Andy McDowell, 65, on reclaiming the word "old" - and not using a stunt double for the upcoming skinny-dipping scene

As for aging in Hollywood, or aging in general, actress Andie MacDowell, 65, was interviewed by Today for a spicy scene in the latest season of her Hallmark series, The Way Home. I always tell people, "I'm getting old." They say, "No, you're not," but I say, "Yes, I am. I was scrolling through [Instagram] and I saw Brad Pitt saying, 'I'm old. Yes, I am. ' Of course, look at Brad Pitt. But that's what he said."

McDowell said he does not see aging as a negative thing, but rather something to embrace and not something to be ashamed of. "To me, I don't think 'aging' is a bad thing," he said. "What is bad, however, is all the negative connotations associated with aging, especially for women. Especially for women. Because we are so hard on ourselves."

McDowell has been a force in redefining what it means to age in the public eye. Today magazine reported, "It's a shocking choice, at least by Hollywood standards, but it has earned her respect and admiration.

"I love seeing Andie MacDowell in all her power, walking down the runway in these gorgeous gray, shocking curls," Gwyneth Paltrow told Today in a recent interview.

On being called inspirational and powerful, McDowell said, "I think there is power in having your own place. I wouldn't say dying your hair is a bad thing. I think it can make you look younger. But not being ashamed of being an older person, especially an older woman, is also a great beauty."

As women age, unlike men, they often lose their status as "sexual beings" after a certain age. 'We do that to ourselves because that's what we've been taught,' says McDowell, 'and we procreate.' 'Even ourselves. We demean each other. If you date a young man, everyone will think you are scandalous. They will make fun of you. But if a man does it, of course it's normal. All such men do it. But if it were a woman, it would be front-page news."

Especially in Hollywood, "It's easy to cast men in their 40s and 50s. With women, not so much. Despite this, McDowell says she is at peace. 'I only play old people, so I'm in a very good place right now,' she said. I don't have to worry anymore. I'm just getting older. There is silver here. I know what kind of roles I will be cast in. But I won't be cast with young men. Nor, by the way, is she interested in dating young men. I don't want to do that," she says. It's too much work for me."

McDowell has said that she wants to play characters who are "sexual," "attractive," and "strong," and in "The Way Home" she proudly performed the skinny-dipping stunt herself rather than outsource the job to a stunt double. (Incidentally, "The Way Home" premieres on January 21.) The scene was shot in Canada on an extremely cold night in November, with McDowell jumping into Lake Ontario bare-assed. The director said, 'We can do it in one take if you want to do it. And I said, 'Yes, I want to do it. I was wearing underwear, but I knew it would take a lot of courage for Hallmark to do it. I loved playing it."

For this scene, "I didn't diet or anything. I didn't care about my body. At a certain point you get tired of thinking about those things. When I stand in front of the mirror, all I see are the parts I don't like. I only have ____ years left. I am 65 years old. So how long can I live? I don't know. Will I stay like this for the rest of my life? Will I always continue to expect myself to be like I was in my 20s? I can't. My hair, my face, my body. " Instead, he said, she just "ripped her clothes off" before jumping into the sea. 'I haven't seen that scene yet. ' " she said.

McDowell, who along with Justin and Rainey is the mother of actress Margaret Qualley, said she is not only happy to be 65 now, but proud of it. 'If you only knew where I came from, what I've been through, how I was raised. 'I wasn't given a great opportunity. I created the opportunities."

If he could go back in time and give advice to his younger self, knowing what he knows now, McDowell said he wouldn't change much." He said, "You're really smart, and everything will work out.

"And have faith in yourself. And make good decisions. I wouldn't modify it too much because I'm honestly amazed at what I've accomplished."

In addition to creating meaningful work and boldly charging through life on and off the screen, McDowell wants to continue to celebrate aging. I've always looked up to older people," he says. 'I think it should be a time when people respect you and treat you like a queen because you've accomplished something. When you reach a certain age, you respect people, you want to ask them questions, you want to hear their stories. And their wrinkles tell a story.

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