How old was Rachel McAdams when she starred in ‘The Notebook?’

Over the years, The Notebook has turned into something of a gold standard for romantic dramas, setting the bar so high that only a handful of flicks, if any, have managed to come even close to imitating its success in both storytelling and nostalgia.

The 2004 movie, directed by Nick Cassavetes and spearheaded by two iconic stars in the form of Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams, is now a cult classic, which has hardly diminished its importance in the history of a genre overladen with cliches and tropes beyond count. Even now, you can revisit The Notebook and enjoy all of the nuances it brings to the table, whether it be the dynamic between the two main characters or the overall progression of the narrative, filled with twists and unexpected developments.

What’s even more praiseworthy are the performances given by Gosling and McAdams, especially considering the fact that the two had barely begun their Hollywood careers at the time. Sure, we’d seen the latter in Mean Girls and a number of other pictures like Perfect Pie, but as was the case with Gosling, who had only appeared in one notable project (2001’s The Believer), this film served as a breakthrough vehicle for both of them. This naturally begs an important question given how powerful and raw McAdams’ performance in particular was in the film.

How old was Rachel McAdams in The Notebook?

Rachel Anne McAdams was born on Nov. 17, 1978, which means that the actress was almost 26 when The Notebook originally came out in theaters in March 2004. Of course, if you want to know exactly how old she was when she filmed her scenes, it’s worth noting that principal photography actually took place between November 2002 and February 2003, meaning McAdams was exactly 24 years old when she prepared to play Allison “Allie” Hamilton opposite Ryan Reynolds’ Noah Calhoun.

Interestingly enough, Gosling was also born in November ⏤ Nov. 12, 1980, to be precise, meaning that their age difference was not only negligible at the time, but the chemistry you see has to do with more than just a mere casting convenience. (Besides, let’s not forget the two started dating after shooting the movie.) And yes, though he doesn’t look it on screen, Noah’s character was actually two years younger than Allie.

I don’t know about you, but that puts The Notebook in an entirely new light for me.