Sarah Margaret Qualley was born on October 23, 1994, in Kalispell, Montana, making her 30 years old as of 2025. Most people know her simply as Margaret Qualley, though she was born with “Sarah” as her first name—something a modeling agency made her drop when she was just 16 years old, a decision she later said she regrets.
Growing up in Montana and later North Carolina, Margaret initially dreamed of becoming a professional ballet dancer, not an actress. That path changed completely when she was offered a dance company apprenticeship at 16 and turned it down, choosing instead to pursue what would eventually become a thriving acting career. Now, with Emmy nominations, Golden Globe recognition, and roles in some of the most talked-about films and series of recent years, That decision marked a turning point in her life and led her toward acting full-time.
Her mother is actress Andie MacDowell, famous for movies like “Groundhog Day” and “Four Weddings and a Funeral.” Her father, Paul Qualley, worked as a model before becoming a rancher and contractor. Margaret has an older brother named Justin and an older sister, Rainey Qualley, who’s made her own mark as both an actress and singer-songwriter.
Family Background and Upbringing
The Qualley family lived on a ranch in Missoula, Montana, before moving to Biltmore Forest, a suburb of Asheville, North Carolina, when Margaret was just four years old. Her parents separated when she was five, and for years she split time equally between them—they lived only three miles apart, making it easier to maintain relationships with both sides of the family.
Growing up without a television in the house meant Margaret and her siblings found other ways to entertain themselves. She and her sister Rainey danced constantly, creating impromptu routines whenever they could. “We didn’t watch a whole lot of TV or anything growing up,” Rainey recalled in a 2025 interview, “but whenever we did, if a commercial was on, [Margaret] would just take the time to have the audience captivated and paying attention and put on improv dances.”
As teenagers, both Margaret and Rainey were debutantes—they made their formal debuts at the prestigious Le Bal des Débutantes in Paris, an exclusive event where daughters of wealthy or famous families are presented to high society. It’s the kind of formal, traditional experience that seems completely at odds with Margaret’s later roles playing struggling single mothers and rebellious cult members.
Relationship With Her Sister Rainey Qualley
Rainey Qualley, born Rainsford Dubose Qualley on March 11, 1989, is five years older than Margaret. She’s an accomplished actress and musician who performs under the stage name Rainsford. Rainey made her film debut in 2012’s “Mighty Fine,” where she actually starred alongside their mother Andie MacDowell, playing her on-screen daughter.
As an actress, Rainey has appeared in projects including “Mad Men” (2015), “Ocean’s 8” (2018), and the lead role in “Off the Record” (2025), where she plays a singer-songwriter. Her music career includes three EPs and singles like “Too Close” and “Passionate.” She’s been recognized both as Miss Golden Globe 2012 and for her modeling work with Louis Vuitton and Gucci.
The two sisters are exceptionally close. Margaret has called Rainey “my idol, my best friend in the whole world.” They used to live together in Los Angeles before Margaret moved to New York. They help each other prepare for auditions, running lines together and offering feedback on self-tape auditions. When Rainey gave birth to her daughter Bluebell on December 10, 2024 (with partner Anthony Wilson), Margaret flew in from New York and stayed with her throughout an intense 75-hour labor.
“My sister flew in from New York right before I was due,” Rainey told E! News. “When I finally did give birth, she came to the hospital hours later and spent time with us there.” Rainey and Anthony later married on October 31, 2025, at a retreat in Lake Arrowhead, California, making Margaret an aunt and giving the Qualley sisters even more to celebrate together.
Religious Background and HeritageÂ
Many people search “is Margaret Qualley Jewish” online, likely because she’s married to Jack Antonoff, who is Jewish. The answer is no—Margaret is not Jewish by religion or ethnicity.
Through her mother Andie MacDowell, Margaret has Scottish ancestry. Her complete ethnic background includes Norwegian, English, French, Scottish, Irish, Welsh, Belgian, and Dutch heritage—a typical American mix of European roots. There’s no documented Jewish heritage in her family tree on either her mother’s or father’s side.
When asked about religion during press for her 2017 film “Novitiate,” where she played a nun, Margaret was clear about her personal beliefs: “I’m not really religious. I’m not religious in life. I think I’m spiritual, but I’m not Christian by any means.” She approached the role as an acting challenge rather than something connected to personal faith.
Her marriage to Jack Antonoff hasn’t changed her religious identity publicly. While Jack comes from a Jewish family, there’s been no indication that Margaret converted or adopted Jewish religious practices. They respect each other’s backgrounds while maintaining their own identities.
Height, Physical Appearance
Margaret Qualley stands 5 feet 8 inches tall (176 cm), which is considered above-average height for women and for Hollywood actresses. Her height, combined with her ballet training, gives her a graceful, commanding physical presence on screen.
She weighs approximately 123 pounds (56 kg), maintaining a lean, athletic build that reflects years of dance training and the physical demands of film work. Her measurements and physical appearance have been shaped by her ballet background—even though she quit professional dance training at 16, the discipline, posture, and body awareness from those years remain part of who she is.
She has light brown hair that she’s styled in various shades for different roles, and striking green-blue eyes that photograph beautifully. Her natural elegance and the way she moves—fluid, controlled, expressive—come directly from those formative ballet years at the North Carolina School of the Arts.
Marriage to Jack Antonoff
Margaret married Jack Antonoff on August 19, 2023, in an intimate ceremony in New Jersey. Jack is a Grammy-winning musician who fronts the band Bleachers and has produced albums for Taylor Swift, Lorde, Lana Del Rey, and many other major artists.
The wedding attracted significant media attention because of who attended—Taylor Swift, Lana Del Rey, Zoë Kravitz, Channing Tatum, and other A-list celebrities. But despite the famous guest list, Margaret and Jack have kept their marriage relatively private. They acknowledge the relationship publicly but don’t turn it into content or share excessive personal details.
They got engaged in May 2022, about eight months after they started dating in September 2021. Lana Del Rey wrote a song called “Margaret” about their relationship for her 2023 album “Did You Know That There’s a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd.” The lyrics describe their meeting: “He met Margaret on a rooftop, she was wearing white / And he thought, ‘I might be in trouble.'”
Margaret has appeared in Bleachers music videos, including “you and forever” (2026), blending their personal and professional lives in small, meaningful ways. Her husband clearly adores her—he’s spoken publicly about how she makes him better, and their relationship seems grounded despite both of them living in the intense spotlight of entertainment industry.
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Do Margaret and Jack Have Kids?
As of early 2026, Margaret Qualley and Jack Antonoff do not have children together. Margaret is 30 years old and deeply focused on her acting career, which has been extraordinarily busy with multiple major films releasing each year.
Neither Margaret nor Jack has publicly discussed plans for having children, and that remains their private decision. Given Margaret’s career momentum—with Emmy nominations, Golden Globe recognition, and high-profile film roles coming consistently—it appears she’s prioritizing professional opportunities during these crucial years.
Her mother Andie MacDowell famously told The New York Times that she advised Margaret to “avoid serious relationships” during her brief time at NYU, suggesting Margaret has always been someone who thinks strategically about timing. Whether that extends to family planning is speculation, but her current focus clearly remains on acting.
While Margaret doesn’t have children, she recently became an aunt when her sister Rainey gave birth to daughter Bluebell in December 2024. Margaret’s Instagram post showing her kissing Rainey’s pregnant belly, captioned “I love you so much tiny and teeny tiny,” showed genuine excitement about becoming “Auntie Margaret.”
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Acting Career and Major Roles
Palo Alto (2013) – Margaret’s acting debut happened almost by accident. She was visiting her then-boyfriend Nat Wolff on set when director Gia Coppola cast her in a small role on the spot. This unexpected start led directly to her next opportunity.
The Leftovers (2014-2017) – Her breakthrough role came as Jill Garvey, the troubled teenage daughter of Justin Theroux’s character in this HBO drama about people dealing with mysterious mass disappearances. The series ran for three seasons and established her as someone capable of handling emotionally complex material.
The Nice Guys (2016) – She appeared in this neo-noir comedy starring Russell Crowe and Ryan Gosling, directed by Shane Black. The role showed her range beyond heavy drama.
Novitiate (2017) – Margaret starred as Sister Cathleen, a young woman questioning her faith during nun training in the 1960s. According to Variety‘s review, her performance was praised for capturing both spiritual longing and doubt.
Death Note (2017) – She appeared in this Netflix adaptation of the popular Japanese manga, directed by Adam Wingard.
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2019) – Her role as Pussycat, a Manson Family member who hitchhikes with Brad Pitt’s character, was small but memorable. Being in a Quentin Tarantino film significantly raised her profile in Hollywood.
Fosse/Verdon (2019) – She played legendary dancer Ann Reinking opposite Sam Rockwell and Michelle Williams in this FX miniseries. Her performance earned her a Primetime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress and showed she could embody real people with grace and accuracy.
Death Stranding (2019) – Margaret did motion capture and voice work for two characters (Mama and Lockne) in Hideo Kojima’s PlayStation game, expanding her work into gaming.
Seberg (2019) – She starred opposite Kristen Stewart in this biographical drama about actress Jean Seberg.
My Salinger Year (2020) – She appeared alongside Sigourney Weaver in this adaptation of Joanna Rakoff’s memoir about working at a literary agency.
Maid (2021) – This Netflix miniseries became her most significant role to date. She played Alex, a young mother escaping an abusive relationship and navigating the welfare system while trying to provide for her daughter. She convinced producers to cast her real mother Andie MacDowell as her character’s mother, creating genuine on-screen chemistry.
The performance earned her nominations for:
- Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress
- Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Miniseries
- Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor
The series resonated deeply with audiences and established Margaret as a leading actress capable of carrying entire productions.
Stars at Noon (2022) – She starred in this romantic thriller directed by Claire Denis, which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival.
Poor Things (2023) – Margaret worked with acclaimed director Yorgos Lanthimos in this surreal fantasy film starring Emma Stone. The film won multiple Academy Awards including Best Actress for Stone.
The Substance (2024) – Her performance opposite Demi Moore in this body horror film earned her a Golden Globe nomination for Best Supporting Actress. The film explores aging, beauty standards, and women’s bodies in provocative, uncomfortable ways—exactly the type of ambitious project Margaret seeks out.
Kinds of Kindness (2024) – She reunited with Yorgos Lanthimos for this anthology film featuring multiple interconnected stories.
Drive-Away Dolls (2024) – She starred in Ethan Coen’s lesbian road trip comedy, showing she can handle mainstream comedy alongside her art house work.
Happy Gilmore 2 (2025) – She appeared in Adam Sandler’s sequel, taking a smaller commercial role alongside her more serious projects.
Blue Moon (2025) – She co-starred in Richard Linklater’s film which premiered at the Berlin International Film Festival.
Honey Don’t! (2025) – This detective comedy by Ethan Coen premiered at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, continuing her relationship with prestigious festival films.
Upcoming Projects:
- The Dog Stars – Post-apocalyptic drama with Jacob Elordi and Josh Brolin, directed by Ridley Scott
- How to Make a Killing – Black comedy thriller with Glen Powell
Past Relationships Before Jack
Before marrying Jack Antonoff, Margaret had two publicized relationships that ended badly.
In 2019, she was briefly linked to comedian Pete Davidson, though neither confirmed the relationship officially. They were photographed together but the romance, if it existed, was short-lived.
More seriously, she dated actor Shia LaBeouf in 2020 after they co-starred in her sister Rainey’s music video “Love Me Like You Hate Me.” Their relationship ended in January 2021 after serious misconduct allegations were publicly filed against him by a former partner.
In September 2021, Margaret told Harper’s Bazaar that she believed FKA Twigs’s allegations against Shia. Her willingness to publicly support his accuser, even though it meant acknowledging she’d dated someone capable of abuse, showed maturity and moral clarity that many praised.
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