Actress, model and Extraordinary Role Mommy Andie MacDowell chats about her latest feature film, “Monte Carlo,” her favorite books, motherhood and more in an exclusive blogger chat…
Recently, Andie Macdowell, who stars in the new film “Monte Carlo,” featuring teen sensations Selena Gomez and Leighton Meester, took time out of her busy schedule to chat about the movie, her incredible career, life as a southern mom and even her guilty pleasures. Take a look…
Question: How do you balance work and motherhood?
Andie MacDowell: It’s always a challenge for any working mother. And there were moments that I would say to my kids, I can’t do this any more, I don’t want to work any more. My girls in particular would say no, we’re so proud of you.
And as it turns out, I think my kids will be working moms. That’s going to be their choice of what they want to do with their lives. The generation that I came from was sometimes harsher on women making that choice. I think times have changed.
I think being a stay-at-home-mom is a lovely choice. But, having the option to be able to have a career and feel good about yourself as an individual and still be a great mother is definitely a possibility. It takes teamwork. My kids learned to be independent. We had rules and regulations, and everybody had to work together.
Question: I recently watched an interview with you about Monte Carlo where you shared how you were really impressed with the teens in the movie. Can you share that story?
Andie MacDowell: I was very impressed with Selena. I have my 16 year old that has watched her on television for years, so she was in our living room. And you never know with kids that grow up working in the business what they’re going to be like. But, her mother did a beautiful job with her. She is just such a lovely young lady, very kind and professional. And it was fun. I went to dinner with all of them, and just watched their energy.
I could remember what it was like to be that age and to have the world before you and to be working on a movie that was huge. I think they all realized that they had scored big time by getting these jobs in Monte Carlo. They were very excited and happy. There was a lot of joy on the set because they know that they were working on something really special.
Question: Do you have any advice to parents who are sending their kids off maybe to summer camp for a couple weeks or to see the country or to see the world without them?
Andie MacDowell: It took me a moment to realize that I could do things that I had never allowed myself to do. It was interesting because right before I got pregnant with my son, I had planned this bicycle trip to Peru. And then, I had to put that on the backburner, and I never did anything like that. Plus, I didn’t take vacations without my kids because I had to travel for work. And it dawned on me, it took me a while to realize I was free to take a vacation or to do something that I had postponed for myself. I did a yoga retreat. I did something just for myself.
And I think you can set that up in your home some way. You don’t have to really go off somewhere. But, it can give you a chance and an opportunity to do something for yourself because I think mothers are always so busy doing for others, taking care of others that they forget to take care of themselves. If you realize it and seize the opportunity, you can do something that you’ve needed to do to take care of yourself.
Question: Are there any books that you’re reading, your favorite summer books, or have you had time to unwind to do that?
Andie MacDowell: I belong to two book clubs. One of them, I haven’t been great about showing up. One of them is a yoga book club. I’m reading something called Exquisite Love, and it’s written by a teacher that teaches at Davidson [William K. Mahony].
I am overloaded with books. And that’s one of my problems is I get too many books going at the same time. But, I did finish Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts. My gosh, I think it’s 900 pages. It takes place in India. It’s fabulous.
Ipad or Old School?
Andie MacDowell: I have an iPad, but I kind of like books. And I also have a book on Lucia Chase, which is Bravura!: Lucia Chase and The American Ballet Theatre, because my daughter is at ABT [American Ballet Theatre] this summer. But, my problem is I start reading too many books at once.
Question: Can you share how living in the south has had an impact on your kids? Why did you choose to stay close to home instead of moving to Hollywood?
Andie MacDowell: I wanted my kids to know my family. I mean, I grew up knowing my cousins, and I wanted my kids to have that experience. And it really turned out great. My youngest daughter and my sister’s daughter are the same age, and they went to school together from the age of four until she left. They have this really beautiful relationship. And I wanted them to know what my roots were like. I really admire a lot of things about the culture here as far as manners and we have some old fashioned things here that I really enjoy.
At the same time, I wanted their lives not to be about my career. I wanted it to be about whatever was happening in their lives and for the focus to be on normal things and not to be about my job. And it was interesting because they really did turn out well. My work was never the focus of what we were doing. It was always whatever was happening in their lives.
About “Monte Carlo”
A perfect mother/daughter film, “Monte Carlo” stars Selena Gomez as an ordinary girl who becomes an accidental princess when a family summer trip to Paris turns into the fantasy of a lifetime. Living like royalty, Grace, along with her two best friends, discovers who she really is – by assuming another person’s identity. The film is currently open in theaters nationwide. Check out the trailer below and visit the Monte Carlo Facebook page or follow along on Twitter.
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