Margaret Qualley Talks ‘Surreal’ Experience of Pulling Double Duty at Cannes with ‘Kinds of Kindness’ and ‘The Substance’
variety.comAngelique Jackson “Surreal.” That’s the best way Margaret Qualley can sum up her experience at the Cannes Film Festival this year, as one of the only actors to star in not one, but two films premiering in competition — Yorgos Lanthimos’ bizarre black comedy “Kinds of Kindness” and Coralie Fargeat’s feminist body horror thriller “The Substance.” This is Qualley’s third time at Cannes.
For her first, in 2012, she walked the red carpet with her mother, Andie MacDowell; the second was in 2022, where she starred opposite Joe Alwyn in Claire Denis’ “Stars at Noon,” making her Cannes debut as an actor. “I’m the luckiest person,” Qualley told Variety about her various experiences at the festival. “First time was a baby.
I was deer in the headlights. I didn’t know what I wanted to do with myself or my life or how to do it.” On that second trip, as a rising star and Chanel ambassador (and newly engaged to now-husband Jack Antonoff), she felt much more confident.
Plus there was the Denis factor. “I absolutely adore Claire. She was a fearless leader in the whole thing. Having her to look up to and lead the way was absolutely spectacular,” Qualley added. “Now with these two movies — I just feel super lucky and am trying to enjoy every single step of the way.” For this trip to Cannes, Qualley donned a handful of couture Chanel designs and high fashion jewelry for the “Kinds of Kindness” and “The Subtance” press events.
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