Rosalie Anderson MacDowell was born on April 21, 1958, in Gaffney, South Carolina, to Pauline Johnston (née Oswald), a music teacher, and Marion St. Pierre MacDowell, a lumber executive. She attended Gaffney High School and later Winthrop College for two years before moving to New York City to pursue a modeling career.
MacDowell signed with Elite Model Management in 1978. She became a successful model, appearing in advertisements for brands such as Yves Saint Laurent, Vassarette, and L’Oréal. Her modeling work helped her transition into acting.
MacDowell’s acting career began in the early 1980s. Her first film role was in Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes (1984), although her voice was dubbed by Glenn Close. She gained recognition for her role in Sex, Lies, and Videotape (1989), which won the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival and earned her a Golden Globe Award nomination.
Throughout the 1990s, MacDowell starred in a string of successful romantic comedies and dramas, establishing herself as a leading actress. She has continued to work in film and television, taking on diverse roles and collaborating with notable directors.