Andie Macdowell Asks, ‘Why Demean Either One Of Us?’

Andie Macdowell stars in Magic Mike XXL, and the character Andie plays might be described as crude, certainly sexually uninhibited, and obviously forthright. But of all the labels that might be used to describe Macdowell’s character, the one she objects to above most others is the word “cougar.”

“I find it offensive,” 57-year-old Macdowell said in an interview with People. “There’s this notion that as men get older they become more handsome, so therefore they can have younger women, but there is no reality to that obviously – it’s just another way to dis-empower women.”

To many, the “cougar” label seems innocent enough, but, as Andie points out, it’s derogatory simply for the reason that it cannot be applied to males. Macdowell explains that there is no word in the English language that bears a resemblance in meaning to the slang use of the word cougar and, for that reason, Andie feels the word is offensive.

“[Women] have been dis-empowered for so long and I think that it’s finally our time,” Macdowell says. “And if we want to date a guy that’s 20 years younger than we are then we definitely have that same right, just like any man does. I dare any 57-year-old man to tell me that he looks younger than me.”

Ms. Macdowell points out that a relationship is far more dependent upon the emotions two people feel for one another than on how much older one person might be than the other.

“The thing of it is that people are people and age is just a number,” the actress and mother of three says. “It all depends on how you connect with someone, how you relate to someone, so why demean either one of us? Why should we do that to dis-empower either one of us?”

Speaking of sexuality in cinema and negative labels, Macdowell reflects on some roles she might have had in her youth, except for her fear of public criticism. Andie said there were roles she might have fought harder to obtain, like Adrian Lyne’s 9½ Weeks to name one, but her fear of what others in her own community might say took over.

“Now, in hindsight, if I could just tell my younger self to go in and fight for it. I didn’t even go in!”

Ms. Macdowell laughs at the idea that she is making up for lost time and missed opportunities with her Magic Mike XXL role.

“Some crazy sexy roles since I’m no longer worried about what people think? Hahahaha! Maybe! It’s a little late in life, but hey, why not!”

Magic Mike XXL, starring Andie Macdowell and Channing Tatum, hits theaters on July 1.

[Featured image: Andie Macdowell courtesy of Kevin Winter/Getty Images]