The march of time sure hasn’t slowed Andie MacDowell down. The actress, who turned 54 in April, is celebrating her 25th anniversary as a L’Oreal spokesmodel and starring in the ABC Family series Jane by Design. We sat down the South Carolina-born mother of three to talk about her commitment to healthy living.
Spry: Tell us about your beauty regimen.
Andie: Exercising every day is important to me. I think it keeps your circulation going and it is really good for your skin. I make sure I eat fruit and vegetables. I am not one of those people who says they never eat carbs. I think that is a silly idea—anything too gimmicky is not good.
Spry: How do you feel about aging?
Andie: Age is not something I worry about. Being healthy I worry about. Dying, maybe. But not getting older. Getting older is fine if you are healthy. It is only sad if you are not healthy; otherwise, it’s a gift. My mother died at 53 of a heart attack. That’s probably why I feel that way.
Spry: What do you think is the key to aging well?
Andie: Avoiding stress. That’s one of the reasons I do a lot of yoga, because it isn’t just about the body, it’s also about your interior life.
READ MORE OF OUR INTERVIEW WITH ANDIE MACDOWELL HERE.
Spry: You’re passionate about staying active. What’s your exercise-of-choice?
Andie: I love to hike; I love to walk. People say, “You’re a movie star. You can hire a trainer.” I don’t have a trainer: I am my trainer. You need a pair of tennis shoes and a good attitude more than anything. Get a walking buddy, or some music—do whatever it takes. Me? I meditate. It’s my time to unwind.
Spry: How do you stay motivated?
Andie: My sister and I are in a hiking club. We’re doing this challenge: 40 peaks, each over 6,000 feet in the Appalachian Mountains. I’m halfway through; only 200 people have done it. One of the people I hike with is an 83-year-old man—he’s one of my heroes. That’s what I want to be doing when I am 83.
