Margaret Qualley continues to captivate audiences with her compelling performances, including her latest film, Honey Don’t!, released in theaters this weekend. This marks her second starring role within the Ethan Coen and Tricia Cooke lesbian B-movie trilogy, following 2024’s Drive-Away Dolls. Qualley impresses as a private investigator reminiscent of classic detectives like Philip Marlowe, embodying a lineage that stretches from Humphrey Bogart to Elliott Gould. Her journey into complex, daring roles has helped cement her reputation as a rising A-list star.
Breakthrough Performance in Contemporary Horror
Last year, Qualley received significant acclaim for her role in the body horror film The Substance, for which she earned a Golden Globe nomination. She portrayed Sue, a younger, more volatile version of Elisabeth Sparkle‘s character, who emerges to wreak havoc on her life. Directed by Coralie Fargeat, the film also features Demi Moore in a fierce performance as an aging actress. The Substance is available for streaming on Mubi or for rent, demonstrating Qualley’s skill in navigating intense, genre-defying roles that elevate her presence in film.
Noteworthy Collaborations and Varied Characters
Qualley’s career reflects a deliberate choice to work with visionary directors and explore challenging characters. Her first collaboration with Cooke and Coen, Drive-Away Dolls, is a sapphic crime comedy showcasing her Southern accent and charm as a lesbian lothario caught up in a sex scandal after taking possession of a rental car with a valuable package in the trunk. Audiences can stream this film on Peacock or rent it digitally.
In 2023, she joined the cast of Yorgos Lanthimos’s Oscar-winning film Poor Things alongside Emma Stone. Though her role was minor, it paved the way for a bigger part in Lanthimos’s follow-up, Kinds of Kindness, a triptych exploring themes of identity, sexuality, and the body. Viewers can stream Kinds of Kindness on Hulu or rent Poor Things across digital platforms.
Qualley also starred in the 2022 film Sanctuary, playing a dominatrix opposite Christopher Abbott. This stylish drama, written by Micah Bloomberg and directed by Zachary Wigon, examines power dynamics within intimate relationships and is available for streaming on Hulu or for rental.
Television and Stage Accolades Reflect Her Range
In addition to film, Qualley earned two Emmy nominations for her television work. She starred in Netflix’s critically acclaimed series Maid (2021), where her real-life mother, Andie MacDowell, portrayed her on-screen mother. She also appeared in the Broadway biopic series Fosse/Verdon (2019), which featured Sam Rockwell as Bob Fosse and Michelle Williams as Gwen Verdon. Qualley played Ann Reinking, a celebrated dancer involved with Fosse, who also starred in his autobiographical film All That Jazz. The series can be streamed on Hulu.
Early Film Roles that Marked Her Emergence
Qualley made a memorable impression in 2019 with Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time… In Hollywood, portraying a young Manson follower who captivates Brad Pitt’s stuntman character, Cliff Booth, and leads him to Spahn Ranch. This role is available for rental on all major digital platforms.
Her earlier indie performances display her versatility. In Tim Sutton’s gritty 2018 drama Donnybrook, Qualley portrays Delia, the sister of a meth-dealing antagonist, opposite Jamie Bell’s fighter preparing for a bare-knuckle boxing match. The film streams on Kanopy and is available for rent elsewhere. The prior year, she appeared in Maggie Betts’ Novitiate (2017) as a novice nun struggling with convent life’s strictures. This title is available for rental across streaming platforms.
Margaret Qualley’s Growing Legacy and Future Prospects
Margaret Qualley’s carefully curated career choices highlight her commitment to complex and unconventional roles, which has garnered both critical recognition and audience admiration. With multiple nominations and projects alongside acclaimed directors like Coralie Fargeat and Yorgos Lanthimos, she has secured a solid position on Hollywood’s A-list. Her willingness to explore distinctive characters — from mysterious detectives to troubled young women — underlines her expanding range and continued potential. As she takes on new projects, audiences can expect Qualley to further establish herself as one of the most intriguing talents in film and television today.
