Margaret Qualley and the Body Horror of The Substance: Why Everyone Is Talking About Sue

It is hard to look away from The Substance. Honestly, that is the whole point. Coralie Fargeat’s 2024 body horror masterpiece doesn’t just ask you to watch; it forces you to stare until you’re uncomfortable. At the center of this neon-soaked, blood-drenched nightmare is Margaret Qualley, playing Sue—the "younger, more perfect" version of Demi Moore’s Elisabeth Sparkle.

If you’ve been scouring the internet for details on Margaret Qualley and the nudity in the film, you aren't alone. It’s a major talking point. But here is the thing: the way the movie handles her body isn't about traditional "sexy" Hollywood tropes. It is a calculated, aggressive exploration of the "male gaze" turned into a literal horror show.

Why the Nudity in The Substance Matters

Most movies use nudity as a quiet, intimate moment. Not this one. In The Substance, the camera is predatory. It zooms in on Qualley’s skin, her curves, and her "perfection" with a clinical, almost violent intensity.

Qualley plays Sue, a character birthed from a literal slit in Elisabeth's back. When Sue first appears, she is naked, raw, and discovering herself in a stark white bathroom. This isn't just a "nude scene." It is the moment the audience is introduced to the "perfect" product.

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Interestingly, Qualley has been very vocal about how difficult this was. She told People and the L.A. Times that playing Sue was "really outside of my comfort zone." For an actress who has spent much of her career doing more grounded, less sexualized work (think Maid or Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood), Sue was a total 180.

The Behind-the-Scenes Struggle

Believe it or not, Qualley actually felt "deeply ashamed" while preparing for the hyper-sexualized aerobics scenes. She even admitted to getting "wasted" on tequila and weed one morning just to get through the day's filming because the vulnerability was so intense.

• The Physicality: Qualley is a trained ballerina, but she had to learn a specific, aggressive style of dance for Sue.
• The Prosthetics: While she looks "perfect" on screen, Qualley actually wore breast prosthetics and other body enhancements. Why? Because the director wanted a version of "perfection" that was literally unattainable and slightly "off."
• The Recovery: The adhesive used for the prosthetics was so harsh it reportedly took a year for Qualley’s skin to fully recover.

The Message Behind the "Sue" Persona

The film uses Margaret Qualley's body as a weapon. Every close-up of her buttocks or her chest is meant to mirror how the entertainment industry—represented by Dennis Quaid’s disgusting character, Harvey—views women as meat.

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There is a scene where Sue is auditioning to replace Elisabeth. The camera doesn't even look at her face half the time. It’s all about the "assets." It makes you feel like a voyeur in a way that’s intentionally icky.

Contrast with Demi Moore

The tragedy of the movie lies in the relationship between the two women. They are "one," yet they hate each other.

1. Elisabeth (Moore) looks at Sue with a mix of awe and jealousy.
2. Sue looks at Elisabeth as a "discarded husk" that she has to return to every seven days.
3. The nudity for Moore is about vulnerability and the "horror" of aging (according to society).
4. The nudity for Qualley is about the "horror" of being a commodity.

By the time the movie hits its final, insane act, that "perfection" has completely curdled. The "monstrous feminine" takes over, and the sleek, beautiful Sue is replaced by something truly ungodly. It is a reminder that the pursuit of that "perfect" body—the one everyone is Googling—is what leads to the total destruction of the self.

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Practical Takeaways from The Substance

If you're watching the film (or just reading about the fallout), there are a few things to keep in mind regarding the production and the themes:

• Look for the Prosthetics: Once you know Qualley is wearing prosthetics to enhance her "perfection," the movie feels even more like a satire. It’s a meta-commentary on how even the most beautiful stars aren't "enough" for the screen.
• The "Male Gaze" vs. The "Female Gaze": Pay attention to who is "looking" in each scene. When Sue looks in the mirror, she’s looking at herself through the eyes of the men she wants to impress.
• Respect the Balance: The film’s mantra is a warning about addiction. Sue becomes addicted to her own beauty and the attention it brings, which is what eventually kills both her and Elisabeth.

Ultimately, Margaret Qualley in The Substance delivers a performance that is as brave as it is disturbing. She allowed herself to be objectified by the camera specifically to show how damaging that objectification is. It’s a wild, bloody, and deeply sad ride that leaves you questioning why we value "perfection" so much in the first place.

Watch the movie for the spectacle, but stay for the message. It is easily one of the most provocative uses of a performer's physicality in the last decade.

Check out the official MUBI trailers or interviews with Coralie Fargeat to see just how much work went into the practical effects versus the digital ones—you'll find that almost everything you see was done with old-school movie magic and a lot of patience from the cast.