From the quiet town of Kalispell, Montana, to the bustling sets of Hollywood, Margaret Qualley’s rise has been anything but ordinary. Born on October 23, 1994, Qualley first envisioned a life on stage as a ballet dancer. That early discipline and love of movement are unmistakable in her expressive, kinetic performances – but eventually, acting lured her away from the barre and onto the screen.
Qualley’s breakout moment came with HBO’s “The Leftovers,” where she brought a vivid, wounded vulnerability to the role of Jill Garvey, captivating audiences and critics alike. Her career has been in steady ascent ever since: taking on diverse parts, from a quietly magnetic Manson Family devotee in Quentin Tarantino’s “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,” to a raw, Emmy-nominated turn as a struggling single mother in the miniseries “Maid.” It’s not just her talent that stands out – there’s a sincerity in her performances that feels rare in an industry so easily dominated by image.
Unlike many young stars, Qualley rarely draws attention to herself outside of her work. In interviews, she is thoughtful, sometimes shy, and occasionally self-deprecating – more interested in discussing her craft than courting celebrity. She is, of course, the daughter of actress Andie MacDowell and model Paul Qualley. But Margaret’s trajectory is distinctly her own, shaped by a preference for privacy and an almost old-fashioned professionalism.
Her personal life has made its way into headlines, though never in a way she seems to court. Qualley married music producer Jack Antonoff on August 19, 2023, following a low-key courtship that began about two years earlier. Friends describe the relationship as refreshingly grounded, rooted in a shared understanding of the pressures and unpredictability of creative life.
Earlier, Qualley’s romantic history included brief but high-profile relationships. She dated Shia LaBeouf in 2020, a relationship that ended shortly after allegations of misconduct against LaBeouf became public. In 2019, she was linked to Pete Davidson for a few whirlwind months, their connection making tabloid rounds in the wake of his split from Ariana Grande. There was also a spate of rumors tying her to model Cara Delevingne in 2020 – but speculation fizzled out, and neither addressed it publicly.
Through it all, Qualley has managed to keep her private life mostly private. She isn’t one for online oversharing or messy public breakups. “Love isn’t something you can plan, it just happens when you least expect it,” she mused in a 2021 conversation with Harper’s Bazaar – a typically understated, but honest, reflection on romance in the public eye.
Past Relationships
Jack Antonoff
Shia LaBeouf
Cara Delevingne
Pete Davidson
Nat Wolff
There’s a graceful maturity in the way Qualley handles both her successes and setbacks. Relationships begin and end without grand statements or online drama. Instead, she lets her work – and those who know her – testify to her authenticity. In a business that often values spectacle, Qualley stands apart: fiercely committed to her roles, more interested in exploring new characters than cultivating celebrity, and determined, above all, to let her artistry speak for itself.
