 Acoma and have a suitcase full of day-night ensembles Chanel and a bunch of famous friends for “promoters,” the Cannes Film Festival experience for the upcoming actress Margaret Qualley remained torn between shock and awe.
“It’s too bad,” he admitted at our meeting at the Hotel “Carlton” on the Croisette, “but it means a lot to me to be here, I wish there was a film in the festival. I am not underestimating what a special event this is. My favorite moments aren’t the overly inspiring ones, though.
The film he is referring to is, of course, the “Stories of Goodness» said Giorgos Lanthimoswhich had its world premiere at the Festival and walked away with the Best Actor award for Jesse Plemons, who was joined by frequent collaborators of the director such as Emma Stone, Willem Dafoe, Joe Alwyn and Margaret Qualley herself.
Fortune favors the young American on many levels, starting with -obviously- genetics (his mother is ’90s star Andy McDowell, and his father is ex-model Paul Quaelly) to the personal: in his 30 years found the love of his human life in the music producer and composer Jack Antonoff, whom he married last summer in a ceremony in New Jersey that caused chaos in the area, which was closed the streets and thousands of fans flocked to the wedding restaurant to see up close the most famous guest, Taylor Swift, but other friends of the couple, such as Zoe Kravits, Lana Del Ray, Cara Delevinge and Channing Tatum.
As for the steps that brought him in front of the camera, they started at the age of 4 in the form of ballet lessons (Finished studying it), they went through modeling (he described it as lonely and difficult, so he gave it up quickly) and They ended up with small roles in movies and friend series (with HBO’s “The Leftovers” being the most important), until the chance that changed everything.
“I think Quentin Tarantino did me a big favor with ‘Once Upon a Time in Hollywood’ and that opened a lot of doors for me.”he said, referring to his appearance as a member of the Manson Family in the 2019 film.
“Soon after, I worked with Claire Denny (sic: of Stars At Noon) who saw the film in Venice. I know it helped. I’ll take her help anytime.”
“Kindness Stories” was shot in New Orleans and is essentially the comedown from “Poor Things,” in which Quaelly had a brief but memorable role. With two films from the Oscar-nominated director under his belt, he can boast that he is part of perhaps the most exclusive circle of actors in Hollywood.
“Besides working with himone of the great gifts that George’s films have is the cast he manages to assemble»he enthusiastically declared. “These are my favorite actors, I admire them and I’m happy that I see every day how they work and how they do their best. I try to learn as much as I can from everyone and from George, of course”.
In the modular film, which consists of three self-contained chapters, Quaelly plays 4 different charactersbut he had already decided within himself who he felt closer to: with Ruth, the enigmatic vet who becomes an important figure in the third story.
“She is optimistic and sweet”he said with a smile. “From what I’ve seen, George gives more love to animal relationships, as well as the harsher aspects of humanity, but caring and loving animals is a path and Ruth expresses that. Even if it is far from reality, it is the most beautiful part of humanity, a presence of love.”
Quaelly describes the filming process like a free fall for himTRIALS “diversify and hope they succeed”. He felt he fully understood the film after the official screening at Cannes.
“There is something raw about the filming process and I feel vulnerable and exposed as an actor in this film, something I have to accept. The movie talks about control over and over again, but that’s what being an artist is all about, like losing control and trying to fit into the world the director has created. In “Stories of Goodness” I feel like a painting he painted (ss: Lanthimos), In a sense. It’s not every day that I show up on set with endless confidence and trust that I tear up. There is no such feeling, it is something malleable and fluid. What I have learned is that this uncertainty is healthy. Just because something is uncomfortable doesn’t mean it’s bad.”
However, he quickly explains that, despite the strange pleasure he derives from the Lanthmic universe, he does not embrace its cynicism and nihilism. “I’m more optimistic than him George»he stated confidently. “The film does not show my worldview, but his. I am just a character in it and I am very happy to be a part of his worldview. He is very talented. I learned a lot, but his , not mine, the world’s interpretation.”
In addition to “Kindness Stories,” Quaelly has a second film in Cannes Competition (although on the day of our interview it had not aired): “The Substance” with Demi Moore, a satire on Hollywood’s unrelenting obsession with eternal youth, which quickly turns into horrific body horror. One can’t help but wonder why our charming, optimistic interlocutor chooses darkness for his film appearances.
“I’m not actively looking for extras. I like to do something light, give me a Titanic or a romantic comedy please (laughs). I’m not looking for the difficult, but I’m looking for people who have a vision and want to make a special film, far from the norm.”
This constant search Quaelly was brought to the top of the list of the most sought-after young stars in Hollywood, although she prefers home-cooked dinners with friends and force-feeding coyotes with her sister, Rainey, to clubbing, going out, and red carpets. Perhaps this is, after all, his own story of kindness.