Why I Admire Margaret Qualley’s Bold Choices This Year

Margaret Qualley ’s work this year has been a delightful surprise for me.

I first got to know her through her earlier roles. At that time, she was the typical blithe, sweet type, as seen in Maid and My Salinger Year, where she played textbook examples of the Hollywood “good girl”. In Maid, she played a young mother suffering from the violence of her father and ex-husband, fighting for independence for both herself and her daughter. In My Salinger Year, she portrayed an innocent publishing intern engaging in charming exchanges with the legendary author J.D. Salinger.

However, since her collaboration with Yorgos Lanthimos in Poor Things last year, she´s started to move away from that path. This year, she’s completely shattered her previous image, starring in two provocative European films: Kinds of Kindness and The Substance.

Let’s start with her role in Kinds of Kindness. Though not the lead, her character in this film is miles away from her earlier roles. She’s no longer the sweet, innocent girl-next-door, but a complex, sexual neurotic torn between emotional turmoil and sensual desires. What struck me the most was how the film, unlike typical Hollywood narratives, doesn’t pass moral judgment on her character. Instead, it delves deep into her loneliness, yearning, and struggles. This kind of portrayal is almost unimaginable in American cinema, which tends to impose clear moral lines. Europe films, however, are less concerned about that, allowing for the blatant presence of sensuality as a means of character development, not as a gimmick.

The Substance is another prime example of this, where her performance is even more explicit and challenges my expectations. Her role isn’t just “sexy” in the usual sense—it’s a full-blown metamorphosis from beauty to grotesque. In this intense portrayal of sex, power, and desires, Qualley dives headfirst into a unsparing portrayal. The film doesn’t shy away from graphic nudity and gore, with shots focusing on her body as a canvas for both beauty and horror. There are jarring close-ups of her pulling out teeth and nails, or walking in a distorted, sickly manner. These viscerally unsettling moments are a stark departure from anything she’s done before, yet they highlight her ability to convey deep emotional turmoil through her physicality.

I can’t help but compare her to other young Hollywood actresses today. Many are gravitating toward the “heroine” archetype, adopting a strong, tough persona that have become the go-to template in mainstream cinema. Take Cailee Spaeny and Kirsten Dunst in Civil War for instance. The two women dominate the storyline, while the men, like Joel (the reporter) and Sammy (the disabled older man), either play secondary roles or serve to elevate the female protagonists. And Daisy Edgar-Jones , too, in Twisters—she’s the one who saves the village, while the two male leads exist mainly to fawn over her. Then there’s Anya Taylor-Joy in Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga. Her role is full of raw energy, with a nearly invincible, fearless aura.

These roles undoubtedly have their value—they showcase strong, independent women who are symbols of empowerment. But in an era where this trend is so prevalent, Margaret Qualley’s choice to not follow this path makes her stand out. She’s not trying to be the flawless, unbreakable heroine. Instead, she’s embracing more complex and more challenging roles that delve into emotional and physical extremes.

I can’t help but admire her courage in taking this route. She could’ve easily continued playing the “sweet girl” or, like her peers, shifted into an invincible heroine role. But instead, she chose the riskier, more challenging path. Her performances in The Substance and Kinds of Kindness showcase her remarkable potential as an actress, moving beyond the confines of her initial image to explore vulnerability and complexity of human nature.

This is quite a bold choice. Explicit performances are always controversial, and European cult films are always challenging for actors. But Qualley’s willingness to challenge herself and portray the darker, more complex sides of humanity shows her dedication to her career. For me, she’s successfully shed her past labels and become a far more multi-dimensional and intriguing performer.

In today’s Hollywood, where political correctness and market acceptance often dominate, Margaret Qualley’s decisions to veer off the safe, beaten path make her a rare exception. She’s not opting for roles that guarantee broad appeal or easy accolades. Instead, she’s choosing to challenge both herself and her audience. And for that, I deeply admire her.

I can’t wait to see what she does next. If she continues down this unconventional path, I’m sure she’ll continue to surprise and inspire us with even more daring performances.

Catch you later for more movie musings!