Margaret Qualley is attempting to bring together her mother, Andie MacDowell, and Bill Murray, who starred alongside MacDowell in the 1993 movie Groundhog Day, after many years. The surprising matchmaking effort unfolded during a taping of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on August 14, where both Qualley and Murray appeared.
Margaret Qualley’s Unexpected Encounter with Bill Murray Backstage
During the show, Margaret Qualley revealed how Bill Murray visited her dressing room before the performance, sparking a conversation about their shared connections. Qualley was promoting her new film, Honey Don’t!, and Murray appeared as a musical guest with the Pedrito Martínez Group performing Ilusión Óptica. The actress recounted Murray’s unique outfit choice, noting,
“Bill Murray, literally tonight, he pops into my backstage dressing room. He’s wearing a Piggly Wiggly shirt. And I grew up in North Carolina, and Piggly Wiggly’s a Southern thing.”
She connected the dots when she learned Murray now lives in Charleston, the same city where her mother resides.
“I was like, ‘Oh, yeah, Piggly Wiggly!’ Then, cut to I found out he’s living in Charleston. My mom’s living in Charleston.”
Unveiling a Complex History Between Murray and MacDowell
The conversation then turned to the past dynamics between Bill Murray and Andie MacDowell during the filming of Groundhog Day. Qualley shared that Murray admitted their relationship on set was less than smooth. She explained with a touch of humor,
“I’m gonna give you the tea. He was like, ‘You know, your mom and I — we didn’t get along so good while we were making that movie.’ And he was like, ‘She took a lot of time to get her hair done, and she didn’t know her lines this one time.’ I was like, ‘Yeah, well, I heard a different story, sir.’”
Possibility of Rekindling Friendship in Charleston
Margaret Qualley speculated on the potential for reconciliation, given that both Murray and MacDowell are single and live in Charleston. She linked their complicated past with a hopeful outlook.
“I’m putting two and two together. He’s living in Charleston. She’s living in Charleston. They’ve got this kind of rage towards each other, but maybe he’s trying to make amends. And I’m like, she’s single, he’s single. They’re both crazy. Let’s get it together!”
She also expressed the hope that Murray would reach out to her mother, saying,
“I said to come circle back and get my number if he wants to connect with my mom.”
Margaret’s Enthusiastic Appeal for a New Beginning
Qualley emphasized the opportunity Murray would have if he chose to reconnect with MacDowell.
“And, you know, if he’s got any sense at all, he’d be the luckiest guy in the world!”
she said. The Tonight Show’s Jimmy Fallon agreed with her sentiment, reinforcing the potential for a meaningful reunion.
Wrapping up the conversation, Qualley directly addressed Murray through the audience,
“I hope he’s listening right now. Hi, Bill!”
Significance and Potential Impact
This unexpected interaction shines a spotlight on the enduring connections and unresolved history between two well-known actors from a beloved film, highlighting the possibility of personal reconciliation years later. Margaret Qualley’s matchmaking effort may pave the way for a renewed friendship or even more between Andie MacDowell and Bill Murray, capturing public interest in their story. Observers will likely watch closely to see if this playful attempt leads to a genuine reunion in Charleston, potentially inspiring similar reconciliations among longtime colleagues and friends.
