Andie MacDowell Is Throwing Out Toxic Beauty Standards By Wanting ‘To Be Old’

Nov 21, 2024

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Since her days as a leading lady in Hollywood in the 1990s, actress Andie MacDowell has been famed just as much for her charm and acting abilities as for her gorgeous looks. A former model turned actress, MacDowell dominated the silver screen at the time in movies such as “Groundhog Day,” “Four Weddings and a Funeral,” “Green Card” and “Multiplicity.” Her signature dark curly hair and warm smile were her two most well-known features.

Now aged 66, MacDowell looks a little different these days after she embraced her gray hair during the pandemic. Still incredibly gorgeous and working as a spokesperson for L’Oréal, she’s made it her mission to prove to society that beauty is not defined by age and that while our features might change as we get older, it doesn’t make us any less beautiful. 

In fact, her recent change to gray hair has become rather trendy, with other notable celebrities, including Jane Fonda and Sharon Osbourne, ditching the dye in favor of their natural gray. Even non-celebrities are embracing the change, with influencers on TikTok and Instagram inspiring other women to embrace their natural hair.

MacDowell first debuted her natural gray curls in the summer of 2021 at the premiere of “Annette” in Cannes. MacDowell later told The Zoe Report she’d been wanting to go “au naturel” for years since she started dyeing her hair in her 40s. 

While the issue of embracing your age has been highly debated in Hollywood, MacDowell knew right away that she wanted to “go gray.” At 66, MacDowell remains unfazed by the criticisms she receives from people and is still adamant about growing her hair naturally and refraining from cosmetic surgeries. Read on to learn more about MacDowell and her thoughts on beauty and aging.

MacDowell was born on Apr. 21, 1958, in Gaffney, South Carolina. She encountered some hardships during her childhood, including her parents’ divorce and grieving the death of her mother later on.

While on a trip to Los Angeles in the late 1970s, MacDowell was spotted by a representative from Wilhelmina Models, a prestigious modeling agency. In 1978, she quickly signed a contract with Elite Model Management, based in New York City.

The stunning woman went on to model for various campaigns during the 1980s, including Vogue, Yves Saint Laurent, and Armani. Her national commercials for Calvin Klein garnered her even more attention and resulted in MacDowell turning to the acting world. 

She made her film debut in the 1984 movie “Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes.” The following year, she earned herself a supporting role in the ensemble coming-of-age film “St. Elmo’s Fire.”

Moving forward, MacDowell continued to find more work in the acting industry and has starred in a plethora of films, including “Groundhog Day,” “Four Weddings and a Funeral,” “Green Card” and “Multiplicity.” She has also received several accolades over the years for her work.

Nowadays, MacDowell is still acting — and according to her IMDB page, she is swamped! In the past couple of years, MacDowell has appeared in plenty of TV shows and TV movies, including “Wireless” and “Maid.” She also starred in the 2024 television show “The Way Home” and alongside Danny DeVito in the film “A Sudden Case of Christmas.” 

Eventually, MacDowell went on to have a long and successful career in Hollywood as an actress and an influential celebrity. She has since been regarded as one of the most beautiful actresses of her generation, and her beauty remains timeless today. However, her perception of beauty differs from what most people think of in modern times. 

According to NPR, MacDowell was once asked about what she felt about “losing (her) beauty.” In response, she gave a firm clapback. 

“I said, ‘I really don’t feel like I’m losing my beauty. I just feel like it’s a different kind of beauty,’” she recalled telling reporters. She also admitted to using Botox at the time, but she has since despised it and decided never to have one again. 

She told Good Morning America that, like many people, she has “some flaws.” 

“I have not had plastic surgery,”  she confessed. “My face is my face and, you know, at this point, I don’t see any need. I’m kind of fine with where I am.”

Aside from acting, MacDowell has also been a passionate endorser of L’Oréal and has been living out the company’s vision and mission through her empowering advocacy. 

“I think one of the reasons I stayed with L’Oréal is it was important to them to carry that message that ... aging is not about losing your beauty,” she told NPR in another interview. 

MacDowell is not someone who shies away from admitting that she ages like any other human being, especially in Hollywood, where beauty standards for women have been exceptionally high and cruel. 

In a campaign with the famous beauty brand, MacDowell said: “I’ve been open about my age, even though people told me not to be… But guess what? I’m worth it!”

MacDowell’s signature brunette curls made her easily recognizable throughout her career, so she made a bold move when embracing her natural gray hair. 

Speaking to Vogue, MacDowell recalled that her children have supported her in embracing her gray hair. 

“Every time my kids would see me, they kept telling me I looked badass with my gray hair.”

Since making that bold move to let her hair gray naturally, the 66-year-old actress never looked back. 

“It was just so clear to me that my instincts were right because I’ve never felt more powerful. I feel more honest. I feel like I’m not pretending.”

According to her, it was the point that she noticed that her hair color seemed at odds with the lines on her face, pushing her to make the bold move. 

“And in a lot of ways, I think it’s more striking on my face. I just feel like it suits me,” she added. 

People have showered MacDowell with overwhelming support, while others seemed apprehensive about the idea. 

“If she likes it, so be it. But… to be honest, she looks waaaay older,” one Facebook user said. 

Despite the criticism, MacDowell admitted that going gray was “instinctually” something she wanted to do. 

“I think it’s an individual choice. My two oldest sisters will color their hair forever. So, I think everybody has to make their individual choice about how they feel about aging, what they want to do as they age, and what makes them more comfortable,” she told People Magazine. 

Talking to Katie Couric, MacDowell has a simple statement for those who want to know what mantra she lives by when it comes to beauty and aging: “I don’t care. I want to be old.”

Are you a fan of Andie MacDowell? Do you agree with her thoughts on beauty and aging? Let us know, and pass this on to your family, friends, and other loved ones out there!