Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Andie MacDowell had a panic attack on set after realising she was the only woman there

‘I was getting ready to shoot something, and I turn around and it’s, like, a roomful of men. Like, a sea of men,’ actor said

Peony Hirwani
Thursday 12 May 2022 07:40 BST
Comments
Andie MacDowell asks if it’s still raining in Four Weddings and a Funeral

Your support helps us to tell the story

This election is still a dead heat, according to most polls. In a fight with such wafer-thin margins, we need reporters on the ground talking to the people Trump and Harris are courting. Your support allows us to keep sending journalists to the story.

The Independent is trusted by 27 million Americans from across the entire political spectrum every month. Unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock you out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. But quality journalism must still be paid for.

Help us keep bring these critical stories to light. Your support makes all the difference.

Andie MacDowell has revealed that she once suffered a “panic attack” on set after realising that she was the only woman there.

In a new interview with Marie Claire, the 64-year-old actor spoke about her experience working with an all-male cast and crew.

“I had this kind of crazy experience, right after Trump got elected,” she told the magazine. “I went to do a job, a day’s work, and I had my very first panic attack. I was getting ready to shoot something, and I turn around and it’s, like, a roomful of men. Like, a sea of men.

“It flashed on something that was personal for me. And I dropped to my knees. I left the room, and went into this fake bathroom on the set, and looked at myself in the mirror and said, ‘Get your shit together.’”

The Maid actor added: “It just freaked me out, not seeing any other women. It’s not that I have anything against men. I don’t! I just don’t like big groups of them. Since then, I’ve become very conscious of looking around and finding the women on set. For comfort.”

In other news, MacDowell opened up about her decision to embrace her natural grey hair last year, revealing that she decided to stop colouring it despite guidance from her managers.

Andie MacDowell opens up about decision to embrace gray hair
Andie MacDowell opens up about decision to embrace gray hair (Getty Images)

According to the actor, she first started going grey at the beginning of quarantine, revealing that her children, Justin Qualley, 35, Rainey Qualley, 31, and Margaret Qualley, 26, were fans from the beginning, and would tell her she looked “bada**” every time they saw her.

The Groundhog Day actor was also influenced by celebrity hair colourist Jack Martin, who coloured Jane Fonda’s hair, as well as “real women” on Instagram who were transitioning to grey hair. She added that she ultimately believed it was time to “make that transition” to silver hair because she “felt like it was appropriate for my personality and just who I am”.

MacDowell’s new film Along for the Ride premiered on Netflix on 6 May. Fans can next expect to see her alongside Orlando Bloom in Red Right Hand .

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in