Actress Margaret Qualley discusses her function within the new film ‘Honey Don’t!’ : NPR

LEILA FADEL, HOST:

In “Honey Don’t!”, Margaret Qualley stars as a non-public detective. She’s investigating a mysterious dying that is someway linked to this cultist church in central California, led by an egomaniac pastor performed by Chris Evans.

(SOUNDBITE OF FILM, “HONEY DON’T!”)

MARGARET QUALLEY: (As Honey O’Donahue) What are you able to inform me about her?

CHRIS EVANS: (As Reverend Drew Devlin) Do you drink?

QUALLEY: (As Honey O’Donahue) Heavily. It’s some extent of delight. What are you able to inform me about her?

EVANS: (As Reverend Drew Devlin) Should you and I talk about this over a drink?

QUALLEY: (As Honey O’Donahue) No. This is enterprise. What are you able to inform me about…

EVANS: (As Reverend Drew Devlin) After enterprise.

QUALLEY: (As Honey O’Donahue) Tuesdays I dry out.

FADEL: It’s the second quantity in a trilogy of playful, pulpy, lesbian movies directed by Ethan Coen and co-written together with his spouse, Tricia Cooke. I spoke with Qualley about this movie, and I began by asking what it was that drew her to this character.

QUALLEY: I used to be tremendous excited by the concept of doing one thing that was, like, utterly reverse to what I used to be doing at the moment. Like, particularly from a physicality POV. Just could not be extra polar opposites.

FADEL: How did you put together for the function of Honey when you considered this character in Bakersfield, California, who attire in wrap attire and heels and pencil skirts and talks like a Nineteen Fifties movie star?

QUALLEY: Yeah. Well, that was – the factor you simply stated was a variety of it, proper? Like, it says within the script that her voice is easy like honey. And I’m, like, OK. Well, my voice is just not easy like honey. Like, (laughter) I bought to determine that out. But I watched a variety of – you already know, Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall have been each actually huge inspirations. So I watched…

FADEL: Oh, I can see that.

QUALLEY: …A whole lot of outdated films. “The Long Goodbye.” At the time that these films have been made, it wasn’t a lot about artwork imitates life, from what I perceive. There was extra of an aspirational high quality to Hollywood that I feel has developed and gone out and in of fashion through the years. But I feel this movie is an ode to these form of aspirational tones the place it’s a bit heightened and never totally actuality based mostly.

FADEL: You are – like, central to your character is you are a lesbian within the film, and also you’re on this tryst with Aubrey Plaza, who’s a cop. What is totally different about these two girls and what unites them?

QUALLEY: I feel that their attraction as characters is form of feeling like they’ve met their match, you already know? Like, two those that often really feel like they’re within the energy seat, form of competing for that energy seat. I will not say an excessive amount of extra as a result of…

FADEL: You do not wish to give an excessive amount of away.

QUALLEY: Yeah.

FADEL: (Laughter) There’s some plot twists.

QUALLEY: Yeah, there’s some plot twists, for positive. But it was such a pleasure to work with Aubrey.

(SOUNDBITE OF FILM, “HONEY DON’T!”)

AUBREY PLAZA: (As MG Falcone) The deal with you needed.

QUALLEY: (As Honey O’Donahue) Thanks, MG.

PLAZA: (As MG Falcone) Honey, proper? Love these click-clacking heels.

(SOUNDBITE OF FOOTSTEPS)

FADEL: This 12 months is an enormous 12 months for you. Also, I do not even know the way you may have time for this interview based mostly on all of the stuff that you just’re doing. You have 4 movies out this 12 months. It does really feel such as you actually are having a second.

QUALLEY: Thank you. I really feel actually fortunate to have the ability to do what I like to do for a residing, and, you already know, I – I’m simply nonetheless figuring it out.

FADEL: Yeah.

QUALLEY: (Laughter)

FADEL: What do you’re keen on about this? About appearing, about leaping into totally different characters and being completely totally different folks?

QUALLEY: I feel I’ve an odd studying curve as a result of I did not begin appearing ‘trigger I like films. I began appearing ‘trigger I give up dancing.

FADEL: Oh, wow. OK.

QUALLEY: And I began watching a variety of films at, like, 18 years outdated once I was changing into severe about appearing. But I – most likely taken me 10 years to essentially, like, perceive what it means to make a film past simply, you already know, making an attempt to be there and be current.

FADEL: When I used to be watching this and excited about, you already know, I had – the very last thing I watched you in was “Substance,” which was such an unimaginable movie. You had a Golden Globe nomination for it and explored this obsession society has and we’ve got with being younger and delightful. And I simply thought, how do you select the roles that you just do select? ‘Cause they’re all so complicated, and so they discover totally different features of what being a lady is.

QUALLEY: I put a variety of stress on myself to make the suitable choices about issues, and I have never at all times made the suitable choices. And generally I get to a job, and I’m like, nope. I did not do that one proper.

(LAUGHTER)

FADEL: Is there something the place you are like, why did I do that?

QUALLEY: Of course. Yeah. Like, for positive. I’m making an attempt to do stuff the place I’m in a position to work stuff out for myself within the course of, you already know?

FADEL: You aren’t afraid of making an attempt something, or you do not appear afraid of leaning into several types of characters, whether or not they’re such as you or totally different than you in actual life, whether or not it is based mostly in actuality or on a completely totally different planet. Is there something that does scare you that you just would not attempt?

QUALLEY: Thank you. I’m 30 years outdated. I feel I’m simply now arriving on the level the place I might need extra limitations, you already know (laughter)?

FADEL: Have you at all times felt such as you simply should say sure to issues?

QUALLEY: You stated that I’m not afraid, and I stated thanks. So I feel that I’ve had delight in my recklessness. The older I get, the extra treasured I notice life is…

FADEL: Yeah.

QUALLEY: …And the extra intention I’ve with being cautious and the extra engaging I discover it to watch out and thoughtful.

FADEL: What do you imply by cautious?

QUALLEY: Just, like, to maintain your self, you already know?

FADEL: Yeah.

QUALLEY: Like not eager to do one thing which may harm me ‘trigger why?

FADEL: Yeah.

QUALLEY: (Laughter).

FADEL: I actually hear you.

QUALLEY: Yeah.

FADEL: I imply, I do know in my profession – completely totally different profession – however there’s – there are occasions the place I’d say sure to something, you already know?

QUALLEY: Yeah.

FADEL: Oh, you need me to go cowl this conflict, and there is not any safety, and there is – no drawback.

QUALLEY: I’m your lady. Yeah.

FADEL: I’m on it.

QUALLEY: Yeah (laughter).

FADEL: And now in my 40s – I’m fairly a bit older than you – I undoubtedly am extra discerning.

QUALLEY: Yeah. I feel, you already know, particularly when you may have that starvation for a job and also you’re keen to say, I’ll do something, proper? Like, you possibly can rely on – I’m a daredevil. I do not care. I’m not scared.

FADEL: Yeah.

QUALLEY: Like, that is a successful perspective while you’re making an attempt to get forward generally. But it does not – you already know, generally has repercussions.

FADEL: That’s Margaret Qualley. She performs the lead function in Ethan Coen’s newest movie “Honey Don’t!” Thank you, Margaret. This was a pleasure.

QUALLEY: Yeah, thanks a lot. I beloved speaking to you.

(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, “HONEY DON’T”)

WANDA JACKSON: (Singing) No, honey do not.

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