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She'll take on the character inspired by Eileen Ford.
Following an extensive casting search, ABC has found its Eileen Ford.
Andie MacDowell has been tapped to star in the network's drama pilot Model Woman, The Hollywood Reporter has learned.
The pilot is a fictionalized family soap inspired by Robert Lacey's book, Model Woman: Eileen Ford and the Business of Beauty. Set in the late 1970s during the notorious Model Wars, the show is centered on Bertie Geiss (MacDowell) — a tempestuous matriarch and uncompromising businesswoman at the helm of an internationally renowned modeling agency.
Bertie for the past 20 years has been at the helm of Geiss Agency, the most powerful modeling agency in the world. The character is a confident, powerful and cunning woman who rarely loses control. Self-possessed, poised and authoritative, but not lacking humor and warmth. Bertie is at the top of her game — and she intends to stay there.
For MacDowell, the casting marks her broadcast series regular debut following Hallmark Channel's Cedar Cove and ABC Family's Jane by Design. On the feature side, the actress' credits include a memorable role in Magic Mike XXL as well as the 2011 Footloose revival and Groundhog Day as well as Four Weddings and a Funeral. She's repped by Gersh, RMS Productions and Greenberg Glusker.
Reality Bites' Helen Childress will pen the script and exec produce the TriStar Television/ABC Studios co-production alongside Rosalie Swedlin, Scarlett Lacey and Richard Shepard, with the latter set to direct the pilot.
MacDowell joins a cast that also includes Cougar Town's Dan Byrd, Chris Mason and Madeline Blake.
Keep up with all the latest pickups, castings and eventual series orders with THR's handy guide to pilot season.
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