Andie MacDowell is finding joy in a simpler life in South Carolina after her children have grown and left home. The actress, known for her roles in films like “Groundhog Day” and “Four Weddings and a Funeral,” opened up about her transition to empty nesting and her move away from Hollywood in a recent interview on The Drew Barrymore Show.
MacDowell, 66, shared with Barrymore, 49, that she’s experiencing a newfound happiness since relocating to South Carolina. “I’m happier now than I have been in a long time,” she stated. She confessed that leaving Hollywood and focusing on self-care took time, but it was a necessary step. “I moved to South Carolina, and I really, I’m taking good care of myself. It took me forever,” MacDowell admitted.
The actress, who shares three children with her ex-husband Paul Qualley, daughters Margaret and Rainey, and son Justin, felt a significant void when her children left home. “Once my kids left, I felt this huge void in my life, because they were so important to me,” she explained. Both of her daughters have followed in her footsteps and pursued careers in acting.
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MacDowell credits her daughter Margaret, 30, for encouraging her to embrace this new chapter in her life. Margaret helped her realize that she should be enjoying this time to the fullest. “Margaret really was kinda telling me I was supposed to be having the time of my life, but I wasn’t,” MacDowell revealed. She acknowledged that the adjustment was difficult, but she’s now thriving. “But now I am. I’m having the time of my life now. It’s really good.”
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Barrymore, a mother herself, sought advice from MacDowell on navigating the empty nest phase. MacDowell offered her support and guidance, promising to share her insights on how to make the most of this transition. “I’ll tell you what not to do,” MacDowell quipped. “Come to me, because I have all the information on how not to waste your time. How to get on with it and have a good time. I’ll tell you.”
In the summer of 2024, MacDowell briefly discussed her move from Los Angeles and finding a sense of community in South Carolina. She mentioned exploring her faith and connecting with nature. “I have just moved to South Carolina, and there’s an Episcopal church that’s not that far away, that I think I might start going to, but right now I’m not,” she said in the interview.
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Prior to her move, MacDowell listed her Los Angeles home for sale in September 2023. The five-bedroom, four-bathroom home, described as a “spectacular classic Storybook home,” was listed for $3,999,000. MacDowell currently stars in the Hallmark Channel drama series The Way Home, where she plays the role of family matriarch Del Landry. The show airs Fridays at 9 p.m. ET/PT and streams the following day on Hallmark+.
