Margaret Qualley on Why She Wanted the ‘Naked Stuff’ in ‘The Substance’ Done Early

In The Substance, Demi Moore plays Elisabeth Sparkle, a former Oscar-winning actress who now hosts a daytime fitness show. When Elisabeth is unexpectedly fired by a buffoonish executive, portrayed by Dennis Quaid, she turns to an experimental substance in a desperate attempt to regain her lost youth and beauty. This mysterious injection transforms her into a “younger, more beautiful, more perfect” version of herself named Sue, played by Margaret Qualley. The transformation brings along a whirlwind of gore and nudity.

Lots of nudity.

In a recent interview, Margaret Qualley shared her extensive preparation for her role in The Substance. The training over several months had a surprising impact on her physique. She noted, “We’re representing perfect, right? And the movie has a pretty inspired message. So I also thought it was important for that perfect to be healthy, even if it’s unrealistic.” She quipped about the film’s demands, particularly the nude scenes, “I’m fortunate that the naked stuff was at the top because throughout the five months my ass was just slowly deflating.”

Demi Moore humorously remarked, “I did admire how round Margaret’s ass was.”

Qualley, who also has a background as a trained ballerina, reflected on the challenges of filming an elaborate dance sequence for this body horror film. “It’s more of a challenge than I realized, pretending to feel hot when you don’t feel hot,” she acknowledged. “I practiced that dance incessantly, every day, until we shot it because it’s so far outside of the way my body moves. But I really enjoyed pushing myself to figure it out.”

The film, directed by Coralie Fargeat, is set to open on September 20.

Source: Los Angeles Times