Margaret Qualley has played some gritty characters – and her latest role in new ‘body horror’ film The Substance is no different. In it, the 29-year-old shines a light on ageism, beauty standards and misogyny alongside Hollywood legend Demi Moore, whose part in the film is being billed as a comeback.
Qualley plays Sue, the perfect and ageless version of Moore’s Elisabeth Sparkle, a celebrity who, by society’s standards, is past her use-by date in a physical sense.
Sue is born when Elisabeth decides to take a black market drug that temporarily morphs her into a youthful and better version of herself. However, the side effects are horrifying.
Written and directed by Coralie Fargeat, and also starring Dennis Quaid, The Substance received a 13-minute standing ovation at this year’s Cannes Film Festival, where it premiered.
Qualley was there with Moore to soak up the applause.
Here, WHO chats to Qualley about making herself physically “perfect” for the role, working alongside Moore and where she sees herself at Moore’s age.
The film explores themes of ageism, beauty standards and misogyny. Being in the movie industry, can you relate to the criticisms it makes about the industry?
I don’t know. I came up under the school of, like, in order for people to take you seriously, you’ve got to be able to look like anything. You’ve got to be able to do anything, right? Don’t be pretty, don’t wear makeup, like, dirt under your fingernails kind of feeling. And I’ve been lucky to have parts that didn’t really rely on beauty as a part of the plot. So something like this was actually super scary for me to take on. It was a real challenge. But just because that’s been my experience doesn’t mean that these aren’t global issues, because they’re totally global issues. Like there’s a Botox place every … it’s like Starbucks, you know? So I know this is something we’re all dealing with. I know that ageing has been used against women like a weapon.
Your character, Sue, represents youth and beauty and fighting ageing. Was playing a role like this confronting?
I faced so many uncomfortable thoughts about the beauty standard whilst playing Sue. It was harder than I ever imagined because I wasn’t playing to my idea of perfect, I was playing to Coralie’s idea – the director’s idea of perfect. So I was trying to, you know, physically embody something that was unattainable. I was having things glued on me and taped on me and pulled and tightened. It was totally uncharted territory for me. And I think it’s called body horror for a reason (laughs).
What was it like working alongside Demi Moore?
Demi and I were just total teammates throughout this whole movie – still are. So I think more than anything what we needed from each other was just each other’s support, just having each other’s back and holding each other’s hand as we walked through this.
You mentioned it was tough playing this part, but you do tend to choose quite difficult things.
I know, what’s the problem? What’s the matter with me (laughs)? Why do I do this to myself?
So do you love challenges or are you in such a comfortable place that you know you can put yourself out there. You’ve certainly got guts.
Thank you. I’m glad you think so. I think, honestly, I really wanted to be taken seriously. And I think that actresses, in particular, are sometimes told that in order to be taken seriously, you have to be able to go there, right? And so, I love my job. I want to do this well. So I’ve been trying to push myself to go there in whatever ways needed. At the same time, I don’t know that that always makes for the best results, so maybe I should be a little bit more cautious as I’m choosing the road to go down (laughs). But yeah, here I am.
You’ve said it was a tough shoot due to the subject matter. How did you take care of your mental health?
While I was making this movie, in the beginning, I was really working on this physical transformation. I really wanted the character, if I’m representing perfect, I wanted perfect to be strong, to be a healthy person. So I was going to the gym a lot and working out with a trainer. And then at a certain point, I started thinking about her headspace and the painlessness you would have if you were just arriving on this planet at age 26, which was how old I was. I started doing a lot of yoga and trying to find some inner peace and also physical peace within my body, like alignment.
You’re turning 30 this year. How do you imagine yourself, your life, your career at age 50 or 60? Like Demi?
I have no idea. I’ve been acting for just over 10 years now. I started when I was 18. But the first chapter of my life, I was a dancer and I didn’t think I was going to be an actress. And now I’m an actress and I love my job and I feel like there’s a lot more for me to do. I’m learning every day.
So you wouldn’t want to be put aside at age 50?
Oh, put aside? No, I’m not even thinking that’s an option. I was thinking like, yeah, who the heck knows? I think maybe the only person that can put you aside is yourself. I won’t put myself aside.
The Substance is in cinemas on September 19.
By Jason Adams
