Rachel McAdams Just Debuted Dark Hair in Must-See Transformation

Rachel McAdams ruled the red carpet at the An Enemy Of The People on Broadway opening night with her major hair transformation.

By Alyssa Morin Mar 21, 2024 5:50 PM
| Updated Mar 21, 2024 5:50 PM
Tags
Watch: Rachel McAdams Makes Surprise Appearance During Jacob Elordi’s SNL Hosting Debut

Rachel McAdams' new look is totally giving Janis Ian.

That's right, the Mean Girls alum no longer resembles Regina George, as she kissed her blonde stye goodbye and debuted a dramatic dark hair color.

While attending the opening night of Broadway show An Enemy of the People, March 18, Rachel ruled the red carpet with her epic 'do. And to highlight her drastic change at the New York City event, she sported effortless waves and parted her hair in a deep side part.

She also matched her dark brunette transformation with a deep navy blue ensemble, wearing a long-sleeve turtleneck with a coordinating faux leather midiskirt. As for her accessories? She kept it simple, donning navy Mary Jane heels, dainty earrings and layers of bracelets.

Although Rachel's makeover was unexpected, she's pulled off this hairstyle before. In fact, she rocked nearly black locks in 2005 when she starred in The Family Stone, Wedding Crashers and Red Eye.

photos
Rachel McAdams' Best Roles

But the 45-year-old's recent change is just one of the ways she's experimented with her style. After all, she made armpit hair look sexy during her Bustle cover shoot last April.

"I love that juxtaposition of beauty, glam, fantasy, and then truth," she said in the interview. "With this shoot, I'm wearing latex underwear. But I've had two children. This is my body, and I think that's so important to reflect back out to the world."

John Nacion/Getty Images

Rachel—who shares a 6-year-old son and 3-year-old daughter with partner Jamie Linden—added, "It's OK to look your best and work at it and be healthy, but that's different for everyone."

The Notebook alum has been open about her body transformation after becoming a mother. While working on the 2023 film Are You There God? It's Me Margaret, she noted how life was imitating art.

"'Why don't we just try this without a bra?'" Rachel told Bustle, recalling what the costume designer telling her. "The great irony is Margaret just can't wait to get into a bra. But I'm playing a kind of wild child, hippie artist mom [who] doesn't wear a bra throughout the whole film."

And Rachel could relate to her character Barb's struggles. 

"I was worried some days. 'Is this too much? Is this distracting?'" she shared. "I hated thinking about that. Why do I even care? But it's hard not to!"

Of course, Rachel isn't the only star to make a drastic style change. Keep reading to see which celebs have pushed the beauty boundaries.

Sami Sheen

The daughter of Charlie Sheen and Denise Richards shared her at-home hair dying journey, including its many missteps, on TikTok and raved about the results.

“I've been wanting to do this to my hair for years now," she said, "and I'm so happy that I finally did it.”

Carrie Underwood

Trading in her signature golden locks, the country music star wrote on Instagram in August 2025, "Well, the last time I saw my natural hair color, I was probably about 12 years old, but I thought it might be time to give it a second chance."

Jason Momoa

In July 2025, the actor shaved off his beard for the first time in six years to film Dune: Part Three, which required him to rock a clean shaven look to reprise his role of Duncan Idaho.

Kelly Clarkson

The American Idol winner debuted a shorter hairdo in a July 2025 The Voice promo, trading her signature blonde waves for a shorter, darker bob style.

Chris Pratt

The actor debuted a bearded look, which he sports on season two of The Terminal List, in June 2025.

Finn Wolfhard

The Stranger Things star changed up his trademark shaggy hairstyle in May 2025 by debuting a buzzcut at the 2025 Crunchyroll Anime Awards in Tokyo, Japan.

Sebastian Stan

The Marvel actor said goodbye to Bucky Barnes' signature long hair in April 2025, showing off a shaved head at the Los Angeles premiere of Thunderbolts*.

JoJo Siwa

In March 2025, the "Karma" singer debuted her rainbow mohawk at the GLAAD Media Awards. 

Emily Ratajkowski

In a March 2025 TikTok video, the model called this 'do with shaggy bangs the "worst haircut of my life."

Gypsy Rose Blanchard

The Gypsy Rose: Life After Lockup star debuted a short bob in March 2025, more than two months after giving birth to her and fiancé Ken Urker's first child, daughter Aurora Urker.

Whitney Rose

The formerly blond Real Housewives of Salt Lake City star debuted a red bob on Watch What Happens Live in January 2025.

Hailey Bieber

The model debuted lighter locks in September 2024, a month after giving birth to her and Justin Bieber's first baby, son Jack Blues Bieber.

Lily Collins

The Emily in Paris star debuted her dramatic transformation at the world premiere of her new horror movie, MAXXXINE, in June 2024. 

"Changing my hair always brings out different sides of my personality and I love playing around," Lily told Vogue. "This cut and color feels bolder and yet somehow lighter. And completely more me—right now."

Katie Holmes

While attending Chanel's Tribeca Film Festival Artists dinner in June 2024, Katie debuted a subtle, yet striking transformation of rich caramel balayage highlights that were blended throughout her brunette tresses.

Kylie Jenner

The Kardashians star debuted a platinum blonde look and a bob haircut after rocking waist-length strands for quite some time.

"Did someone say they missed king kylie," Kylie teased in the caption of her June 8 Instagram post, to which her sister Khloe Kardashian cheekily replied, "I did! I did!!!!!!"

Lisa Rinna

The former Bravo star debuted a platinum blonde look during 2024 Paris Fashion Week Haute Couture.

Priyanka Chopra

The Heads of State star debuted a drastic haircut—a shoulder-grazing bob—while attending a Bulgari event in Rome i May 2024. 

Jessica Biel

In May 2024, the actress chopped her hair into a bob that many fans on social media said reminded them of one of the looks she sported as Mary Camden on the '90s series 7th Heaven.

Megan Fox

The Transformers actress returned to her dark brown tresses and debuted a sassy bob in May 2024, a month after she dyed her hair blue to enter what she dubbed her "Jedi era."

Dannielynn Birkhead

At age 17, the daughter of the late Anna Nicole Smith debuted a new lob hairstyle overnight during 2024 Kentucky Derby weekend, which she attended with dad Larry Birkhead.

Demi Lovato

The singer debuted a lighter, shorter 'do in April 2024.

Kelly Osbourne

The Fashion Police alum debuted a blonde bombshell hair transformation May 8.

Kim Kardashian

Back to blonde: Kim debuted a new platinum 'do in April 2024.

Rihanna

The Fenty Beauty founder debuted a bright blonde hair transformation April 17 while celebrating her latest Fenty x Puma collection in London.

Delilah Belle Hamlin

The model debuted a bleach blonde pixie cut at the FRAME event April 4.

Megan Fox

The Jennifer's Body star traded in her bubblegum pink tresses for a baby blue bob, which she debuted April 2.

Zendaya

Less than a month afer chopping her hair into a long bob, Zendaya debuted a honey blonde transformation at the Challengers premiere March 26.

Elle Fanning

The Great star ushered in spring with a fresh cut, as she debuted a long bob March 25.

Rachel McAdams

The Mean Girls alum swapped out her signature blonde hair for a dark brunette transformation on March 18.

Bre Tiesi

The Selling Sunset star looked completely unrecognizable after debuting a dramatic blonde transformation March 16.

photos
View More Photos From Stars' Epic Hair Transformations

Latest News