Andie MacDowell Reveals Diagnosis of Piriformis Syndrome

Andie MacDowell attends as PEOPLE and Hallmark Media present a conversation with the stars of Hallmark Channel's "The Way Home in New York City on Jan. 22, 2025. Mike Coppola/Getty Images for Hallmark Media

Actress Andie MacDowell recently revealed that she has been diagnosed with piriformis syndrome.

The 66-year-old shared the news during an appearance on “The Drew Barrymore Show,” where she candidly discussed the intense pain in her hip and leg that initially left her worried about her overall health.

“I have piriformis syndrome, so it’s a muscle that kind of clamps down on my sciatic nerve, and it was shooting down my leg,” the “Groundhog Day” actress said. She initially feared that the pain was indicative of a more severe condition. “I thought I was going to have to have hip replacement. Thank God my hips are fine.”

Piriformis syndrome occurs when the piriformis muscle, located in the buttocks, compresses or irritates the sciatic nerve. This can lead to pain, numbness, or tingling that radiates from the buttock down the leg, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

While symptoms often mimic those of sciatica, piriformis syndrome is much rarer and can be challenging to diagnose. Doctors typically rely on physical examinations and imaging tests to rule out other causes of sciatic nerve irritation.

MacDowell described the steps she has taken to alleviate her symptoms. “I have to work my tiny little bottom and my hips,” she said, “I just do it every day.”

She said, “I thought I was literally falling apart, like I was gonna have to get new pieces. But the good news is my pieces are fine—my knees are good. Except for, like, aging.”

In addition to focusing on physical therapy exercises, the “Four Weddings and a Funeral” star offered practical advice on maintaining agility as one ages. “I think as you age, lift weights, work with a [personal trainer] to build your muscles,” she advised.

Piriformis affects more women than men, although the reasons for this are not fully understood, according to Harvard Health. Treatment often involves stretching and strengthening exercises, anti-inflammatory medications, and sometimes corticosteroid injections, according to the Cleveland Clinic.

Life in South Carolina

Speaking with Barrymore in January 2024, MacDowell reflected on the personal changes she’s made in her life. After moving from Los Angeles to South Carolina, she shared that she has found greater happiness.

“I’m happier now than I have been in a long time,” the actress told her former co-star. “I moved to South Carolina and I really am taking good care of myself.”

Adjusting to her new life, however, was not easy. MacDowell explained that it took her “forever” to adapt to living without her children—Justin, 38, Rainey, 35, and Margaret, 30, whom she shares with ex-husband Paul Qualley.

“Once my kids left, I felt this huge void in my life because they were so important to me,” she said. “Margaret was really telling me I was supposed to be having the time of my life, but I wasn’t,” she added. “But now I am—I’m having the time of my life now. It’s really good.”

MacDowell’s Career

Born Rosalie Anderson MacDowell on April 21, 1958, in Gaffney, South Carolina, MacDowell first entered the public eye as a model. She became the face of major brands, including Calvin Klein and L’Oréal. By the mid-1980s, MacDowell transitioned to acting, making her film debut in 1984’s “Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes.”

Her breakthrough came in 1989 when she starred in Steven Soderbergh’s critically acclaimed “Sex, Lies, and Videotape.” Her nuanced performance earned her a Golden Globe nomination and established her as a leading actress in Hollywood.

Over the years, MacDowell appeared in numerous beloved films, including the 1993 time-loop classic “Groundhog Day” and the 1994 romantic comedy “Four Weddings and a Funeral.”

In recent years, MacDowell has continued to showcase her talent through a variety of television roles. She starred in Netflix’s “Maid” alongside her daughter, actress Margaret Qualley, and appears in Hallmark’s “The Way Home.”