Margaret Qualley Struggled with Acne for a Year Following ‘The Substance’ Filming
Margaret Qualley embraced the breakouts she experienced after filming The Substance.
Qualley, 30, discussed the blemishes on her cheeks and chin that developed from wearing prosthetics while portraying Sue in The Substance. Shortly after wrapping the film, she appeared in Kinds of Kindness, where fans noticed her pimples.
“You know the character that has all the acne?” Qualley asked John Horowitz during an episode of his “Happy Sad Confused” podcast on Monday, January 13. “That was just my acne from the prosthetics.”
She added, “I thought, ‘Oh this is actually kind of perfect; I’m playing all these characters [and] for one of them we’ll use all my crazy prosthetic acne.’” Qualley, who portrayed Vivian, Martha, Ruth, and Rebecca in the film, explained that by the end of production, her face was “so f—ed up” that they had to alter the camera angles. “They couldn’t shoot my face,” she said, sharing that “It took me probably a year to recover physically from all of it.”
Currently, Qualley’s skin has returned to its naturally clear state. She recently showcased her radiant complexion at the 2025 Golden Globes earlier this month.
For the awards event, she opted for a natural makeup look featuring feathered brows, rosy cheeks, and a delicate base that highlighted her freckles. She completed the look with mascara and pink lips, and added extra flair with chic hair cascading in voluminous curls and a crown pulled back.
Qualley complemented her appearance with a white Chanel gown characterized by a square neckline, delicate straps, and a tiered skirt. She enhanced the outfit with a black sparkly bow belt, diamond accessories, and a glittery headband.
During the ceremony, she presented an award alongside her The Substance co-star, Demi Moore. Qualley was also nominated for Best Supporting Female Actor, Film, for The Substance, but the award went to Zoë Saldaña for her performance in Emilia Pérez. It was indeed a triumphant evening for women supporting women in Hollywood.
