In what little I’ve seen lately of lovely American actress Andie MacDowell, 52, I’ve found her incredibly down to earth and likable. The last time we reported on her, in October, she was upbeat but realistic about her career as an actress in which she’s no longer in high demand. At that time she was filming two Lifetime movies, and she said that she was just happy to keep working and that she wasn’t picky about roles. She said, “I’m 51 and I have no shame about that whatsoever and I’m really comfortable in my skin… I may not be the lead or I may not get the starring roles that I used to because so many movies revolve around youth, but I refuse to go away because I enjoy it.” It doesn’t hurt that MacDowell, the face of L’Oreal for over 25 years, is strikingly beautiful yet hasn’t had any obvious work done. If she gets Botox or Restylane you can barely tell and it’s just the right amount.

The May issue of Prevention features an interview with MacDowell, and she sounds just as upfront and realistic as she has in the past. MacDowell also reveals her weight! She’s 5’8″ tall and 137-138 pounds, which is incredibly fit and healthy without being too skinny. I admire that she gave her exact number, because that requires real confidence. In an industry when women are taught that they have to be super thin, she shows that you can be fit and proud without starving yourself.

When you were a young model, in an industry not known for positive body images, did you ever have problems with weight?
There was a time when someone complained to my agency that I was overweight. It was after I’d been in New York for a few years, and I was trying to figure out how to maintain my weight. I was 132 pounds then, and I’m 5-foot-8 – and still eat healthy and exercise. So I said, “Tell them not to book me. This is the best I can do.” And shortly after, I got Calvin Klein commercials and a movie, so it didn’t stop me.

You still look model weight to me
Right now I’m about 137 to 138 pounds and I feel pretty good about it. Also, as soon as you get older, your face starts o look drawn – that’s why I think I’m better off with those 5 extra pounds.

Do you have a guilty pleasure when it comes to food?
Well, it’s not a guilty thing – I really do think that chocolate is good for you. And it’s better to eat that than to not have anything. That’s when you end up eating too much – when you feel deprived.

[From Prevention, print edition, May, 2010]

It’s so rare for actresses to reveal their actual weights! I can only remember two other actresses doing this recently: Jenny McCarthy (5’6″ and 125 pounds) and Kirstie Alley, who did it in a roundabout way through her show and a subsequent appearance on Oprah. (5’7″ and 210 pounds a few weeks ago.)

To keep fit, MacDowell says she does all kind of yoga and enjoys hiking and mountain climbing. She says she strives to ask herself “Do I feel healthy because I’m strong? Are my shoulders back? Can I be happy?” I love how she focuses on her health and says that she doesn’t consider chocolate a guilty pleasure! MacDowell should be a real example to certain older celebrities who continue to diet and exercise themselves into oblivion and then try and cover it up with chipmunk cheek implants and injectable fillers – Madonna, I’m looking at you.

Andie MacDowell is shown on 4/14/10 (Credit: Fayesvision/WENN.com) and 4/7/10 (Credit: Ivan Nikolov/WENN.com)