Celebrity Profile: Andie MacDowell

Rosalie Anderson MacDowell, known as Andie MacDowell, was born in Gaffney, South Carolina, the youngest of four daughters. Her parents divorced when she was six, and Andie helped the family income by working at McDonald's and Pizza Hut as a teen. She attended Winthrop College but dropped out to join the Elite Modeling Agency in 1978. She appeared in print and television ads for various companies and designers, most notably, Gap, Calvin Klein, and L'Oreal, a hair care and cosmetics company she represented even after a successful acting crossover.

It was her exposure from Calvin Klein that led to her first movie, playing Jane in Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes (1984). Her performance was panned by critics after having all of her vocals dubbed by another actress, after her southern accent was deemed too heavy for the character. Andie continued on, and won a feature role in St. Elmo's Fire, in 1985.

However, it was her performance in 1989's Sex. Lies, and Videotape that garnered positive reviews and began the start of her acting career. In the film, Mac Dowell played an unhappy housewife, and received several awards, including the LA Film Critics Association Award, The Independent Spirit Award, and her first Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress.

Andie received her second Golden Globe nod for her role in 1990's Green Card, alongside Gerard Depardieu. She was nominated for Best Actress in a Comedy or Musical. She continued to star in numerous films, including Hudson Hawk, The Object of Beauty, and perhaps her most famous films, Groundhog Day, and Four Weddings and a Funeral. She received her third Golden Globe nomination for Four Weddings.

MacDowell's body of work both on and off the big screen is long and varied. She continues to act, and can be seen in 2004's Beauty Shop and the Last Sign. She also co-executive produced the 1999 film Just the Ticket, in which she co-starred with Andy Garcia.

In her personal life, Andie has also achieved a great deal of success. She received an honorary Doctor of Letters degree from Lander University in Greenwood, South Carolina, for her dedication to the Graham Children's Health Center. She has also become a spokeswoman for the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund, along with sponsorship with L'Oreal Paris. In addition to her noted acting awards, in 1997 she received the Golden Camera Award from Germany, and the Cesar d'Honneur (Honorary Award) for her body of film work.

Andie is a mother of three, a dedicated humanitarian, and a truly beautiful woman. In fact, Andie was twice selected for People Magazine's 50 Most Beautiful People (1991 and 2000). In January 2006, she announced her engagement to Kevin Geagan, a businessman who lives in MacDowell's Asheville, North Carolina, community. She has managed to age flawlessly, manage a successful career and family, and be the envy and friend of men and women of all ages.

Fast Facts:

Born: 04/21/1958 in Gaffney, South Carolina

Birth name: Rosalie Anderson MacDowell

Marriages: 1986 to 1999 to Paul Qualley, Rhett Hartzog 2001 to 2004

Children: Justin, born in 1986, Rainey born in 1989 and Sarah Margaret in 1995

Notable Films:

Sex, Lies, and Videotape
Greencard
Groundhog Day
Four Weddings and a Funeral
Hudson Hawk
Bad Girls
The Muse
Beauty Shop
Barnyard (animated, voice)

Sources:

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000510/bio

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andie_MacDowell#Life_and_work