Andie MacDowell

Life and work

MacDowell dropped out of Winthrop College as a sophomore in 1978 and signed with Elite Model Management. She appeared in print and television advertisements for the cosmetic and haircare company L'Oreal, a job she continued after she got her first role as an actress. A series of television commercials for Calvin Klein drew attention to her and led to her 1984 film debut in Greystoke - The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes, a role in which her lines were rerecorded by Glenn Close because her southern accent was too pronounced. In 1985, she had a small part in St. Elmo's Fire, but her film career seemed to have stalled.

Four years later, MacDowell hit her professional stride. Director Steven Soderbergh cast her in the 1989 independent film sex, lies, and videotape; her performance earned her several award nominations and led to a series of starring roles in films such as Green Card, The Object of Beauty, and Short Cuts.

As of 2006, her biggest successes were in the box office hits Groundhog Day and Four Weddings and a Funeral. The latter was a critical and commercial success and did much to make leading man Hugh Grant a star, although it has to be noted that MacDowell's performance in the film has been a source of ridicule in the United Kingdom ever since. In particular, her delivery of the line "Is it raining - I hadn't noticed" has been featured on clip shows as a memorably excruciating cinematic moment. The film remains popular nonetheless.

MacDowell was married from 1986 to 1999 to fellow former model and rancher Paul Qualley, whom she met while both were posing for GAP ads. The couple have a son and two daughters. She was married to Atlanta, Georgia businessman Rhett Hartzog from 2001 to 2004. In January 2006, she became engaged to Asheville, North Carolina businessman Kevin Geagan.

MacDowell currently resides in Asheville.

Selected filmography