Première (France)
Published: April 2011

At the age of 32, with the role of the strong and intelligent woman in “Morning Glory” from Roger Michell, Rachel McAdams is on her way to a beautiful career as a well known actress. Enjoying her time before the things (may) change …

Rachel, as our first question as Canadian do know the Quebec translation of Morning Glory?
Gloire du matin?

Almost: La Gloaire des ondes …
Really catchy!

There is quite a lot of Canadian actors in Hollywood. Do you know them ? Do you form a small group?
Yes and no. Culturally speaking, the boundary between Canada and the United States is very thin. I was born in Ontario but I also went to Connecticut. More and more Americans creating movies and they find it pleasant to make them in our country. The Canadians crews are the best in the world.

Are you friends with Ryan Renolds? And Seth Rogen?
Is Seth Rogen Canadian? Oh my, don’t tell him I said that! I knew about Michael Cera, but not from Seth Rogen … However, I do know Ryan, Dan Aykroyd, Alanis Morissette, and people like that. We all see each other in LA on the first of July for Canada Day. Fireworks and outdoors festivities. It’s like 4th of July of America, except that it’s earlier.

You were recently in France for the filming of Midnight in Paris from Woody Allen. How is your French?
Not good, unfortunately. We wrapped up last summer and I lost the little I learned. I speak French a little bit weird in the movie, Woody did not care about the grammar.

You travel a lot, you are popular, respected in the industry, featured in a big movie like Morning Glory but haven’t become a complete celebrity. Do you think it’s better like that?
It’s hard to find a balance. You have to be present in a effective way, so the public wants to go and see your movies when they come out. You have to create the desire but not extend it so people will get tired of you … It’s really difficult to become an actor who can make a living for themselves by acting. I never wanted to be famous, I never seek for the attention, the public loves the glitter and glamor. In the past, an actor could be successful while maintaining a private life.

This is happening for you, right?
Yes, but for that I force myself not to be socially involved in Hollywood, if I did so I would probably have more work then I wanted. Because if you disappear for a long time from the radar, you get off the radar completely … It’s the balance I mentioned before that I am trying to achieve. And if that means you will never become a actor like Nicole Kidman or Julia Robers I am fine with that. It’s the career that suits me more. I want my privacy.

What’s the movie for which you get recognized on the street?
Mean Girls a lot. Also Sherlock Holmes and Wedding Crashers. They made so much money in the box office! Otherwise, many woman, but sometimes man, recognize me from The Notebook because it made them cry.

Christian Bale said this: “If you don’t want to be a star, nothing says you have to” …
I think he is right. There is always a certain way to have control over your career, but Hollywood gives the impression of actors being machines which kind of kills the spirit. Your life belongs to you and it’s a result the choices you personally make.

OK, but the next movie will possibly make you into a big movie star …
Possibly, but I don’t want to think about that. I will deal with the consequences when the time is there … In any case, I hope so.

Roger Michell gambled on Morning Glory …
It was well planned! [Laughs] The Box Office is the one that talks (“Morning Glory” made 30 million dollars in America). But I love the film, and in particular my scenes with Harrison Ford.

The problem is not whether your characters are together (romantically) but if they can work together and succeed. It’s like a romantic comedy on the work floor?
It’s a drama comedy, but in the modern sense. The romance is about Morning television but also between the young idealistic and driven producer and the veteran Harrison. I often say it’s a light version of the Broadcast News …

Becky is character who is overworked and too enthusiastic in the eyes of the people who are a bit rebellion ….
At first, I wanted to have parts otherwise it would be too crazy. We stopped when it got to crazy. Roger was a fan. During takes he would whisper: “Replace it with your fire!”

It adds something to the character so you don’t want your fire to burn up..
[Laughs] I think it’s a good sign. It mean it works right?

In the movie, the character of Harrison Ford approach closely the idea that people have of him as an actor: a grumpy person who is not nice. It was for him a good opportunity to make fun of himself with a little bit of self-deprecating.
That’s a nice way to approach it … Harrison is the master of the dry comedy genre, probably the best actor I’ve worked with. He never apologizes for his behavior, I love that about him. You never know if he is joking or if he is serious. Therefor, he does not feel the need to [comment on] what’s happening around him. If you have a joke and the person didn’t laughs in one second, you’ll start to panic and explain what you wanted to say. Harrison remains the same. And that’ real class! It’s comedy on it’s highest level!

You are the queen of slapstick. In the movie, you juggle with your blackberry…
Oh my, it was hard! We had to redo it dozen of times. It had to be believed the blackberry escapes from clumsiness! Not easy!

“Drama is easy, Comedy is hard” says Oscar Wilde.
And how … I love comedy, but I am terrified. Maybe I like it because it terrifies but for that matter.

You never played an idiot in a movie. Why are you always so intelligent?
Maybe I don’t show it?

This is a translation from the French Premiere Magazine, it’s loosely translated