Bill Murray And Andie MacDowell Famously Didn’t Get Along On Groundhog Day. Decades Later, Her Daughter’s Trying To Set Them Up

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As a film aficionado, let me tell you that Groundhog Day from the ’90s stands out as one of my all-time favorites! It follows Bill Murray’s character, Phil Connors, who finds himself trapped in a time loop, living the same day – February 2nd – repeatedly. His quest to win over Andie MacDowell’s Rita Hanson amidst this time loop makes for an engaging watch. Though it’s said they didn’t see eye-to-eye during filming, years later, MacDowell’s daughter, Margaret Qualley, even attempted a matchmaking effort between them!

Qualley, much like her mother, ventured into acting and garnered acclaim and nominations for her roles in “Fosse/Verdon”, “Maid”, and a Cannes standing ovation for her 2025 movie release, “Honey Don’t!”. Being the child of a renowned figure has its advantages, such as encountering their celebrated peers. In an interview on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon”, Qualley shared an amusing story about meeting Bill Murray backstage and her plan to connect him with her mother by suggesting he wear his Piggy Wiggly shirt.

I find out he’s living in Charleston. My mom’s living in Charleston.

Isn’t that fascinating? It turns out that Bill Murray and Andie MacDowell reside in the same location. What a remarkable coincidence! With this serendipitous circumstance, it seems like an ideal opportunity for them to reunite, doesn’t it? Perhaps we could arrange a small gathering to reminisce about one of the most beloved romantic comedies ever made.

It’s commonly known that the actor from “Scrooged” and his director for “Groundhog Day,” Harold Ramis, didn’t see eye-to-eye during filming. However, it seems that Bill Murray wasn’t the only one with tension on set. Margaret Qualley recently opened up about why a potential pairing of Murray and MacDowell faced some issues, which she learned directly from the actor himself: a hint at behind-the-scenes conflict.

He mentioned, “You understand, during the filming of that movie, things between your mom and me weren’t exactly smooth-sailing.” He also shared, “She spent quite some time styling her hair on set, and there was an instance when she forgot her lines.” To which I responded, “Well, sir, I’ve heard a different account of events.

It seems that The Substance actress learned about the backstory between Bill Murray and Andie MacDowell from her mother, which is often the case among co-stars who may not get along during filming. For instance, Charlie Hunnam and Robert Pattinson were reportedly at odds in The Lost City of Z, and Charlize Theron and Tom Hardy had their fair share of tension on Mad Max: Fury Road. Making a movie can be challenging as it brings stress to both the cast and crew.

Although Margaret Qualley discovered that her mother and the actor from “Stripes” had a strained relationship in the past, she remained optimistic about setting them up due to her belief that they could still find common ground. Here’s the actress’ explanation as to why they might still be compatible today:

In my humble opinion as a film critic, these two characters reside in the enchanting city of Charleston, carrying an undeniable animosity towards each other. Yet, it seems like our male protagonist might be making attempts to mend their relationship. However, both are single, unpredictable individuals, which adds an intriguing layer to their storyline.

Fast forward, I suggested that if he’s serious about connecting with me, he should reach out and ask for a meeting with my mother. If he possesses even a modicum of intelligence, he would consider himself the luckiest man on earth for such an opportunity.

It’s intriguing to think about what kind of romantic tale could unfold! It’s not unheard of for stars who once worked together to find love years later, like Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis from “That 70’s Show”, whose romance blossomed six years after their sitcom ended. And let’s not forget about Freddie Prinze Jr. and Sarah Michelle Gellar who fell in love three years after collaborating on “I Know What You Did Last Summer”. So, could the stars of “Groundhog Day” be next to share a love story?

It’s uncertain whether Bill Murray saw Margaret Qualley on The Tonight Show, but if he did, you should know that the Golden Globe nominee endorses dating her mother. If you’re interested in reliving the chemistry between the comedy duo from Groundhog Day, you can find the time-loop comedy movie on Netflix with your subscription.

In this paraphrase, I tried to maintain the original meaning while using more natural and easy-to-read language. The sentence structure is simpler, and some of the word choices have been adjusted to make it easier for readers to understand. Additionally, the emphasis on the endorsement from Margaret Qualley and the availability of Groundhog Day on Netflix has been highlighted in the revised version.

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2025-08-15 23:13