By james art 
After over 40 years in Hollywood and raising three children, Andy McDowell settled for a much simpler life outside Los Angeles.
“I’m happier now than I’ve been in a long time,” McDowell, 66, said during a recent appearance on “The Drew Barrymore Show.”
“I moved to South Carolina and really took care of myself. It took me forever,” she added. “After my kids left, I felt this huge void in my life because they were so important to me.”
ANDIE MACDOWELL, 66, DIAGNOSED WITH A PAINFUL NEUROMUSCULAR DISORDER
Andi McDowell said she is much “happier” after leaving Los Angeles for South Carolina. (Todd Owyoung/NBC via Getty Images)
The actress shares three children with ex-husband Paul Qualley – daughters Margaret and Rainey, along with their son Justin.
“Everything changes, it’s a difficult change,” she admitted. “You hear a lot of mothers… are happy… they’re free… I didn’t have that feeling,
McDowell said her daughter Margaret was the inspiration behind the move and the change in mindset.
“Margaret was really telling me I should have had the time of my life, but I didn’t,” she told Barrymore. “But now I am. Now I’m having the time of my life. It’s really good.”
Barrymore, who is a mother of two, asked McDowell if she would be willing to walk her through the process after becoming an empty nester.
McDowell said her daughter Margaret made her leave LA. (Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for the National Women’s History Museum)
“I’ll tell you what not to do,” McDowell said. “Come to me because I have all the information on how not to waste your time. How to cope and have a good time. I’ll tell you.’
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During his appearance, McDowell also revealed that he is battling a painful neuromuscular disorder.
“I have piriformis syndrome, so it’s a muscle that presses on my sciatic nerve and it was shooting down my leg,” McDowell revealed.
“I thought I was going to have a hip replacement – thank God my hips are fine,” she said.
Andy McDowell’s career has spanned over 40 years. (Dave Kotinsky/Getty Images for Hallmark Media)
Piriformis syndrome occurs when your piriformis muscle presses on the sciatic nerve and causes inflammation. It can cause pain or numbness in the buttocks and back of the leg. It can happen on one side of your body or both, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
The veteran actress added that she practiced daily exercises to tone it down any pain.
“I need to work out my little butt and my thighs. I need to work my butt and thighs. I just do it every day … it doesn’t hurt anymore … it’s a miracle,” McDowell said.
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Stephanie Zhang-Paunon of Fox News Digital contributed to this post.