Andie MacDowell, 64, Says She’s ‘Never Felt More Beautiful’ Than With Gray Hair

Apr 29, 2022

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 64, 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.

In a recent interview with NPR, MacDowell spoke about beauty and aging and revealed her thoughts on the topic. She explained that as we age we don't lose our beauty, but rather it evolves into something different, which is just as beautiful. She described embracing aging as a "choice" that we can accept and revealed that she has "never felt more beautiful" than at this stage in her life. 

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 very prestigious modeling agency. She was quickly signed to a contract with Elite Model Management, based in New York City, in 1978.

The stunning woman went on to model for a variety of campaigns during the 1980s, including Vogue, Yves Saint Laurent and Armani. Her national commercials for Calvin Klein garnered her even more attention and even resulted in MacDowell turning to the world of acting. 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 extremely busy! Just in the past couple of years, MacDowell has appeared in plenty of TV shows and TV movies, including “Wireless” and “Maid.” She also has a litany of projects in the works, including “Along for the Ride” and “Good Girl Jane,” both of which are reported to be released sometime in 2022. 

Throughout her career, MacDowell’s signature brunette curls were responsible for making her easily recognizable, which is why when she decided to embrace her natural gray hair, it was a bold move. The mom-of-three told Entertainment Tonight in an interview that her gray hairs started sprouting during the time she spent quarantined at home last year. Her children were fans and told her she looked "bada**" and encouraged her to rock the look. 

With the help of a talented colorist named Jack Martin, who was able to skillfully get the rest of her hair to match, MacDowell went gray and hasn't looked back. Feeling fabulous with her new look, MacDowell has even posted on social media about it. In one short video from Nov. 2020, the actress talked about having a "good hair day" as her gorgeous gray curls contrasted beautifully with her bright red lipstick.

During an appearance on "The Drew Barrymore Show," the actress recounted a story about how her new silver hair has made her feel. She said: 

“I went to the grocery store. And I saw a man there ... a silver fox guy. You know, a guy that you register and go, 'Oh, he's a silver fox.' And I immediately just put my shoulders back and I was like, 'And so am I.' We both just shot a look to each other. I was like, 'I'm a silver fox.' So that's where I am right now."

"Silver fox" is usually a term to denote an attractive man with gray or graying hair, but as MacDowell and plenty of others are proving, women can be silver foxes too.

In an interview with NPR in Nov. 2021, the actress took her message of beauty at any age even further. She opened up about how she felt when she turned 40 as the media constantly asked her about never working in Hollywood again due to her age. She said, "I had the craziest things said to me when I turned 40."

One particular incident was when a journalist asked how she felt to get older and lose her beauty. MacDowell revealed: 

"I just couldn't believe it. I told her I really don't feel like I'm losing my beauty, it's just a different kind of beauty."

She continued:

"We evolve and we age, and this is part of the process ... Aging is not about losing your beauty."

The actress pointed out that men don't often get asked these questions. In any case, MacDowell looks and feels gorgeous and has no problem telling the world and inspiring other women in the process. She said: "I have to say, I've never felt more beautiful. I'm not saying that everybody has to go do this ... but it suits me."

She also opened up about having considered plastic surgery and having had botox once, but since then she's declined cosmetic work on her face as she prefers leaning into natural beauty. She added:

"I think aging is something that you either have to decide that you like it or you don't. It's a choice ... I like that people are comfortable with me getting older. I think that's an important message for all of us that we get older and we are beautiful." 

What do you think about Andie MacDowell's stance on being beautiful at any age? Let us know, and pass this on to other women you know to inspire them too!