 2000s, you know the deal). She became a mainstay in romcoms and tearjerkers, but lately, she’s taken a step back from being everywhere on screen.

McAdams Is (Finally) Coming Back: Here’s the Lowdown

If you've been missing Rachel in anything non-Marvel, good news: She’s returning to the lead in Sam Raimi’s next film, Send Help, and it’s not at all what you’d expect if your only point of reference is Doctor Strange’s multiverse shenanigans.

• Premise: McAdams and Dylan O'Brien play coworkers who can’t stand each other, but things get dicey when their work trip ends in a plane crash, stranding them on an island.
• Character Setup: O'Brien’s character is apparently the absolute worst to McAdams at the office—until, you know, nature decides to even the score for her.
• Sam Raimi Factor: He’s selling the movie as an underdog survival story, with an emphasis on McAdams’ character pushing back and reclaiming power. His words: 'What I really love about this story is that it’s an underdog tale at its core. Not only is it about survival on a deserted island, but it’s also a story of female empowerment and transformation.'
• Release Date: January 30, 2026 (US theaters)

So if you’re picturing something mushy, be warned: With Raimi behind the wheel and free from Marvel’s house rules, expect something a bit weirder (maybe funnier, probably scarier) than your average inspirational survival flick.

Looking Back—and Forward

The last time McAdams teamed up with Raimi, it was all green screens and magic spells in Doctor Strange 2. This time around, no superheroes—just some classic survival horror and that quietly ruthless McAdams screen presence. Glad to see her back in something with teeth.

Anyway, if you’ve got a favorite Rachel McAdams role (Regina, Allie from The Notebook, her laugh in Game Night), let’s hear it.