“Red Eye” director Wes Craven tried to spell ‘it’ out. “I had seen Rachel in ‘The Notebook’ and ‘Mean Girls,’ and knew she was actor of enormous range and great charisma—not to mention a fantastic beauty—and working with her was an enormous pleasure. She always came in totally prepared and was able to convey the deep and powerful emotions of this complex character very quickly. From the moment you see her on the screen, your eyes are just riveted on her. She’s funny, she’s vulnerable, she’s smart…she has a combination of beauty and wisdom and talent that is quite remarkable.”
McAdams stole the spotlight at the World Premiere of “Red Eye,” chatting up her role in the Wes Craven thriller that marks a dramatic shift in genre from Craven’s usual horror fare. Sporting blonde tresses and looking relaxed despite the circus atmosphere surrounding the red carpet event, McAdams talked about taking on a role that’s a real departure from her previous work and what it was like to be directed by horror master Wes Craven:
Rachel McAdams on her character in “Red Eye:” McAdams’ character grows increasingly stronger as the film progresses and McAdams says it was that character arc that attracted her to the role. “It was a great arc. That was one of the things I was drawn to about the film was where she started and where she finished. You know, she wasn’t so sure of herself and her life and as time goes on, she has to fight this amazing battle as she discovers that she needs to take a hold of her life again.”
Rachel McAdams on why she choose to star in “Red Eye:” “I guess it was just that I hadn’t done a thriller before. I wanted to try it out and see what that was like. I loved the juxtaposition of her being on a plane for so long in that confined space and that tension, and then getting off this plane and her having to sort of run for her life – and the space that opened up at that point.”
Rachel McAdams on keeping up the level of tension for 60 days: “It was a little tough. I was a little tense. (Laughing) I had to have some massages every so often. I’d get a massage and have a bath.”
Rachel McAdams on “Red Eye” director Wes Craven: When you think of Wes Craven films, it’s the horror genre that comes to mind. Craven tackles a true thriller for the first time with “Red Eye.” And McAdams had nothing but praise for Craven’s skills and leadership on the set. McAdams said, “He’s a wonderful director. He’s such a nice person and he has such a passion for what he does, and those two things combine to make for a really nice experience.”
If the events in “Red Eye” happened in real life…: McAdams confessed that in real life her reaction would have been dramatically different from that of her character’s in the film. “I’d probably cry and pray!”
Rachel McAdams on flying: Being an actress requires McAdams to spend a lot of time on planes, but that wasn’t always the case. McAdams didn’t get on a plane for the first time until she was 22. That first trip wasn’t bad – until they hit turbulence. Nobody prepared her for that facet of flying and she was certain the plane was going to crash.
McAdams has gotten used to traveling by air but still gets a little nervous when the ride gets bumpy. But fortunately she hasn’t had any real problems and definitely hasn’t had a seat mate as creepy as Cillian Murphy’s character in “Red Eye.” McAdams says, “I’ve been really lucky. Cross my fingers I’ve been really lucky so far…”
