Margaret Qualley Reveals Year-Long Recovery From Prosthetic-Induced Skin Damage in "The Substance"

Actress Margaret Qualley recently opened up about the severe skin irritation she endured while filming the horror film The Substance. In an interview on the "Happy Sad Confused" podcast, Qualley revealed that the prosthetics used during production caused significant damage to her skin, requiring a full year to heal.

The impact was so severe that director Coralie Fargeat had to adjust filming techniques to avoid showing her face in certain scenes. "At the end, when they’re shooting up my skirt in the beginning credits, and it’s like the palm trees all around and they have all these long lenses from the bottom, that’s just because my face was so messed up," Qualley explained. "They couldn’t shoot my face anymore."

Even after production on The Substance wrapped, the effects lingered as she moved on to her next project, Kinds of Kindness, directed by Yorgos Lanthimos. Qualley played four distinct characters in the film and managed to incorporate the lingering acne into her performance. “The character that has all that acne? That was just my acne from the prosthetics,” she said. “It took me probably a year to recover physically from all of it.”

Despite the challenges, The Substance has become an unexpected awards season contender. The film stars Demi Moore, who won her first Golden Globe for her portrayal of an aging TV star who discovers a miracle drug capable of transforming her into a younger, more marketable version of herself.

Horror films are rarely recognized during awards season, making The Substance's success all the more noteworthy. Its blend of psychological tension and standout performances has garnered critical acclaim, shining a spotlight on the physical toll actors sometimes endure to bring stories to life.