Margaret Qualley Talks Working With Demi Moore on ‘The Substance’

In Coralie Fargeat’s physique horror shocker The Substance, Demi Moore stars as Elisabeth Sparkle, a former A-lister who’s unceremoniously fired from her health TV present by a loathsome studio boss, performed by Dennis Quaid. Feeling defeated, Sparkle can’t resist the draw of an experimental new drug referred to as that guarantees to disclose a youthful and even higher model of herself.

If you happen to’ve seen the trailer, then what occurs subsequent: Sparkle takes the leap, injects herself with the mysterious liquid and actually births the brand new and improved Elizabeth Sparkle — referred to as Sue and performed by Margaret Qualley — out of her spinal twine. The one rule for the physique swap is that they have to spend one week in a single physique and one week within the different with no exceptions. For sure, drama and shocks unfold in fast succession.

Regardless of the trauma onscreen, Moore and Qualley say their time collectively couldn’t have been sweeter. “We instantly had a figuring out of one another that required little or no dialog, and it got here with full ease,” Moore defined to The Hollywood Reporter on the movie’s L.A. premiere on the Administrators Guild on Monday evening. “It’s a uncommon factor that occurs and I believe we each simply understood [one another].”

Doubling down on their level, Qualley completed Moore’s thought throughout a quick joint interview. “Demi is a kind of those that makes you’re feeling like her instantly as a result of she’s so heat and open and simply so herself. It was an absolute pleasure working together with her and with the ability to maintain her hand whereas strolling by the fireplace.”

To seek out out what she means by hearth, you’ll have to take a look at The Substance when it opens this weekend courtesy of Mubi. However as regards to reveals, Fargeat was clear throughout her purple carpet interview that she made positive to not go away any tips up her sleeve when she pitched the film to Moore a number of years again.

“I actually wished to ensure that she one hundred pc understood the film earlier than leaping in,” defined the Revenge auteur. “I wished her to know precisely the kind of filmmaking it could be, the extent of nudity that the half required, the circumstances of taking pictures an indie movie in France and the size of the manufacturing. I wished to ensure that she had a really clear image in her thoughts in order that she may make the best resolution for herself and for the movie.”

To her shock, Moore agreed and Fargeat mentioned she couldn’t have discovered a extra collaborative and fearless associate on the movie, which has screened at festivals in Cannes and Toronto forward of its extensive launch. “I found somebody that I didn’t knew earlier than, somebody who could be very rock and roll, very instinctive, very danger taking and really innovating,” Fargeat praised of her main girl. “She thinks out of the field, and extra importantly, she has very robust instincts. And I believe she felt just like the movie was one thing particular, that it was one thing very new for her. However that would deliver one thing very robust if it was succeeded to be good.

Fargeat continued: “Demi simply went for it. She mentioned, ‘Let’s go.’ She doesn’t care anymore and is having an ‘I don’t give a fuck second.’”