Andie McDowell is both an actor and a model, and she is known as a Hollywood starlet. She was discovered by a representative from Wilhelmina Models when she was on a vacation to Los Angeles, California, in the United States.
After that, in the year 1978, McDowell secured a contract with Elite Model Management in New York City. After a number of years, she changed careers and began her acting career, making her debut in the film “Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes” in 1984.
After completing training in method acting, Malcolm McDowell went on to feature in a number of other critically acclaimed films, including “Four Weddings and a Funeral,” “Groundhog Day,” and “Short Cuts.”
The native of South Carolina is perhaps most recognized for her parts in the films “Monte Carlo” and “Sex, Lies, and Videotape,” among others. It was her time spent as a model that opened doors for her to begin an acting career.
Following her appearance on the cover of Vogue, McDowell collaborated with well-known fashion houses such as Yves Saint Laurent and Anne Klein. Acting chances presented themselves to McDowell when she appeared in commercials for Calvin Klein.
Before McDowell took her first step down the aisle to start a family, she spent her 20s and 30s reveling in the success of her burgeoning profession. In 1986, she tied the knot with Paul Qualley, a former model.
The couple did not plan on “having children,” she told People once. In spite of this, McDowell became a mother for the first time in 1986, when she gave birth to a boy they called Justin. Later on, McDowell and Qualley became parents to two more children, two more girls named Margaret and Rainey. Margaret was born in 1990, and Rainey arrived in 1994.
McDowell and Qualley made the decision to end their marriage and get a divorce in 1999 due to the difficulties that she encountered in her professional life. When asked about the end of her marriage by People magazine, the mother of three said that it had not been an easy decision:
“This is not a change that is simple. I believe that you will be better off in the long run if you are able to let go of any anger as quickly as possible.”
McDowell’s second marriage to Rhett Hartzog, who had been a classmate of hers during her time in high school, took place in November of 2001. The couple tied the knot in Asheville, North Carolina, in an extravagant ceremony that was attended by 450 people.
However, McDowell filed for divorce in 2004, and the process was emotionally painful for her in the same way that her previous separation had been. Since no more information about the couple’s split has been made public, a source has characterized the process of the couple’s divorce as “difficult and extremely private.” After three years of marriage, she and Hartzog decided to go their own ways.
During that time, McDowell had to confront the harsh reality of his career going in the wrong direction. She was in films that received mostly negative reviews from critics and viewers alike.
Her acting career came to a standstill because directors preferred to collaborate with younger actresses, and at that time, she was already in her 50s. However, McDowell said in an interview with Fox News in April 2016 that she had reconciled herself to the possibility that she would no longer have the chance to play prominent parts as she has in the past:
“It’s possible that I won’t be the main character or that I won’t receive the leading parts that I used to get due to the fact that so many movies are centered on youth, but I refuse to stop acting since I like it so much. I never have any trouble being hired for jobs. Even if I’m not getting the greatest bits like I used to, or even though it’s not as simple as it used to be, I’m still here.”
Hollywood became more critical of McDowell as he aged, particularly once he reached 40 years old. Because of her advanced age, many felt that she would never be able to get employment again.
During an interview on NPR’s “Fresh Air,” the woman nominated for a Golden Globe recalled an incident in which she was insulted by a journalist who asked her how she felt about aging now that she was “losing her beauty.” The question left her shocked: “What does it feel like to be aging now that I am losing my beauty?”
“When I hit 40, people started saying some of the weirdest things to me. I simply couldn’t believe it. I responded by telling her that I actually do not feel as if I am losing my beauty; rather, it is simply a new type of beauty.”
The spokesperson for L’Oreal highlighted that aging is a natural process that occurs as a result of individuals evolving through time. She highlighted that becoming older has nothing to do with being less attractive as one gets older.
In the midst of the current COVID-19 epidemic, McDowell said that she began to experience her hair turning silver. She also mentioned that her daughters saw the change and praised her for it.
They went so far as to persuade her to maintain the silver coloring. McDowell, who is now in her sixties, has said that she finally “fell in love” with her new appearance and decided to maintain it:
“I have to admit, I’ve never felt more gorgeous. I’m not suggesting that everyone else should follow my lead, but I find that this is what works best for me.”
McDowell said that she had come to terms with the natural process of aging, even if in the past she had experimented with Botox and pondered undergoing cosmetic surgery. In spite of this, she has decided against undergoing facial cosmetic surgery and instead will pursue a more natural approach.
In April of 2022, McDowell reached the age of 64 years old. On the red carpet of the 2021 Cannes Film Festival in July 2021, the star of “Along for the Ride” showed off her silver hair styled in salt-and-pepper curls to draw attention to herself.
Her hair was pulled back into a low ponytail and parted on the side. McDowell drew a lot of attention to herself by wearing a pastel pink gown designed by Versace Atelier and Prada.
The actress most known for her role in “Maid” has previously said that she gave up coloring her hair after taking some time off from acting. Her supervisors were concerned about her appearance, despite the fact that her kids approved of the way she was dressed. In spite of this, she went with her instincts and chose to hold on to it.
During an interview with Vogue, McDowell made the observation that women in Hollywood are given a different treatment than males, particularly in relation to aging.
She illustrated her point with the famous actor George Clooney, who has been embracing his aging look in all its glory, including his silver hair, for quite some time. Since of this, McDowell said that she should not be on the receiving end when it comes to comments on her hair because nobody comments on his:
“Why is it a problem that I have gray hair, but George Clooney doesn’t have that problem?”
In spite of this, McDowell said in an interview with People published in June 2022 that she did not mind having gray hair. She explained that her elder sister, who is 18 months older than her, already had silver hair, and McDowell believed that her appearance was “more beautiful.”
“During COVID, I was able to view the roots with my face, as well as with my skin and my eyes, and it was a pleasant experience. I had the impression that my mood would improve. And I am happy. It appeals to me very much, “said McDowell.
