Margaret Qualley, who rose to fame in films such as the Oscar-winning comedy/fantasy Poor Things and 2019’s Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood, is stepping out of her comfort zone with the recent horror sci-fi film The Substance. Speaking to PEOPLE, the actress explained why she found the role of Sue – a younger version of her co-star Demi Moore’s character Elizabeth Sparkle – challenging.
Her character, who is hypersexualized throughout the film, is complicated to portray, but that’s what Qualley wants. “I think I’ve consciously taken another direction over the course of my career,” she told the outlet. The body horror film features plenty of nudity and explicit scenes, as two women who share the same conscience inject themselves with an illegal serum.
The actress said, “I knew it would be a big challenge for me.” However, she also admitted that the nudity and obscenity serves a greater purpose for the story. She added, “You have to find a way to make this story come alive. And I was excited about the challenge.”
After all, as an actor, it’s important to push your boundaries to keep things interesting and exciting. “I think at the end of the day, when you face a person’s discomfort, their fear, you gain more of yourself,” she said. “I don’t really see it as fear, but just as vulnerability.”
Praising her film, Qualley explained its universality and the connection between her and Moore’s characters. Both Elizabeth and Sue yearn for youth, fame, and recognition – everything society seeks. “We’ve all chosen different parts of ourselves to present to the world, highlight them, how you want people to see you,” she explained.
Qualley said her character, Sue, presents a version of herself to the world that may not be entirely true to herself. However, the characteristics she tries to hide are present deep inside her. According to the official synopsis, the film “revolves around a fading celebrity who decides to use a black-market drug, a cell-replicating substance that temporarily creates a younger, improved version of herself.”
The Substance is in theaters now.
