Margaret Qualley Reflects on Working with Richard Linklater and Upcoming Projects

Margaret Qualley is opening up about the surreal experience of starring in a Richard Linklater film. The actress appears in Linklater's upcoming biopic Blue Moon, centered on lyricist Lorenz Hart’s struggles with alcoholism and mental health during the launch of Broadway’s Oklahoma! in 1943. The film, which also stars Ethan Hawke, Andrew Scott, and Bobby Cannavale, will premiere at the Berlin International Film Festival on February 18.

Qualley, a longtime admirer of Linklater, revealed she had been trying to collaborate with the celebrated director for over a decade. “I think I auditioned for him the first time 10 years ago,” she told IndieWire. Her admiration for Linklater grew after watching his Oscar-nominated film Boyhood in 2014. “It hit me so hard because I was the same age as the lead character. It was wild how many parallels I could draw to my own life.”

Now, Qualley is sharing the screen with Boyhood star Ethan Hawke, calling the experience “a dream collaboration.” She described working with both Linklater and Hawke as “life-changing.”

In addition to Blue Moon, Qualley has a packed schedule. She stars in Ethan Coen’s Honey Don’t! alongside Chris Evans, Aubrey Plaza, and Billy Eichner. In the film, she plays a private investigator delving into a cult led by Evans’ character. Qualley raved about working with Coen and Plaza, calling the project “incredibly special.”

Next, Qualley will begin production on Victorian Psycho, directed by Zachary Wigon (Sanctuary). Set in a remote gothic manor, the A24 thriller features Qualley as a governess hiding dark psychopathic tendencies. Co-star Thomasin McKenzie joins the cast for the February 2024 shoot in Dublin, Ireland. Preparing for the role, Qualley has been practicing a British accent and wearing a corset around the house to get into character.

Despite her extensive collaborations with visionary directors, Qualley isn’t eyeing the director’s chair anytime soon. “I don’t have big directing ambitions,” she admitted. “I love working with people who know more about movies than I do and learning from them.”