Andie MacDowell to return to SC for Beaufort film festival Saturday

Actress and South Carolina native Andie MacDowell will return to her home state this weekend for the Beaufort International Film Festival.

On Saturday, the actress will receive the Spirit & Pride of South Carolina Award, which recognizes a native South Carolinian whose career achievements have reflected positively on themselves and the state. Best-selling author and Beaufort resident Pat Conroy will present the award to MacDowell.

"I'm very proud to be from the state of South Carolina, and I'm looking forward to coming home," she said.

MacDowell grew up in Gaffney and attended Winthrop College in Rock Hill. She worked at McDonald's and Pizza Hut as a teenager, shortly before becoming a model and later a movie star.

She left Gaffney at age 17, the same year she took her first plane ride. Soon she was a model for Vogue, Armani and Calvin Klein campaigns. A profitable contract with L'Oreal allowed her to focus on an acting career, "without having to be a waitress," she said.

Now 56, MacDowell is best known for her roles in the movies "Sex, Lies, and Videotape," "Groundhog Day" and "Four Weddings and a Funeral." She was also repeatedly named one of the 50 Most Beautiful People in the World by People magazine.

Her latest role is Judge Olivia Lockhart on the Hallmark Channel's "Cedar Grove."

And, according to her, she still has plenty more acting roles left in her.

Lowcountry Current interviewed MacDowell earlier this month (on Groundhog Day, coincidentally) and asked her about growing up in Gaffney, "House of Cards" and what roles are still on her list.

Question. What was it like growing up in Gaffney?

MacDowell. In Gaffney I think the people there have a great sense of humor. We didn't have much going on there, so we learned how to entertain ourselves. The people are very colorful, and I grew up around a lot of interesting characters. I think part of that became a toolbox that I later used in my craft.

Q. Where do you call home now?

MacDowell. I live in Montana. I work in Vancouver. And I'm buying a place in Los Angeles. So I'm kind of a gypsy, I guess, living out of a suitcase right now.

Q. Do you watch the Netflix show "House of Cards?" What do you think of the character Frank Underwood, a politician from Gaffney?

MacDowell. I have seen "House of Cards." I saw the episode with the peach. I thought it was hysterical. It's really, really funny. (Frank Underwood) is a sophisticated, slick guy.

Q. Can you tell us about your most recent role as Judge Olivia Lockhart on "Cedar Grove"? What do you like or dislike about your character?

MacDowell. Well, we've had two seasons. It's been an interesting departure for me. I haven't done much in the way of consecutive TV shows, so it's been nice to be able to develop the character. ("Cedar Grove") is a broader, brighter color for the Hallmark Channel. They're taking some chances. I'm having a good time with it. I love showing up and being a part of it.

Q. Have you played all the roles that you've wanted to play? Or are there still ones out there that you want to tackle?

MacDowell. I'm not dead yet! I hope I'm sticking around for the next 30 years working. I don't feel like it's over. My posture is pretty good. I do yoga. I'm pretty strong. I can still keep up.

Q. What made you want to pursue modeling and acting originally?

MacDowell. My mother was a music major. She went to Limestone College. My dad went to University of the South. I had very creative parents. My mother used to take me to plays at Limestone, and I fell in love with the arts. That's when I realized there was an option to play make believe as a job. I thought that was amazing. I'd rather play make believe more than anything else.

Q. Have you seen any of the films that will be played at this year's film festival in Beaufort?

MacDowell. I haven't. I hope they're good. I rarely get to go to a festival like this and watch the movies. So hopefully, I'll get to watch some this time

Q. Since today is Groundhog Day, I feel like I have to ask a Groundhog Day-related question. The movie came out a long time ago, yet people still talk about having a "Groundhog Day moment" when something repetitive happens. Have you ever used the phrase?

MacDowell. I don't think I've ever used the phrase. I'd like to. I love meeting people that love the movie. I'm a big walker. In California when everyone's driving, I'm out walking. So all day today when I was walking, people saw me and had a goofy expression on their faces, wishing me a happy Groundhog Day.

Q. What advice would you give to an aspiring actress living in a small South Carolina town, hoping to do what you did?

MacDowell. The best advice is to do it your way. There isn't a formula. Everyone has to figure it out for themselves, and that's what I did. The best thing I had going for me was that I was brave.

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This story was originally published February 11, 2015 at 6:58 PM with the headline "Andie MacDowell to return to SC for Beaufort film festival Saturday."