Margaret Qualley Discusses Taking ‘New Risks’ for Her Role in Horror Sci-Fi Film “The Substance”
Margaret Qualley, known for her roles in the Oscar-winning comedy/fantasy Poor Things and Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood, is venturing into new territory with the recent horror sci-fi film The Substance. In an interview with PEOPLE, she shared the challenges she faced playing the role of Sue—a younger version of Demi Moore’s character, Elisabeth Sparkle.
Qualley found portraying her complex, hypersexualized character in the film to be a challenging but intentional departure from her usual roles. The body horror film features nudity and explicit scenes as the two characters share the same conscience and inject themselves with an illegal serum.
Despite the challenges, Qualley recognized the importance of nudity and obscenity in serving the story. She saw it as a necessary road to bring the film to life and embraced the challenge it presented.
As an actor, Qualley believes it is important to push one’s limits to keep things interesting and exciting. She views facing discomfort and vulnerability as opportunities for growth and self-discovery.
Qualley praised the film for its universality and the connection between her character and Moore’s character, Elisabeth. Both characters seek youth, fame, and recognition—reflecting societal ideals of success and validation.
Qualley acknowledged that her character, Sue, presents a version of herself to the world that may not be entirely true, but she recognizes the hidden attributes within herself. The film explores themes of identity and self-perception as a fading celebrity seeks a temporary transformation using a black-market drug.
The Substance is currently playing in theaters.