Margaret Qualley has openly discussed the fears she faced early in her acting career, revealing concerns that
“women would hate me and men would hurt me,”
which deeply affected her approach to acting. The 31-year-old actress shared these thoughts in a Vanity Fair cover story published on February 12, reflecting on the stressors that accompanied her start in the industry as a teenager. These moments shaped her fears and caused her to hold back aspects of her true self while navigating the acting world.
Qualley, the daughter of actress Andie MacDowell and Paul Qualley, began her film career with the 2013 movie Palo Alto before her 20th birthday. Since then, she has built a robust filmography with 39 credits across films, television, and music videos, including notable performances in 2019’s Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood and 2024’s The Substance. This year, she will appear in the February 20 release, How to Make a Killing, and later in August, she stars with Jacob Elordi in Ridley Scott’s The Dog Stars.
Building Confidence and Embracing Femininity
As her career has progressed, Qualley has gradually found greater control over her identity and self-expression. Reflecting on this evolution, she said,
“Gradually, now that I feel like I have more control of my life, I can kind of lean more into the sensual and the feminine,”
highlighting a newfound comfort in embracing these qualities. She also attributed part of this growth to her husband, musician Jack Antonoff, whom she married in 2023.
Regarding his influence, Qualley shared,
“Jack has helped me for sure, because he has made me feel more confident to explore all the parts of myself,”
and added a broader perspective, saying,
“But I’m also thinking about Mother Earth and the divine feminine and surrender. Those are the things I’m trying to lean into, that moment in my life.”
Recent and Upcoming Acting Projects
Margaret Qualley has maintained a busy schedule, appearing in three feature films in 2024 with three more slated for 2025, along with voice roles in video games and multiple music video appearances. She continues to expand her range, with two additional films planned for 2026. This month, she stars alongside Glen Powell in How to Make a Killing, followed by her role opposite Jacob Elordi in the highly anticipated The Dog Stars, which opens in theaters on August 28.
Qualley on Professional Drive and Project Choices
Qualley described herself as highly competitive and driven, which sometimes leads her to take on more projects than she can comfortably manage. She admitted,
“I’m supercompetitive with myself, and I’m very driven,”
then added,
“I have learned the lesson of my eyes being too big for my stomach professionally. That means taking all the opportunities I can get and then crashing and feeling like I have a schedule I can’t keep up with.”
She also reflected candidly on some of her past work, referring to certain movies and series as “mistakes” in hindsight, clarifying her meaning:
“When I say mistakes, I don’t mean it was the wrong thing, I mean I wouldn’t do it again,”
showing a nuanced understanding of her evolving career decisions.
Margaret Qualley’s Journey and Its Broader Impact
Qualley’s openness about the personal fears and pressures behind her acting journey reveals the often unseen emotional challenges young actors face. By confronting and overcoming these insecurities, she not only strengthens her own confidence but also becomes a voice for others navigating similar struggles in the entertainment industry. With several upcoming releases this year and beyond, her career trajectory suggests an artist fully stepping into her power while exploring the many facets of her identity both on and off screen.
