Margaret Qualley, following in the footsteps of her mother Andie MacDowell, smoothly transitioned from the world of fashion to the big screen, carving out a name for herself with a series of compelling performances. Margaret began making waves early on, stepping into acting with standout roles in Palo Alto (2013), HBO’s The Leftovers (2014–), and the stylish noir thriller The Nice Guys (2016). Growing up in Asheville, North Carolina, Margaret was immersed in the arts from a young age—first as a dedicated ballerina training at prestigious institutions like the American Ballet Theatre and the French Academy in New York, and later as a model who made her debut at New York Fashion Week at just 16, walking for Alberta Ferretti.
But while dance and modeling offered promising paths, Margaret soon realized her true passion lay elsewhere. Choosing art over routine, she turned down an apprenticeship with the North Carolina Dance Theater and instead focused on acting, attending New York’s Professional Children’s School and later honing her craft at London’s esteemed Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. That decision proved pivotal. Margaret landed her breakout role as Raquel, the magnetic love rival to Emma Roberts’ character, in Gia Coppola’s Palo Alto—a moody coming-of-age film adapted from James Franco’s short story collection.
Not long after, Margaret made a strong impression as Jill Garvey, the emotionally complex teenage daughter of Justin Theroux’s character, in HBO’s haunting series The Leftovers. Around the same time, she enrolled at New York University, balancing her academic pursuits with a rising career. Margaret continued building momentum with a memorable turn in The Nice Guys (2016), starring alongside Russell Crowe and Ryan Gosling as Amelia, a mysterious teen whose disappearance unravels a dark conspiracy in 1970s Los Angeles.
As her reputation grew, so did her range. Margaret starred in the intense drama Novitiate (2017), followed by appearances in Death Note and The Vanishing of Sidney Hall, both released the same year. She then took on leading roles in the sci-fi film IO (2018) and the modern adaptation of Richard Wright’s Native Son (2019). But it was her performance in Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2019) that truly cemented Margaret Qualley as a versatile and fearless talent—one who wasn’t afraid to take risks or redefine her path. And through it all, Margaret has remained grounded, steadily evolving from dancer and model into one of the most captivating actresses of her generation.
When it comes to Margaret Qualley’s filmography, fans and critics alike have taken notice of her standout performances over the years. Among her body of work, Margaret Qualley’s highest rated project to date is Blue Moon (2025), which has received widespread acclaim for its storytelling and her compelling performance. The film marked a major milestone in Margaret Qualley’s career, showcasing her range and depth as an actress. On the other end of the spectrum, one of her more underwhelming releases was The Vanishing of Sidney Hall (2017), which garnered significantly lower ratings and mixed reviews upon release. While it still features Margaret Qualley in a notable role, it hasn’t resonated as strongly with audiences or critics. Overall, tracking Margaret Qualley’s journey through these films highlights both her successes and the occasional misstep — a natural part of any evolving career in Hollywood.