Rosalie Anderson MacDowell (born April 21, 1958) is an American actress and former fashion model. MacDowell is known for her starring film roles in romantic comedies and dramas. She has modeled forCalvin Klein and has been a spokeswoman forL'Oréal since 1986.[1]
MacDowell was born on April 21, 1958, inGaffney, South Carolina, to Pauline "Paula" Johnston (née Oswald), a music teacher, and Marion St. Pierre MacDowell, alumber executive[4] who had studied forestry at theUniversity of the South. Her parents called her Rose. She has three older sisters[5] and they are of English, Irish,Scottish and Scots-Irish ancestry.[6] Her mother was an alcoholic, and her parents divorced when she was six.[7] MacDowell's mother died of a heart attack in 1981 at age 53 after living sober for a year.[8]
After having been spotted by a representative fromWilhelmina Models while she was on a trip toLos Angeles, MacDowell signed a modeling contract withElite Model Management in New York City in 1978.[10] Elite sent her to model inParis for a year and a half.[5]
After her big break withSex, Lies, and Videotape, MacDowell went on to star in the romantic comedy filmGreen Card directed byPeter Weir. The screenplay focuses on an American woman who enters into a marriage of convenience with a Frenchman so he can obtain a green card and remain in the United States. The performance gained her Golden Globe Award nomination forBest Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy.[16] The following year she starred alongsideJohn Malkovich in the crime comedy-dramaThe Object of Beauty, and oppositeBruce Willis in the action comedyHudson Hawk. In 1992, MacDowell played the leading role in the mystery thriller filmRuby Cairo. The film fared poorly at the box office, grossing only $608,866 in the United States during its limited run opposite $24 million production budget.[17] Later that year she made a cameo appearance in the satirical black comedy mystery filmThe Player directed byRobert Altman.
In 1993, MacDowell achieved stardom due to the box office success of directorHarold Ramis's fantasy romantic comedy filmGroundhog Day, starring oppositeBill Murray. Critics were enamored with MacDowell's performance.Gene Siskel said that she lit up the screen when she was on.[18]Janet Maslin called her a "thorough delight", saying that MacDowell's performance offered a comforting, comedic presence.[19]Hal Hinson said that the on-screen chemistry between MacDowell and Murray was "otherworldly" and that she was a perfect fit for comedy.[20] For her performance she won theSaturn Award for Best Actress. Later that year, MacDowell starred in the Robert Altman-directed comedy-drama filmShort Cuts. The film received critical acclaim.[21][22] MacDowell received Golden Globe Special Ensemble Cast Award,Volpi Cup for Best Ensemble Cast, as well nomination forChicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actress.
In 1994, MacDowell co-starred in the British romantic comedy filmFour Weddings and a Funeral oppositeHugh Grant. The film was made in six weeks, cost under £3 million, and became an unexpected success and the highest-grossing British film in history at the time, with worldwide box office total of $245.7 million.[23] For her performance, she received another Golden Globe Award nomination for Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy.[24] Later that year she starred alongsideMadeleine Stowe in the Western filmBad Girls: it was a box office disappointment, grossing $23 million worldwide.[25] The following year, MacDowell had the leading role in the comedy-dramaUnstrung Heroes directed byDiane Keaton. The film earned positive reviews from critics.[26]
In 1996, MacDowell appeared in two movies: first was the science fiction comedy filmMultiplicity released on July 17, 1996. It received mixed reviews from critics, and grossed a worldwide total of $37 million at the box office, significantly less than its $45 million budget. Later that year she acted oppositeJohn Travolta in the fantasy comedy filmMichael. The film received mixed to negative reviews, but was a box office success grossing $119.7 million worldwide.[27] The following year she starred in the drama filmThe End of Violence. In 1997 she received anHonorary César at the22nd César Awards.[28] In 1998 she appeared in the independent dramaShadrach and returned to the romantic comedy genre withJust the Ticket, also making her producing debut.[29] In 1999, MacDowell appeared in another box office disappointment, science fiction comedy filmMuppets from Space, and starred oppositeAlbert Brooks in his directed comedy film,The Muse.[30]
In 2000, MacDowell starred in the war drama filmHarrison's Flowers. The film received mixed reviews, butRoger Ebert praised her performance writing: "Andie MacDowell is a sympathetic actress who finds plausible ways to occupy this implausible role."[31] The following year she appeared in two romantic comedy films:Town & Country alongsideWarren Beatty andDiane Keaton, and received star-billing inCrush. After 12 release date changes,Town & Country was released in theaters on April 27, 2001, nearly three years after filming began, receiving negative reviews from critics and was one of the biggest box office flops in American film history, grossing a little over $10 million worldwide from a $105 million budget.[32] Also in 2001, she made her first television appearance in more that ten years starring in the anthology filmOn the Edge and thePrimetime Emmy Award-nominated comedy-dramaDinner with Friends. The following year she starred in the unsuccessful CBS drama pilotJo, playing the title character.[33] Also that year she starred in the action thriller filmGinostra.[34]
In 2015, MacDowell played acougar in the comedy-drama filmMagic Mike XXL.[39][40] The following year she starred in the ABC drama pilotModel Woman, which is inspired by theFord Models agency and the notorious modeling wars of the 1970s.[41] The following year she received rave reviews for her leading performance in the independent drama filmLove After Love.[42][43] David Ehrlich fromIndieWire wrote in his review: "Andie MacDowell Gives the Performance of Her Life"[44] whileNell Minow called her "a radiant",[45] and Jeannette Catsoulis ofThe New York Times "a remarkable".[46] Also that year she co-starred in the filmsOnly the Brave andChristmas Inheritance, and returned to Hallmark with the television movieAt Home in Mitford. In 2018, MacDowell starred in and produced the Hallmark Hall of Fame filmThe Beach House, directed byRoger Spottiswoode and based on the novel byMary Alice Monroe. Also in 2018, she co-starred in the romantic dramaPaper Year.[47]
In 2020, MacDowell starred in the survival thriller television seriesWireless and the romantic comedy television filmDashing in December.[53] She later starred oppositeFrank Grillo in the Western filmNo Man's Land and guest-starred an episode of NBC sitcomMr. Mayor playing a fictionalized version of herself. In 2021, MacDowell starred alongside her daughter,Margaret Qualley, in the Netflix miniseriesMaid, playing her mother with an undiagnosed mental health disorder.[54] For her performance, MacDowell received positive reviews from critics,[55][56][57] and a Golden Globe nomination forBest Supporting Actress – Series, Miniseries or Television Film. The following year she appeared in the filmsAlong for the Ride andGood Girl Jane. In 2023 she starred in the comedy-drama filmMy Happy Ending, playing a famous star who finds herself in a British hospital room with three other women who help her.[58]
In 2023, MacDowell began starring in the Hallmark Channel fantasy drama series,The Way Home.[59] Later in 2023 she appeared in the romantic comedy filmThe Other Zoey and in 2024 starred oppositeOrlando Bloom in the action thrillerRed Right Hand. Marya E. Gates, in her review forRogerEbert.com, wrote: "MacDowell also reaches these rarified heights, giving her best performances in years. Reigning over her kingdom from a large red brick mansion, complete with a roaring fireplace, oak-paneled built-in bookcases, and leather armchairs, Big Cat is the kind of baddie who cuts the thumbs off of men who cross her with her own shears in one scene, then uses the hot bodies of her underlings for sexual pleasure in the next. And MacDowell savors every line. A southern broad herself, she knows the power of a whisper and a threat veiled in niceties."[60]
On November 20, 2025,Deadline announced that MacDowell would appear in a Netflix film adaptation ofKatherine Center's novelThe Bodyguard.[61]
In 1986, MacDowell married Paul Qualley, a rancher and fellow former model. The two met while posing forGap ads. They had a son, Justin, and two daughters,Rainey, an actress and singer,[62] andMargaret, also an actress.
MacDowell and Qualley divorced in 1999.[63] Following her divorce from Qualley, MacDowell entered a year-long relationship with actorDennis Quaid. In 1999, MacDowell reconnected with a former high school classmate, Rhett Hartzog. They married in November 2001, and divorced in October 2004.[63] As of 2013, she resided inMarina del Rey, California.[64] Since 2023, she has resided on the coast of South Carolina.[5]
