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Rachel McAdams Cringes While Watching Notebook Audition Tape for the First Time Ever on the Today Show

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Making Us blush! Rachel McAdams cringed while appearing on the Today show Tuesday, July 22, where she watched footage of her audition for 2004’s The Notebook—for the first time ever.

“Ten years ago, you made a little movie called The Notebook,” Matt Lauer noted, deferring the remainder of the story to his fellow co-host Al Roker. “We’re on a flight from New York to L.A.,” Roker recalled. “I’m sitting next to Matt and he’s watching a movie, I’m reading a book and I notice he’s crying. He’s sobbing.”

Related: PHOTOS: The most romantic movies of all time!

Roker joined his pal in watching the film and reacted in the same way as Lauer. “Buckets of water,” the meteorologist said of the romantic drama, while joking: “We held hands the rest of the way.”

McAdams thoughtfully chirped, “Embrace it. I love that—it’s very sweet,” adding that many “men want to confess that they cried.”

The moment allowed Lauer to segue into the topic of McAdams’ viral audition tape for her role as Allie Hamilton. “I haven’t seen it!” she said of the clip. “That would be weird.” Luckily, the Today show team had footage ready for McAdams’ viewing pleasure.

In the video, McAdams reads lines from an emotional scene for director Nick Cassavetes and Ryan Gosling. Though she once called the moment “the best audition experience I’ve ever had,” that still did not save McAdams from embarrassment. The actress, now 35, reacted on the Today show by slowly sinking into her seat and blushing with her head down as her 25-year-old self acted in the background.

rachel mcadams cringes during notebook audition

“Why are you cringing?” Lauer asked McAdams. “You got the part. It worked out well! Nicely done!”

McAdams responded with a laugh and a gracious “Awww, thanks guys!”

Related: PHOTOS: Ryan Gosling's movie romances!

The year 2004 was life-changing for McAdams, who also appeared in Mean Girls that spring. Speaking with Allure in its August 2014 issue, McAdams said she was “in awe” of Lindsay Lohan‘s talent while filming the high school comedy. “I looked at her as this experienced actor, and she had great comedic timing, so natural,” McAdams recalled to the mag.

Up next, the Canadian actress appears in A Most Wanted Man opposite Robin Wright and the late Philip Seymour Hoffman. Watch her reaction on the Today show above!

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