Andie MacDowell is embracing her age with confidence and grace. The 65-year-old actress, known for her roles in “Groundhog Day” and “Four Weddings and a Funeral,” recently opened up about her thoughts on aging and her decision to take on a daring swimming scene in her latest project.
In a candid interview with TODAY.com, MacDowell shared her perspective on being considered “old.” “I tell people all the time, ‘I’m old,’ and they often respond, ‘No, you’re not,’ but I insist, ‘Yes, I am,'” she said. For MacDowell, acknowledging her age is not something to be ashamed of but rather something to embrace.
MacDowell, who stars alongside Chyler Leigh and Sadie Laflamme-Snow in the Hallmark series “The Way Home,” believes that aging should be seen as a natural and beautiful part of life. “I don’t think ‘old’ is a bad word for me. The negative connotations around aging, especially for women, are what’s truly harmful,” she explained. “We’re so hard on ourselves, even when we’re young.”
Over the years, MacDowell has become a symbol of aging gracefully in Hollywood. She made headlines when she decided to let her dark curls go gray, a bold move that garnered both respect and admiration. Among her admirers is Gwyneth Paltrow, who praised MacDowell for her powerful presence and stunning gray curls.
When asked about being called powerful, MacDowell responded, “There is power in owning where you are. It’s not about whether you color your hair or not; it’s about having no shame in being an older person, especially an older woman.” She pointed out the double standards that exist in society, where older men dating younger women is normalized, but the reverse is often seen as scandalous.
Despite these societal disparities, MacDowell is at peace with her age and the roles she takes on. “I’m in a great place now because I know I’ll be cast as an older woman. I don’t have to worry about it anymore,” she said. “But they’ll never cast me with a younger man, and that’s fine by me.”
MacDowell’s latest role in “The Way Home” includes a scene that required her to run half-naked into a lake. The actress was given the option to use a stunt double for the scene, but she chose to do it herself. “The director said, ‘We can do it in one take if you want to do it,’ and I said, ‘Yes. I want to do it,'” she recalled.
The scene, which was shot on a cold November night in Canada, required MacDowell to run into Lake Ontario wearing only her underwear. “I thought it was pretty brave for Hallmark to do this with a 65-year-old woman. And I loved how I played it,” she said.
MacDowell didn’t feel the need to prepare for the revealing scene. “I didn’t diet or anything. I didn’t worry about my body. At a certain point, you’re so tired of having to think about those things,” she said. “I stand in front of the mirror and see all the bits and pieces I hate. But I’m 65. How long will I live? Am I going to do this for the rest of my life? I just can’t.”
Instead, she simply “ripped my clothes off” before running into the water. “I haven’t seen the scene yet, but I hope it looks good and I hope I look decent,” she added.
MacDowell’s career began in the late 1970s when she was discovered by Wilhelmina Models. She transitioned into acting and gained recognition for her role in the Oscar-nominated film “Sex, Lies, and Videotape.” Over the years, she has appeared in numerous films and TV series, including the 2021 Netflix series “Maid,” where she starred opposite her daughter, Margaret Qualley.
At 65, MacDowell is not only content with where she is but also proud of how far she has come. “If you saw where I came from, what I’ve been through, how I was raised… I wasn’t given great opportunities. I created opportunities,” she said. Reflecting on her journey, she would tell her younger self, “You’re really smart and everything’s going to turn out just fine. Trust yourself. You make good decisions.”
Looking ahead, MacDowell hopes that society’s negative perceptions of aging will change. “I’ve always looked up to older people and revered them. I think it should be a time when you are looked up to and treated like a queen because you’ve achieved something,” she said. “When you get to a certain age, you want to hear their stories. And their wrinkles tell a story, a beautiful story.”
