28
The 63-year-old actor reflects on the year everything happened at once.
I was from a tiny town, so we were bored, the actor says over Zoom.
That was the extent of what my parents had to offer me.
So moving to New York was very helpful because it put me in the right place.
MacDowell was on the brink of her big break at 28 whenshe got pregnant.
I wasnt planning on having children, she admits.
I had a baby, [Justin], in the middle of trying to make it.
But Im so thankful that I did.
Take me back to 1986, when you were 28.
It was interesting that I felt as good as I did because I wasnt really getting acting jobs.
Modeling gave me great stability, but I really wanted to be a working actor.
Did you always want to be an actor?
I did theater in college and knew since I was a child that I wanted to act.
I came from a really small town with nobody around me who did it.
So I took commercial classes in New York when I first started I hated them.
But I loved doing the Calvin Klein ad.
They wanted to hire a name and I wasnt a name.
Im surprised that I wasnt more overwhelmed.
I was also really good at watching, listening, and paying attention.
I always went to museums and always explored every place I went to.
I read a lot.
Thats how I felt.
What was a typical night out like when you were 28?
I mostly just worked and went to bed.
Thats really what I liked to do.
Im not a big party person.
Ive always gotten great joy out of getting into bed with a book.
What was your style like when you were 28?
I was never really that glamorous.
I liked flowy dresses and boots, cashmere sweaters Ive always liked casual sweaters, jeans, and boots.
I also wore some great suits… the 80s were big on suits.
I think a part of me was just wanting to feel comfortable.
What were you most proud of accomplishing at 28?
If you could give your 28-year-old self any advice, what would it be?
To forgive myself easier when I make mistakes.
That, and to not clean the house so much when you have children.
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
