Golden Globe red carpet entrant Margaret Qualley has become a favorite as one of Hollywood’s more promising up-and-coming stars due to her incredible performances in the TV series The Substance and Maid. Qualley has received rave reviews with her stellar performances both on dramatic and comedic levels. For the 2025 Golden Globes, the actress hit the red carpet with her father, Paul J. Qualley, in tow. The event marked another milestone in her burgeoning career, as she was nominated for Best Actress in a Motion Picture for her intense portrayal in the critically acclaimed horror-thriller The Substance. It was a poignant moment for Qualley, whose bond with her father has been well-documented in interviews.
Former model and now successful businessman Paul stood proudly beside his daughter, visibly moved by the honor she was receiving. The two celebrated quietly as they made their red carpet debut together, much to the delight of photographers and fans alike. Qualley’s decision to bring her dad was not just a heartwarming gesture but also a testament to the support system she’s built in her personal life. While the night was filled with glamorous fashion and exhilarating moments, Qualley’s presence also became a talking point for her candid interview regarding her unexpected role in the upcoming Happy Gilmore 2.
As she took to the stage for pre-show interviews, the actress spoke to the difficulties of taking on a new genre after her heavy roles in dramatic film. But in very Margaret Qualley fashion, she made light of it with her trademark humor, turning a serious conversation about her career into a charming anecdote about her experience with the iconic comedy sequel.
The Story Behind Happy Gilmore 2
For Qualley, there’s a very personal connection to Happy Gilmore: the 1996 comedy, starring Adam Sandler, was a film she said she loved when she was younger, even going so far as to say this film had been such a huge part of her childhood. She recalls having had the “first crush” taken on Sandler’s character-the endearing, usually outrageous Happy Gilmore-and having spent many years rewatching the movie in amazement.
When Netflix announced that Happy Gilmore 2 was in the works, Qualley wasted no time. She quickly hit her agents with an email, asking them to pursue anything, however minute, that would give her a place in the movie. “I couldn’t pass up the chance,” she said during the interview. “Happy Gilmore was my childhood. I had to be in the sequel-no matter what.”
Nevertheless, the road to Qualley securing the role for her part wasn’t all that orthodox, either. This actress would then make her way to late-night to basically claim her husband is behind landing the movie job: that of singer/producer Jack Antonoff, which called for years of friendship with Adam Sandler about the sequel for Qualley to pop on.
But it wasn’t quite that simple. In one of those hilarious twists, Antonoff oversold his wife’s golf game to Sandler. When Sandler asked Antonoff if Margaret played golf, the musician replied confidently, “Yes, she’s actually really good.” It was a small but significant lie-one Qualley later fessed up to with a laugh. “I had never played golf in my life,” she said, with a playful eye-roll. “But Jack lied for me, and honestly, I’m not mad about it. He’s a good husband.”
The charming story continued as Qualley explained how she took a few golf lessons ahead of the film but remained humorously terrible at the sport. “I’m so bad at golf,” she admitted. “But it didn’t matter. I would have been happy with even a tiny role in this movie. Just the opportunity to be part of something that meant so much to me was a dream come true.”
Her part in Happy Gilmore 2 may have been small, but Qualley was thrilled with the opportunity. She referred to her role as “deep background,” explaining that she was essentially an extra. She nonetheless expressed honest appreciation for it: “Even though I only have a tiny part, I feel like I can die happy now. Being in Happy Gilmore 2-no matter how small the role–has been the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”
A Rising Star in Hollywood
It has been a slew of bold career choices for Margaret Qualley up to this point. She began acting in 2013 with a supporting role in Palo Alto and then went on to earn major recognition playing the grieving daughter in HBO’s The Leftovers. However, it wasn’t until Fosse/Verdon in 2019 that Qualley truly showed her range, earning multiple award nominations, including a Primetime Emmy nomination.
Her breakout performance as a single struggling mother in Maid (2021) brought widespread acclaim to Qualley and made her one of the most promising actresses in Hollywood. The series, inspired by Stephanie Land’s memoir of the same name, earned her several award nominations, including the Golden Globe nod for Best Actress in a TV Drama.
Her latest work in The Substance 2024, directed by Yorgos Lanthimos, has been hailed as hauntingly brilliant, with a woman wrestling with her identity and body in a world that forces her to confront her darkest fears. This role won her another Golden Globe nomination, making her one of the most highly anticipated stars of the evening.
Looking Ahead
Meanwhile, Qualley’s family and supportive relationships have kept her down-to-earth as her star continues to rise. Her ever-present dad, Paul, was the steady presence by her side every time a significant event-awards-was at the doorway, ready with his advice backstage, where he comforts her.
She will now shoot again with Yorgos Lanthimos in Kinds of Kindness in 2024. Margaret Qualley doesn’t let this new fame go to her head, even as she’s grateful for key moments in both her professional and personal life. With the Golden Globes falling behind her and Happy Gilmore 2 still up ahead, one thing is for sure: Qualley’s road is just getting started.
The Golden Globes were much more than a red carpet moment; it was the culmination of her multivaried career, personal growth, and all the people who have stood by her along the way. Both on and off screen, Margaret Qualley’s story is one of hard work, humor, and devotion to the craft.
