Margaret Qualley in 2025: Emmy Honors, New Films, and a Ballet Star’s Hollywood Reinvention

Margaret Qualley is widely recognised for her transformative journey from a disciplined ballet dancer to one of Hollywood’s most sought-after actresses. Her story embodies ambition, artistry, and authenticity, a modern narrative of personal reinvention and creative triumph.

Family & Early Life

Born Sarah Margaret Qualley on October 23, 1994, in Kalispell, Montana, she is the youngest daughter of renowned actress Andie MacDowell and model-rancher Paul Qualley. The family later settled in North Carolina after her parents’ separation, allowing Margaret to remain close to both her Montana and Carolina roots. Raised alongside siblings Rainey (a singer and actress) and Justin, Margaret’s formative years were steeped in art, performance, and country living.

Early exposure to high society, her debutante appearance at Paris’s Bal des débutantes, showcased her family’s global connections and her poised entrance into the public eye. Margaret’s upbringing inculcated Southern manners and family values that remain evident in her personal life and public persona.

Key Details

Dance & Modeling

Margaret’s first passion was ballet. She trained at the North Carolina School of the Arts and was accepted as an apprentice with New York’s prestigious American Ballet Theatre. The rigour of dance shaped her discipline, posture, and work ethic, building a foundation for her future. However, at sixteen, recognising both the physical demands and her evolving interests, she left ballet, shifting to modelling in New York.

Signing with major agencies, Margaret graced runways at New York Fashion Week and appeared in editorials for high-fashion brands. Modelling taught her versatility, comfort with the spotlight, and the art of self-presentation, skills that became instrumental in her acting career.

Transition to Acting & Breakthrough Roles

Margaret’s move into acting was sudden, spurred by a chance set visit with then-boyfriend Nat Wolff on Gia Coppola’s Palo Alto. This first experience ignited her love for performing, and her big break came as Jill Garvey in HBO’s acclaimed series The Leftovers, a role that revealed her emotional range and on-screen magnetism.

Over the next few years, Margaret’s filmography expanded rapidly:

• The Nice Guys (2016): A rambunctious comedic turn alongside Russell Crowe and Ryan Gosling.
• Novitiate (2017): A deep performance as a conflicted nun-in-training.
• Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood (2019): As “Pussycat,” her enigmatic presence in Tarantino’s blockbuster earned international attention.
• Fosse/Verdon (2019): Portraying dancer Ann Reinking, she received her first Emmy nomination, leveraging her ballet roots for authentic physical acting.
• Maid (2021, Netflix): Margaret starred as a struggling single mother, earning critical praise and another Emmy nomination for her fierce, vulnerable performance.

Her role choices reveal a deliberate preference for challenging, multi-dimensional characters, reflecting both her artistic ambition and her willingness to tackle hard topics.

Achievements & Awards

Margaret Qualley’s gifts have not gone unnoticed. She has been nominated for two Emmys (Fosse/Verdon, Maid), a Golden Globe, SAG ensemble awards for Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood, and numerous Critics’ Choice Awards. With over 50 nominations and several wins, Margaret stands among the top actresses of her generation.

Personal Life, Relationships, and Mindset

Margaret’s approach to relationships has evolved over time. Her early romances, including public relationships with Pete Davidson and Shia LaBeouf, received media attention, but Margaret herself found these experiences isolating. In interviews, she’s candid about the struggle to meet expectations and “be enough.” Her partnership with Grammy-winning musician Jack Antonoff stands out, a union defined by safety, warmth, and authenticity. Married in August 2023, Margaret describes Antonoff as “the person I’ve envisioned my whole life,” suggesting a deep sense of partnership and mutual respect.

Margaret’s Southern values permeate her home life, from traditional touches at her wedding to her continued close-knit bond with her mother, Andie MacDowell, whom she jokes about matchmaking. She is also known for her love of nature, a free spirit, and her constant companion: her dog Smokey.

Controversies

Margaret Qualley’s public image is mostly positive, but she faced backlash at a Chanel event in 2024, where she touched K-pop singer Jennie’s hair and made a comment seen as racially insensitive. The incident drew criticism on social media, raising discussion about microaggressions and expectations for celebrities at global events. Margaret did not issue a detailed public response, and the controversy remains a minor footnote in an otherwise steady career.

Net Worth and Business Ventures

As of 2025, Margaret Qualley’s net worth is estimated at $3million. Her financial rise is fueled by starring roles in major films and TV series, lucrative modelling contracts (including Chanel, Valentino), and brand partnerships. Magazine covers, endorsements, and paid appearances broaden her income, making her one of the most marketable faces in Hollywood.

Recent Projects & Future Directions

Margaret has taken on daring new projects:

• Supporting roles in Oscar-nominated Poor Things (2023).
• Lead in The Substance (2024, Cannes).
• Starring roles in Kinds of Kindness (2024) and several anticipated films for 2025, including Drive-Away Dolls, Honey Don’t!, Blue Moon, and Huntington.

With her skill in embodying complex women, Margaret is expected to remain a fixture in independent film and streaming dramas.

FAQs about Margaret Qualley

Who are Margaret Qualley’s parents?

Her mother is actress Andie MacDowell; her father is model/rancher Paul Qualley. She shares a close, supportive relationship with both.

What is Margaret Qualley’s educational and dance background?

She trained in classical ballet at the North Carolina School of the Arts and apprenticed with American Ballet Theatre in New York before moving into modelling and acting.

Which TV and film roles made her famous?

Notable performances include The Leftovers, Fosse/Verdon, Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood, and Maid.

Has Margaret Qualley won any awards?

She has won and been nominated for Emmys, Golden Globes, and Critics’ Choice, with over 50 award recognitions.

Was Margaret Qualley involved in any public controversies?

She experienced backlash over a racial microaggression controversy involving BLACKPINK’s Jennie at a Chanel event in 2024.

Who is Margaret Qualley married to?

She married musician Jack Antonoff in August 2023. The couple is frequently in the spotlight as an inspiring artistic partnership.

What is her estimated net worth in 2025?

Margaret Qualley’s net worth is approximately $3million, earned through acting, modeling, and various brand endorsements.

What upcoming projects does Margaret Qualley have?

She is the lead in several films set for 2025 release, including Drive-Away Dolls, Honey Don’t!, Blue Moon, and Huntington.

How does Margaret Qualley describe her personal and professional growth?

She credits her Southern upbringing, dancing discipline, and relationships for her authenticity, courage, and emotional strength in Hollywood.

What is unique about Margaret Qualley’s approach to fame?

Margaret values authenticity over image, often challenging expectations, and prioritises emotional well-being, personal fulfilment, and creative growth over celebrity status.

Margaret Qualley’s ascent, from a ballet student in North Carolina to an international star, exemplifies the power of reinvention, dedication, and integrity. Grounded in family traditions but unafraid to break new ground, she remains an inspirational figure for young artists and audiences seeking authenticity and depth in Hollywood.

With new projects on the horizon and a solid foundation of achievements, Margaret Qualley continues to reshape her own narrative, remaining both a creative force and a grounded personality.