The actress talks about why it was so important for her to embrace her grey hair.
Andie MacDowell, 63, became famous after her roles in Green Card, Groundhog Day and Four Weddings and a Funeral. And now she’s back on our screens starring alongside her daughter Margaret Qualley, in hit Netflix show, Maid.
The star recently unveiled her natural salt and pepper hair after deciding to ditch hairdye during the first lockdown. She said that at first she was a little nervous about her decision because of how it could impact her roles. But after going for it, she’s not looked back. “Once I did it, it was just so clear to me that my instincts were right because I’ve never felt more powerful. I feel more honest, like I’m not pretending. I feel like I’m embracing right where I am and I feel really comfortable. And in a lot of ways, I think it’s more striking on my face. I just feel like it suits me.”
Andie revealed that the fact that her two daughters loved her new look, helped immensely. “When I first started wearing my hair grey, my daughters kept saying I looked badass. I think it’s badass to embrace where you are and be fearless. We’re beautiful at every age and glorious in our own way. I feel so much more comfortable. It’s like I’ve taken a mask off or something.”
She further explained how embracing her natural hair colour was the right decision for her, “I feel better like this. Honestly, it’s exhausting to have to be something that you no longer are. I was finally like, ‘You know what? I’m not young. And I’m OK with that.’”
In fact, Andie seems more confident and comfortable with herself in her 60s, than she has ever been.
She revealed, “I feel like I am enough right where I am; I’m in great shape, I exercise all the time, I can pretty much keep up with the kids. I feel valuable where I am. I don’t want people to have the expectation that I need to look younger to have value, or to be beautiful or desirable. We don’t do that to men! We love men as they age. I would love the same expectation for women and we’re getting there… you know, baby steps.”
Hear hear!
More of Andie MacDowell’s words of wisdom:
“I love being an advocate for women as we get older so that we can feel comfortable with ourselves.”
“In the past, it has been normal and acceptable to cut women off at age 40. I think young people today are very supportive of glamorizing mature women. We do have something unique to offer.”
“I’ve worked with producers who have told me to lose weight, and I’m not overweight, but they want you to look strange, anorexic, horrible. It’s odd. It’s like they are exerting a power over women, that they want them to look really frail.”
“Do I really need to prove anything to anybody? I don’t feel that I have to prove anything. The only thing that I have to prove is to myself, that I have value.”
“Kindness can come from someone on Twitter, it can come from someone on the street, it can come from someone at work. Without kindness, I don’t know what I would do. The greatest part of life is the simple things.”
“My children without a doubt are my greatest accomplishment. If I did nothing else I would feel just having and raising them would be enough. The rest is icing.”
“As a single mother of four, my mother taught me that you always want to show up strong for the moments that really matter with family, friends, and community. I now recognise how her strength helped shape the person I am today and the mother that I have become.”
“How are we supposed to get old? What am I supposed to do? Am I supposed to get old? My kids tell me, ‘We want you to look like a grandmother.’ I agree with them. I want to look like a grandmother.”
