Margaret Qualley is our most adventurous young star

This year alone, Margaret Qualley played a free-spirited lesbian pursued by gangsters; identical twins who both meet violent ends; and the host of a fitness show who turns everyone she meets into the Tex Avery wolf before turning into something unexpected herself. These films – Crime Comedy Drive-Away Dollsabsurd anthology Types of kindnessand body horror satire The substance – have little in common other than the fearless performances of Qualley, Hollywood's most adventurous young star.

When did you first become aware of Margaret Qualley? Was it on Netflix? maidwhich earned her Emmy and Golden Globe nominations? Or was it earlier? Maybe in FX's Fosse/Verdon like the celebrated dancer Ann Reinking or the missing Amelia (the one with the striking yellow dress) in The nice guysor Manson Family member “Pussycat” in Once upon a time in Hollywood?

For me it was The remainsHer character, the disillusioned daughter Jill Garvey, had the most screen time in season 1, which is known to be the weakest season of the series. But even before that The remains Qualley miraculously crafted one of HBO's great dramas and made such a big impression that if you could invest in the careers of young actors and actresses, I would have put all my money on her becoming a movie star.

That investment would have paid off: Qualley has quickly gone from being a standout ensemble performer to one of the most sought-after actresses (and a rare good Nepo baby). She has a screen presence that is absolutely of the moment, but also an old-fashioned grace; like Qualley's Huntington Co-star Glen Powell raved The New York Times“She reminds you of one of those actresses from the golden era of Hollywood. She manages to open up in a way that is just magnetic.” The poor And Types of kindness Director Yorgos Lanthimos was equally effusive in his praise of Qualley. “She is willing to try things without questioning anything,” he said Harper’s Bazaar“and she loves to explore.”

Qualley's willingness to do anything is reflected throughout her filmography. She is a dominatrix in refuge; an ethically questionable journalist in Stars at noon; a walking corpse, half child, half adult in The poor; four different characters in Types of kindness; and in the coming Honey, nota private detective alongside Chris Evans and Aubrey Plaza. Her boldness also extends to television shows (The remains, Fosse/Verdon, maid), video games (Hideo Kojima's Death Stranding), music videos and even choreographed commercials.

But The substance is Qualley's bravest – and arguably best – role yet. She plays Sue, the “younger, prettier” version of Demi Moore's fitness presenter Elisabeth Sparkle. She is born, so to speak, after Elisabeth injects herself with a mysterious drug called “The Substance” after being fired from her job on her 50th birthday. The green goo is free, but it has one major side effect: Elisabeth and Sue must switch bodies every seven days, or else… I'm leaving the “or else…” vague because I don't want to spoil the wild third act of director Coralie Fargeat's body horror masterpiece, but even if you… The substance Even if you're disgusted by what you just witnessed, it's impossible not to be impressed by Qualley's (and Moore's) dedication to the cause.

In less than a decade, Qualley has worked with many of the industry's best directors, including Fargeat, Quentin Tarantino, Yorgos Lanthimos, Claire Denis, Shane Black, and soon Richard Linklater. It's a mutually beneficial relationship: The filmmaker gets an actress who's comfortable with silly comedy, high drama, kinky sexuality, and whatever else she can throw at her; and Qualley feels comfortable working with someone who gives her the freedom to play “fucking freaks.”

Margaret Qualley once described acting as “terrifying and entertaining,” and that's why she “fell in love with it.” And we fell in love with her as an actress because she took on terrifying and adventurous roles and made them look so entertaining.