For the record, MacDowell looks radiant sitting on a couch with her trademark curly hair pulled up in a bun and chic aviator eyeglasses perched on her nose. But her appearance is actually secondary to what she has to say for the next hour—especially when it comes to the topic of, well, appearances. No longer the romantic muse in comedies such as Green Card (1990), Groundhog Day (1993), Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994) and Multiplicity (1996), she talks with excitement about reaping the benefits of her Act Three.
“One of the beauties of getting older is that you get more opportunities, and the roles become more multi-dimensional and richer,” she explains in her native South Carolina drawl. “I’m really enjoying it because these roles are not dependent on how I look; it’s all about how I think and feel.”
Her new Hallmark Channel series, The Way Home, checks all those important boxes. The poignant drama, premiering Jan. 15 at 9 p.m., follows the lives of three generations of strong-willed women (played by MacDowell, Chyler Leigh and Sadie Laflamme-Snow). In the first episode, MacDowell’s character, Del Landry, welcomes her estranged daughter and teen granddaughter at the family farm in rural Canada. Still reeling from decades-old traumatic events, the women slowly work on finding their footing together. Before arriving at the destination, they navigate a journey that involves a bit of time-traveling mysticism.
The role of a no-nonsense matriarch proved especially appealing, MacDowell says. “I wanted to play a real grandmother like my own grandmother—a beautiful woman who was fearless, vital, dynamic, mature and interesting and who embraced her age.”
For the 64-year-old MacDowell, that characterization meant showing off her now-silver hair as well as her well-earned lines and creases. She also drew on her experience as the mom of three kids (with ex-husband, Paul Qualley): Justin, 36, who works in real estate and actresses Rainey, 32, and Margaret, 28. Justin welcomed a daughter, Cosette, last summer. “I’m happiest when I’m with my children,” she says.
During the tail-end of production in Toronto (“I’ve got two days left!”), MacDowell spoke to Parade about how she found her own way at home and in Hollywood.
The Way Home features several flashback scenes set in the late 1990s. How did you feel about playing a younger version of yourself?
It was scary. I wasn’t sure I could pull it off. I was also thinking about how my neck looked, those kinds of things. The wig helps. And the director of photography used a softer lens to add a certain ambience. This was a time before my character experienced so much pain, so I made sure to keep my voice lighter and happier. I changed my posture, too.
How would you describe Del in the present-day?
I chose to be as natural as possible. I play her a lot rougher. She’s gone through a lot and being alone, she’s had to get tough. There is still a gruffness to her. I could only imagine what it’s like to have a granddaughter that you haven’t been able to spend time with. But then the relationship opens, and the story becomes very rewarding.
Your parents divorced when you were 6 and your mom was an alcoholic. Did you bring that kind of intense life experience to your performance?
One of the beautiful things about acting is that you do have experience that can inform your choices. And I did talk to [the producers] about how you hold the tragedy of your family in your body. It helps determine who you are because it manifests in some shape and form.
How did it manifest for you?
I can tell you that I’m a very sensitive person. I think I have a sensitive personality disorder. I’m hard on myself. And If I’m hard on myself, then I can probably be hard on others. But I don’t know if my childhood has led to what would necessarily be “faults.” I’m a really complex person because of my upbringing. I played someone with bipolar disorder [in the 2021 Netflix series Maid], and I have friends who are bipolar. It doesn’t mean they’re bad human beings. They’re complex, too.
You started your career as a successful model in the early ’80s. Did you enjoy that lifestyle or did it negatively impact you?
It had a very positive effect on me. I grew up in a really small town [Gaffney, SC] and wasn’t exposed to a lot of culture. And even though I went to college for a few years, living in places like Paris was my greatest education. I explored that city and traveled all over Europe. I took advantage of every opportunity. I got to work with wonderful people. So, I do feel like it was a huge enrichment in my life. But I need somebody to help me put together a portfolio of everything I did. All those magazines are collecting dust!
When and why did you decide to transition to acting?
My mother [Pauline] was a music teacher and took me to a play when I was probably 10 years old. That’s when I realized that adults played make believe, which was my favorite game in the whole wide world. So, the seed was planted. I did some theater in college, but I didn’t think acting was a thing I could do until I moved to New York for modeling and started taking acting lessons. That’s it in a nutshell!
You make it all sound pretty effortless. Was it?
It’s funny, because my sister would say “Everything just kind of happened.” I’m like, “What are you talking about?!” I mean, I struggled a lot. I got rejected and turned down. In the late ’80s, I was at the point where I was ready to quit because I wasn’t getting consistent work and didn’t think a career would ever happen to me.
Is it true that Glenn Close was asked to dub your lines in your first movie [1984’s Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes] because your accent was too thick?
I was devastated by that. People have a tendency to kick the person who’s down because somehow it gives you someone to kick. I was that person [for a while]. But then Joel Schumacher cast me as a doctor in [1985’s] St. Elmo’s Fire, which was the greatest gift. I will forever be indebted to him because I had no competence at the time.
Then you received great reviews for [the 1989 indie smash] Sex, Lies, and Videotape. Was that a real turning point?
It changed my life. There are two things you need to do to be successful in Hollywood: Be seen in a movie that makes money; and be seen as a really good actress. Just doing one is not enough. But that’s what happened with Sex, Lies, and Videotape. Suddenly everybody wanted to work with me. It was literally a paradigm shift—the old me disappeared and came back as someone else.
Did you like the romantic comedy portion of your career?
I do think it was a genre that appealed to me and I felt comfortable in it. And I got some scripts that just blew my mind. I thought Four Weddings and a Funeral had this classic old-fashioned feeling of romance and wit.
We’re coming up on the 30th anniversary of Groundhog Day. Do you have fond memories of the production?
I wouldn’t change anything about it. And that’s because of [director] Harold Ramis, who made my every day perfect. I knew that he really enjoyed watching my performance and was extremely supportive of me and what I brought to the table. I have nothing but beautiful things to say about it.
What’s your personal interpretation of a person constantly reliving the same day?
I realized the concept right away: You have to just keep making mistakes until you learn your lesson. I think all of us tend to keep going through a situation over and over and over. It’s like choosing really bad relationships until you say “Oh, OK, I’m not going to do that anymore.” It’s a tough lesson when you must learn to be a better person.
Which film or performance do you appreciate more now?
I did a movie directed by Diane Keaton called Unstrung Heroes [in 1995]. I think it’s beautiful. I wish she would have directed more films because she’s very talented.
How did you reconcile with aging in your business?
Hollywood informs our social ideas and our culture. If you look at a lot of old films, you see an older man with a younger woman like Audrey Hepburn and Cary Grant or Lauren Bacall and Humphrey Bogart. We’ve bought into the idea that men can age but women cannot. And we didn’t have a choice. It’s the sad truth. And like every other woman, I was affected by that. But I do think that concept is slowly changing. It’s a very slow process. Men are still glorified as they age, and women are not.
Well, you’re constantly asked about your silver hair. But Hugh Grant, your Four Weddings co-star, has been silver for years and nobody cares!
Believe me, I know this. I know this. It’s so sad because I was really worried about [going grey] and felt like I had to ask permission for people to accept me. A man would never have felt like that. It would actually look bizarre for a man to keep dyeing his hair. We could choose to maintain the facade that we are younger, but I just didn’t want to anymore.
Is all this pressure a big reason why you didn’t want to raise your family in Hollywood?
Yeah, I didn’t move to Hollywood until Margaret was in the 12th grade. I raised my kids in Montana and North Carolina. I’m sort of a quiet person and wanted to have a real private life. I liked it that way!
Did it surprise you that your daughters wanted to pursue the arts?
Well, it was not encouraged. I wanted them to have a real childhood because I didn’t have great experiences watching children work. It’s a job. So, they did normal kid things and studied dancing and got a really good education. Then when they were mature enough, they made that decision for themselves.
You played Margaret’s mother on Maid. Was that one of your proudest achievements?
Oh, doing that with her was amazing. We had a lot of trust with each other and I hope I get another chance to do it before it’s all said and done. Rainey sings and dances and acts as well.
Do you all get together a lot?
Well, Rainey lives in L.A., Margaret lives in Brooklyn and Justin has a ranch in Montana. I took a lot of parenting classes, and I learned that the greatest thing that you can do for your children is make them independent. And I succeeded! But someday we may be all together again somewhere.
You’re keeping busy these days, too!
I’m working a lot and I enjoy it. I love feeling like I belong and showing up on set. I’m very creative and always looking for new ideas and new experiences. And I’ve got a grandbaby! There’s a lot to look forward to.
Andie Answers
Favorite part about growing up in the South
The nature that it provides. You have Spanish moss down at the beach and the most beautiful white sand you’ve ever seen, and here in the mountains outside of Asheville [N.C.], you see the leaves change in the fall.
Favorite childhood movie
I would say The Wizard of Oz [1939] because, like most kids, I thought it was so magical and dreamy and scary. And I loved that it was a musical, as well.
Last TV binge
I’ve been watching 1899 on Netflix.
Book on my nightstand
Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner. It’s a memoir. It’s absolutely fantastic. You have to read it!
Favorite vacation spot
Kiawah Island, S.C.
Favorite hobby
I’m an avid hiker. My sister actually leads hikes in North Carolina in the wilderness. And I’d love to start horseback riding again.
Go-to sing-along song
In L.A., I do these plunges where you put your body in cold water. It’s good for your knees and joints. I always like hearing George Harrison’s “My Sweet Lord” when I do it! It’s only four minutes long; I know I can make it through.
Hair-care tip
I have to condition the hell out of my hair because it’s so curly. You have to hydrate constantly.
New Year’s resolution for 2023
I want to get back into therapy. I haven’t gone in a while but I’d like to try some new stuff that’s more modern and contemporary. I’m trying to continue to become my best life.
