|
 This month, we chatted with former “Mean Girl” and “Hot Chick” Rachel McAdams, who dishes about past romances, the frustrations of this month’s The Time Traveler’s Wife and why caring for the environment is sexy.
From her assortment of movie roles (The Notebook to Red Eye) to a very private private-life, this leading lady remains a mystery. Here, she finally reveals some details about herself.
By Prairie Miller What can you spill about romantic drama The Time Traveler's Wife, in which you star opposite Eric Bana, a time-traveling librarian?
There is time travel in it, obviously! And it’s quite focused on the relationship, and kind of cool in the way that they deal with it.
But Robert Schwentke, the director, he really explored the relationship. And how you carry on with the love of your life when you have this imposition, to say the least.
What's the meaning of love for you, and related to this movie?
Clare is really a lady in waiting, and it was frustrating in that way. She knows what she wants, but she can't have it. Then she has it, but it's so fleeting. It's always just slipping out of her fingers. She has that kind of confidence in love from such a young age, yet it's always slipping through the cracks. So for me as an actor, it was a really frustrating dilemma. My parents have had an amazing marriage, so I grew up with a great example in my life. I don’t know what it is, but it can be magical and work out. And the emotional things people are dealing with now is pretty much the same. But we have more ideas of romance now, and more expectations of our partners. Back then, you met someone in high school and made a decision.
What about in your own life?
It’s great to have the opportunity to find the one that fits you very well, and who you get along with. And I do think there's a lot more communication and much stronger relationships out there now.
You were pretty close to The Notebook costar Ryan Gosling in that on-and-off-again relationship. You were even born in the same hospital, and shared your dog George together. How do you look back on that?
Ryan said something really lovely, which was that our romance was more romantic than in The Notebook. We had much, much more than that in our life together. But I’ll leave it there, because I thought that was so well put.
How much do you actually get to be with Eric in the movie if he’s disappearing all the time?
Right! But actually, quite a bit. We were working on the relationship. But what’s interesting is almost all films are like that. You know, they jump around out of order. And you’re constantly wondering, “What’s happened, what year is it? Who am I now? What’s the moment before, and what’s the moment ahead?” But I actually had a lot of practice before going into it.
What was the holdup with this movie?
We wound up doing a re-shoot. Eric was the holdup, actually! He had to shave his head for a different role, for Star Trek. So we were waiting on his hair!
What had to be re-shot?
It wasn’t really a re-shoot. We did an additional scene in the meadow, so we were also waiting on a meadow. You know, we were waiting on the seasons. So basically we were waiting on nature and Eric’s hair!
What about doing love scenes?
They’re strange. A kiss with anyone, on or off camera, can be intimidating. I’ve been kissing for years now, and I’m always convinced I’m not doing it right.
How come?
Chemistry is so important. And yet they just assume actors can fake their way through it. That doesn’t always work. You can act your way through anything, but it’s hard with a kiss. It’s much better if there’s ... an attraction!
Does the media bug you?
It’s sort of a Catch 22. You have to bring awareness to things that you’re doing, and that’s the way that world works. But you also want your privacy. And it’s hard to balance those two things and walk that line. But I'm not into newspapers. I really listen to the radio. I listen to CBC and NPR, and I find it’s something you can multi-task to. You know, eat your breakfast, drive and get your news at the same time.
Would you say you can't live without the Internet?
Well I've had a little blog. It's called Green Is Sexy.
What got you into that?
A good friend of mine and I, we just realized we both had a real passion for the environment and wanted to do something. And that is one of the greatest things about the Internet, is that you can become part of this community and you can find people who really care about the things that you care about. So it was kind of born from that, and we’ve been doing it for about two years. Yeah, it’s been a great education actually. And I think it’s so important to stay with the times and keep on top of that stuff.
What are you up to on your down time?
I just really want to relax and have a life, and you really don't have a life when you're working. Like I always think, “Oh, I'm going to see everybody on my days off. Or, I'm going to read so many books and see so many films.” And then months just go by!
You’re 30 now. Do you ever get the desire to be a “mean girl” again?
Nobody would believe me as a sixteen year old anymore! I was twenty-five playing sixteen. And then they were like, forget it, honey. It’s over!
Is there another fantasy career that you could seriously obsess about?
Anything to do with food!
|
