Margaret Qualley

Margaret Qualley is an American actress known for her dramatic depth and versatility. She is recognized for her starring roles in the HBO series The Leftovers, the FX miniseries Fosse/Verdon, and the Netflix drama Maid, earning Primetime Emmy and Golden Globe nominations for her work. Qualley has collaborated with acclaimed directors such as Quentin Tarantino and Yorgos Lanthimos, appearing in notable films like Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, Poor Things, and The Substance. She continues to engage audiences with her distinctive performances in a range of challenging film and television projects.[edit]

Born Sarah Margaret Qualley on October 23, 1994, in Kalispell, Montana, USA, her early life was primarily shaped by her upbringing in Asheville, North Carolina. Growing up within a creative household, Qualley was immersed in an environment that fostered artistic expression from a young age. It was here that she first discovered and cultivated a deep passion for ballet, embarking on intensive training that would define her early ambitions. She dedicated herself to formal dance instruction, notably attending the North Carolina School of the Arts, where she refined her classical technique.

Her commitment to ballet propelled her to a significant life change at the age of 14, when she relocated to New York City to further her studies. In the vibrant dance capital, she enrolled at the esteemed School of American Ballet, which serves as the official school of the New York City Ballet, an institution renowned for nurturing world-class dancers. Qualley subsequently continued her rigorous classical training at the American Ballet Theatre's Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School. However, her promising trajectory in the ballet world was abruptly altered at 16 when a debilitating injury brought her dance career to an unforeseen halt. This profound setback became a pivotal turning point, prompting Qualley to channel her artistic drive into a new discipline: acting.

With this shift in focus, Qualley embarked on her journey into the performing arts. Her dedication quickly yielded results, culminating in her professional acting debut in 2013. She secured her first on-screen role in Gia Coppola's independent drama, Palo Alto, marking the initial step in what would become a distinguished career in film and television.[edit]

Qualley made her acting debut in 2013's Palo Alto. She gained wider recognition for her supporting role as Jill Garvey on the HBO series The Leftovers (2014–2017). In 2016, she appeared in the action-comedy The Nice Guys. She starred in the Netflix film Death Note and provided voice and motion-capture for the video game Death Stranding in 2017. Her breakthrough came in 2019 with two major roles: as Ann Reinking in the FX miniseries Fosse/Verdon, which earned her a Primetime Emmy nomination, and as Pussycat in Quentin Tarantino's Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. In 2021, she starred in the Netflix drama Maid, earning another Emmy nomination and a Golden Globe nomination. She later appeared in Yorgos Lanthimos's Poor Things (2023) and Kinds of Kindness (2024), and starred in the body horror film The Substance (2024), which brought her a second Golden Globe nomination. In 2025, she starred in the HBO series The Girls on the Bus and the film Huntington.[edit]

Qualley is often described as a 'nepo baby' due to her mother's fame, but she has earned respect for her range and dramatic depth. Her style is classic with a modern, sometimes whimsical edge. She maintains a relatively private social media presence, often sharing professional work and occasional personal snapshots. Her fans appreciate her authenticity and willingness to take on challenging, unconventional roles.[edit]

Margaret Qualley stands at the center of a quiet but intense cultural moment, her name echoing through industry circles and social feeds alike. As of August 2026, iFANN has evaluated her global standing, and while she commands significant attention for her work in The Leftovers, Fosse/Verdon, and Maid, she currently holds no placement in the published Global Top 1,000 rankings or any scope-specific top lists. This absence of a numeric rank does not diminish her impact; rather, it reflects a career built on selective, high-impact projects rather than the relentless churn required for top-tier algorithmic dominance. Her audience is a mosaic of film enthusiasts and industry observers who track her moves with professional curiosity rather than frenzied devotion. Unlike stars with organized armies, Qualley's fanbase lacks a formal name or documented charter campaigns, birthday billboards, or subway ad drives. Her digital presence remains grounded and low-volume, offering glimpses into her life without the spectacle of a mobilized collective. The narrative around her recently shifted following the confirmed split from musician Jack Antonoff in mid-2026, a development covered extensively by major outlets like E! Online and People. Yet even this high-profile relationship did not spawn viral folklore or legendary crowd reactions. Instead, her return to the set of Possession marked a steady reassertion of her craft. With a major release scheduled for Summer 2027, the anticipation builds not on mythic status but on the promise of another transformative performance. The lack of a named fandom suggests a following that values authenticity over ritual, engaging with her work on its own merits rather than through shared identity markers.[edit]

Before stepping onto Hollywood sets, Margaret Qualley honed her discipline as a competitive Irish dancer during her childhood years. She entered the prestigious School of American Ballet after demonstrating exceptional talent, though she ultimately pivoted toward acting. Her role as Ann Reinking in the FX miniseries Fosse/Verdon was particularly demanding because she possessed zero prior knowledge of Bob Fosse's iconic choreography before taking on the part. Family history runs deep in North Carolina, where her maternal grandfather once served as mayor of Asheville. In a rare display of generational synergy, she and her mother, Andie MacDowell, graced the cover of Vogue together in August 2020. While fans often discuss her relationship with Jack Antonoff, no specific legends or extraordinary crowd reactions have emerged from her public appearances to date. The upcoming remake of Possession represents a significant chapter in her filmography, yet it remains a current project rather than an established piece of cinema folklore. Her journey from ballet student to acclaimed actress is defined by quiet intensity rather than sensational headlines.[edit]

Margaret Qualley is the daughter of actress Andie MacDowell and former model Paul Qualley. She has an older brother, Justin, and a younger sister, Rainey Qualley, who is also an actress and singer. Her parents divorced when she was five, and she was raised primarily in Asheville, North Carolina. As of 2026, she is married to musician and producer Jack Antonoff; they have no children.[edit]

Margaret Qualley is the daughter of actress Andie MacDowell, with whom she appeared in the Netflix series Maid. She is married to musician and producer Jack Antonoff. She has worked with directors Yorgos Lanthimos and Quentin Tarantino, and was in a relationship with actor Shia LaBeouf, whom she met on the set of The Peanut Butter Falcon.[edit]

Qualley dated actor and musician Nat Wolff from 2013 to 2015; they met on the set of Palo Alto. In 2015, she was linked to model and actress Cara Delevingne after they were seen kissing in public, but neither confirmed the relationship. She dated actor Shia LaBeouf from 2019 to 2020; they met on the set of The Peanut Butter Falcon. In 2021, she began dating musician and producer Jack Antonoff. They got engaged in May 2022 and married in a private ceremony in New Jersey in August 2023. As of 2026, they remain married.[edit]

Heading into 2026, iFANN's editorial analysis estimates Margaret Qualley's net worth at $5 Million. This figure reflects her consistent earnings from leading roles in major film and television productions. Primary revenue streams include her acting salaries for projects such as Maid and Fosse/Verdon, alongside income generated from her modeling career and various endorsement deals. Despite her rising profile, there are no publicly known business ventures or real estate holdings attributed to her portfolio. The valuation has climbed steadily since her breakthrough performances, solidifying her financial standing within the entertainment industry.[edit]

Margaret Qualley has received several major award nominations but as of 2026 has not won a competitive award from the Oscars, Golden Globes, Emmys, or SAG Awards. She earned Primetime Emmy nominations for Fosse/Verdon and Maid, and Golden Globe nominations for Maid and The Substance.[edit]