This well-known actress was once criticized for “losing her beauty” at age 40—her response to aging is brilliant
Growing old is a normal thing that happens to everyone. Even though society likes to make people look young, there are many products and activities that people use to try to stay looking young. But, not many people like to accept their real age.
Andie MacDowell, a 64-year-old actress, talked to Harpers Bazaar about aging. She believes that aging is a personal choice and people can either accept or reject it. MacDowell was once asked about her looks when she turned 40, but instead of using products to keep her youthful appearance, she decided to embrace her new look. She believes that aging brings a different kind of beauty.
Andie MacDowell started her career as a model during a trip to LA. A representative from Wilhelmina Models recruited her and she signed with Elite Model Management in NYC in 1978. She modeled for Vogue and appeared in several ads for brands like Yves Saint Laurent and Calvin Klein. Her appearance in Calvin Klein’s advertisements led to her first acting role in the movie “Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes”.
MacDowell then began to focus more on acting, but still continued to model. Since 1986, she has been the face of L’Oreal and has become an ambassador for the brand. However, as time passed, she wasn’t getting leading roles in movies anymore and young actors were getting the roles she wanted. In 2016, she talked to Fox News about her desire to keep working, even though she was being overlooked.
“I take really good care of myself and I insist to not go away. I want to work because it brings me a sense of self worth and dignity, I like my job. I may not be the lead or I may not get the starring roles that I used to because so many movies revolve around youth, but I refuse to go away because I enjoy it. I always find a way to get work. It may not be the best parts I used to get or it may not be as easy, but I’m still here.”
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Hollywood was looking for actors who were not only young but also had young-looking faces. When the now 64-year-old actress turned 40, she was asked by a reporter how it felt to get older and lose her beauty. She was shocked by the question and told the reporter that she did not feel like she was losing her beauty, but that it was just a different kind of beauty. She believes that aging is a natural process and that it does not mean you lose your beauty.
“I just couldn’t believe it,” MacDowell said. “I told her I really don’t feel like I’m losing my beauty, it’s just a different kind of beauty.”
“We evolve and we age, and this is part of the process,” she said. “Aging is not about losing your beauty.”
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After many years, Andie MacDowell is finally embracing her beauty despite changes during the pandemic. During the pandemic, her hair started turning silver, and her daughters, who lived next door, noticed the change and told her she looked great. Although gray hair is often seen as a sign of aging, MacDowell fell in love with her new look and decided to embrace it fully. She feels more beautiful now than ever before. She also wants to emphasize that not everyone has to follow her lead, but it just works for her.
Andie MacDowell wants women to love their bodies, no matter what stage of life they’re in. She knows it’s not always easy, but she believes embracing aging and being positive about it is important. In a 2018 interview with Vogue, she said that she doesn’t want to pretend to be someone she’s not and is proud of her age. During an NPR interview, she said that aging is a choice and that she likes that people are comfortable with her getting older. She wants to send a message that even as we get older, we can still be beautiful.
