Andie Macdowell left Hollywood for the empty nester life in South Carolina

Andie Macdowell loves the simple life in South Carolina now that her children have left home.

In a preview of The Drew Barrymore Show‘s Friday, Jan. 24 episode, the mother of three, 66, shared how she’s been dealing with the empty nest since leaving Hollywood.

“I’m happier now than I’ve been in a long time,” MacDowell told Barrymore, 49.

“I moved to South Carolina and I take good care of myself. It took me forever,” she confessed. “When my children were back, I felt this huge void in my life because they were so important to me.”

The actress shares daughters Margaret Qualley and Rainey Qualley—both of whom have followed in her acting footsteps—and son Justin Qualley with her ex-husband, Paul Qualley.

MacDowell credited Margaret, 30, with giving her the boost she needed to take the next step in her life.

“Margaret really told me that I should have the time of my life, but I wasn’t,” Ready or not Said actress. “But now I am. I’m having the time of my life now. It’s really good. ”

Still, even with support from Substance Actress, MacDowell admitted that the process “was tough.”

As a mother herself, Barrymore asked if her guest could “help guide me through it in a few years.”

“I’ll tell you what not to do,” MacDowell said. “Come to me because I have all the information on how not to waste your time. How to move forward with it and feel good. I tell you. ”

Last summer, MacDowell spoke briefly Patheos About leaving Los Angeles and finding a community in South Carolina.

“I just moved to South Carolina and there’s an Episcopal church that’s not that far away that I think I might start going to, but right now I’m not,” she said in June 2024 – the interview.

“I must be a failing Christian. I go to the natural church. But I will. I will. ”

Before moving east, MacDowell listed her 7,024-square-foot LA home for sale in September 2023.

The five-bedroom, four-bathroom home with sweeping views of Silver Lake Reservoir from the second floor was listed for $3,999,000 with Natalie Trabin at Compass.

According to the listing, the property, which MacDowell purchased for $4.1 million in November 2021, was described as a “spectacular classic storybook home” with “Original 1920s fine craftsmanship.”

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MacDowell’s latest project is the drama series the way home where she stars as the family matriarch, Del Landry.

The way home Swallows Fridays at 9 PM ET/PT on Hallmark Channel and streams the next day on Hallmark+.