Hollywood star Margaret Qualley goes by a different name when she’s not on set—Sarah—a secret revealed during her recent Vanity Fair cover story.
A Name Change Rooted in Modeling
The actress, known for roles in films like The Substance and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, shared that her close friends and family still refer to her by her birth name. This comes after a decision made during her early modeling career.
Margaret Qualley’s real name is Sarah, but she was compelled to use a different name early in her career.
Qualley explained to i-D that her modeling agency presented her with a choice between “Margaret” and “Sarah” when she was just 16 years old. Despite wishing she could revert to her given name, she feels it’s too late after building a successful career under “Margaret.”
Reflecting on Career and Well-being
In a broader conversation with Vanity Fair, Qualley also discussed her approach to work and the importance of self-awareness. “I’m super competitive with myself, and I’m very driven,” she said. “I have learned the lesson of my eyes being too big for my stomach professionally. That means taking all the opportunities I can get and then crashing and feeling like I have a schedule I can’t keep up with.” She added, “When I say mistakes, I don’t mean it was the wrong thing, I mean I wouldn’t do it again.”
Friends and family continue to call the actress by her birth name, Sarah.
Qualley’s openness extends to her personal life, having spoken about her long-term commitment to therapy, beginning at age 16. In a recent interview with Cosmopolitan, she discussed battling severe insomnia in her early 20s, which even caused her to miss the Cannes Film Festival premiere of The Nice Guys. “I hadn’t slept in four days and I felt like I wasn’t going to survive,” she recalled.
Qualley said her modeling agency forced her to choose between her names at 16.
Now practicing meditation twice daily, Qualley continues to navigate the complexities of identity and womanhood, acknowledging a deep connection to her younger self while questioning the influences that shape who she is today.
