But that was my little gem that I found.
Im surrounded by trees, so thats nice.
There is a unique feeling when work for them that you dont really experience elsewhere.
MacDowell stars as Del Landry onThe Way Home.
The creative experience brings a lot of joy to people, and thats nice.
MacDowell stars as Del Landry onThe Way Home.
MacDowell remembers a time recently where she could barely zip up a new outfit.
Greg Williams
She had it on for 10 minutes before she took it off.
Acknowledging she has a great body that doesnt need to change for a look.
Dont do cliche older people, she says.
Rainey Qualley, Andie MacDowell, and Margaret Qualley in 2009
Thats all I really care about.
Theyre making things happen.
And so is MacDowell.
Andie MacDowell and Bill Murray in 1993’sGroundhog Day
), and which one of her kids she wishes she would have listened to more.
Glamour:Your full name is Rosalie Anderson MacDowell.
When did you change it, and why?
Andie MacDowell and Emilo Estevez in 1985’sSt. Elmo’s Fire
Andie MacDowell:I moved to New York in 1979.
So, at first I was afraid to walk in.
But I did, and a model scout said, Who are you?
Andie MacDowell and Hugh Grant in 1994’sFour Weddings and a Funeral
I told her, Im Rose MacDowell.
She said, Come with me, and she looked through my book.
And then she said, When can you move here?
Margaret Qualley and Andie MacDowell in the limited seriesMaid,which premiered on Netflix in 2021
I said, Two weeks, just like that, not knowing.
I thought I could get it together by two weeks.
And so I went home, told my dad.
He did not like the idea.
Its the only time I ever stood up to my father, because he was quite…
He wasnt mean, but dignified, respectful.
He said, Youre not doing that.
And I said, Im sorry, Daddy, but Im going to go.
I had $2,000.
I bought a Ralph Lauren suit.
I was so naive.
I was so small town, I had no clue.
I spent most of the money on the Ralph Lauren suit.
It was a pencil skirt; how stupid.
Oh, I just finagled my way.
You have to be quite savvy.
So anyway, in the agency, they said I looked too ethnic, too European.
We hadnt quite opened up yet.
The world had not opened up to dark-headed girls.
Everybody was blonde, blue-eyed.
They wanted to change my name, so they called me Mac for a few days, for MacDowell.
It never really resonated with me and made me feel kind of odd.
So I went back in and said, Look, my middle names Anderson.
My sister used to call me Andie as a joke.
And they said, Sure, thats great.
So I was just Andie, no MacDowell, until I started doing movies.
But my friends still call me Rose.
How did you feel about that?
It didnt bother me.
I was so in awe of everything.
I had so much to learn.
My greatest gift was being able to pay attention and watch people and figure it out.
I didnt own anything.
I didnt have anything.
I didnt know anything.
So everything was interesting to me, and then I moved to Paris right away.
I did modeling work forGlamour,actually.
Yes, you did.
Did you give them more freedom?
Margaret, I just couldnt stop her.
There was no way.
She found the professional school on her own.
She went to two modeling agencies on her own.
She said, I would like to try something new.
Ive devoted my whole life to dance.
And I said, Of course.
And I let her.
I got her an apartment.
I think people in my little town thought I was crazy.
Learn from them, instead of trying to make them like you.
Rainey Qualley, Andie MacDowell, and Margaret Qualley in 2009
How are you most different from your daughters?
I definitely worry more.
Shes the greatest gift of my life, because my life will never be boring because of her.
Which of your movies are your kids favorites?
I got a lot of compliments afterGreen Card.I think she loved the subtlety of my work in that film.
He had no association with me.
And I thought, Oh, thats really good.
He was lost in the character.
Which film holds the most special place in your heart?
I would sayGroundhog Day,because I feel like its a perfect movie.
I dont think theres an untrue moment in it.
It got into the Smithsonian.
And [director] Harold Ramis was the nicest man I ever worked with.
I think its a perfect movie.
Its actually very Buddhist.
Its not a shallow movie.
I do feel like my work in it is very subtle, very honest, very true.
And thats what I needed to do, because Bill Murrays so broad.
It was like yin and yang.
It made it work perfect.
If I was trying to be funny, it wouldve ruined it.
And thats what makes it really work.
Andie MacDowell and Bill Murray in 1993sGroundhog Day
What do you think of when I saySt.
Kirby Keager (Emilio Estevez) and Dale Biberman (MacDowell).
Ive even had people yell those names to me.
I laugh, or Ill say, Where is Kirby Keager?
or something like that.
So many things come back to me.
I just remember they were a real gang.
I lived in New York, and the rest of the cast lived in Los Angeles.
I was in awe of them, and a little intimidated.
I remember being in Georgetown and watching Demi Moore dance and thinking she was such a great dancer.
She had so much freedom.
It was fun to be around them.
Andie MacDowell and Emilo Estevez in 1985sSt.
Elmos Fire
Lets talk aboutSex, Lies, and Videotape.
Oh, so many things.
That was a great experience.
I had my son with me, and I had just gotten pregnant with Rainey.
I didnt want to lose the job, so I didnt tell anybody.
I was about two months along.
Would you be more open now?
It was going to be like my fifth month working, so I was scared.
And [Diane] asked me to be in it because I was the first person they thought of.
I love that script, and I love her, so I really wanted to do it.
But I told her, Im pregnant, because I couldnt pretend I wasnt.
With Rainey I could.
The only thing I had was nice boobs.
Was there ever a role that you turned down because of family obligations?
Probably, but nothing I really remember.
Ill tell you a story that explains why I had the confidence I had.
I was very maternal.
And I thought to myself, Thats not going to be me.
Right at that moment, Its not going to be me.
I was really ready to have children.
I was from a small town.
I already felt like I was old at 27.
And I was just going to do it.
It was my priority over career.
But heres the funny thing: I would never have said that.
I always pretended like my career was the most important thing.
You never wanted someone to think that you werent going to show up one hundred percent.
But the truth of the matter is my kids were more important to me.
I had to really look super focused, like I wasnt always thinking about them.
You had to worry about those things.
But now, theres a lot of men that have evolved.
Its sad to hear that people are still struggling.
And I was like, Where is this energy coming from?
Like, what are we, 10?
Why are we all of a sudden categorized into pop culture girlies and sports girlies and makeup girlies?
I have a story for you that involves all of this.
After I had Rainey, I was working for LOreal.
When I got pregnant with Justin, I had to tell LOreal I was pregnant.
They had just offered me the contract, and they kept me.
There were times when I was afraid that I would lose something.
That was one time I didnt lose it.
I worked a lot for them doing ads.
[But one day] he took me into his office and told me I looked matronly.
And do you know that feeling in your throat?
That was in my throat.
I could barely speak.
I told him I would lose weight.
But he said, We cant shoot today.
You look too matronly.
So I left, and I tried to start losing weight.
In fact, someone important told me I looked too matronly after my hair went silver.
But why do we have this distaste for women and the wordmatronly?
Why cant it be like demure?
That is what I am.
Why cant I be matronly in a gorgeous, powerful, respectful, glamorous way?
Why does it always have to be about being weak to be beautiful: demure, soft, coquette?
Why does it always have to be that?
Because thats not the male gaze.
Ive got to take really good care of myself.
Ive got a great body, and I can still do all that.
But there comes a time when I am what I am.
So, I have a real powerful experience with that word.
It has been in my life for a long time.
Before we run out of time, I want to talk aboutFour Weddings and a Funeral.
I got the job.
The Holy Spirit scene….
I just was like, This is going to be huge.
Hugh Grant was so charming.
It was just adorable.
I forget how much we made the movie for.
And it was just hugely, hugely successful.
Andie MacDowell and Hugh Grant in 1994sFour Weddings and a Funeral
The script was perfect.
Its hard to find scripts like that, especially at my age, to get anything thats perfect.
But I had my day.
I had my day when I was very fortunate to work on a lot of great scripts.
They just dont write them.
The people theyre going to write about are going to be in their 20s or 30s or 40s.
People are not interested in mature people, sadly.
I do think that there is the opportunity for interesting characters out there.
Theyre just not writing them.
I want to see more of that.
Right, or at least interesting characters.
Dont do cliche older people.
Thats all I really care about.
Give me something interesting to do.
Im around a lot of women.
There are a lot of older women down here, and theyre doing fantastic things with their lives.
Theyre working on conservation.
Theyre making things happen.
They have so much wisdom and knowledge.
Theyre mentoring younger people.
Theyre very vital and interesting.
Would you ever write something, or team up with someone to write?
Ive thought about it.
Just because you write it doesnt mean its going to happen, unfortunately.
You have to get someone to believe in it.
Earlier, you mentionedhow specialMaidwas, especially since you got to work with Margaret.
What sticks with you from that experience?
It was such an interesting character, and I was always just wanting my daughter to believe me.
She played it so subtly, and Im broad, but thats my character.
We had some really wonderful moments, [even] when Im just so cruel to her.
But I felt really comfortable because I knew she knew I didnt feel that way.
The series meant a lot to a lot of different people, and that meant a lot to me.
I dont send holiday cards to anyone.
What is something youll never spend any money on?
Whats something you dont mind spending money on?
I love fashion, like new clothes.
Im a sucker for cashmere sweaters.
I cant help it.
I guess thats from my modeling years.
I was so lucky to get to wear all those beautiful clothes.
you’re able to wear anything.
you’re able to wear a paper sack and make it look cool.
But I dont want to.
[Laughs] Who havent you worked with that youd still love to act with?
I always wanted to work with Christopher Walken, but I dont know what hes doing anymore.
I wouldnt mind working with Meryl.
I mean, come on.
Youre going to wish for something.
Why cant we have a series with you and Meryl Streep living on Kiawah Island?
You dont have to leave your home.
Meryl can stay at your house.
Sounds like a plan.
Lastly, what are you looking forward to in this new year?
Personal growth, since thats the only thing we can control.
I have things that I would like to improve on.
Thats my goal for 2025.
This interview has been edited for space and clarity.
