Margaret Qualleyhas had an amazing year in terms of theatrical releases, starring in several well-received movies that have given her career a major boost. The actress has appeared in projects such asThe Substance,Drive-Away Dolls, andKinds of Kindness, all of which are extremely stylish and impressive features that aren’t afraid to break free of conventions and offer the audience something new.Her career is clearly on an upward trajectory, andThe Substancein particular is an incredibly reviewed projectthat marks one of the year’s best offerings.
Qualley’s breakout film role was inThe Nice Guysalongside Ryan Gosling and Russell Crowe, but it wasn’t until Netflix’s live-actionDeath Noteadaptation that the actress finally got to shine in a more important role. However, that project was ultimately met with extremely negative reviews, and most audiences agreed that her character was completely wasted in the story. The originalDeath Noteanime had some all-time great episodes, but the film was a lifeless adaptation that didn’t capture any of the same magic. Thankfully,Qualley’s choice of projects has improved tenfold since then.
Margaret Qualley’s Mia Should Have Been Death Note’s Real Protagonist
The Character Was Far More Interesting Than Light’s Protagonist
Margaret Qualley played the character of Mia in the live-actionDeath Noteadaptation, a figure based loosely on Misa’s character in the original anime. Mia is the girlfriend of Light Turner, the young high-school student who comes into contact with a mysterious notebook that kills anybody whose name is entered into it. However, when Mia learns the strength of the book, she quickly becomes obsessed with its power and sets out to kill anybody who means to stop her and Light.The character actually shares more qualities with the anime’s Light, drifting away from Misa’s character and becoming something else.
15 Best Death Note Quotes
Death Note has earned its rightful status as an anime classic, and these are the ten best quotes that summarize what the beloved series is all about.
The live-actionDeath Notewas already a faithless adaptation that made countless changesfrom the anime, and since Mia was undeniably the most interesting part of this new story, it always seemed like she should’ve been the protagonist of this adaptation. She was much more interesting than the movie’s version of Light, who’d been tamed and made less ambitious than his anime counterpart. This is one of many reasons that2017’sDeath Noteis considered the worst adaptation- but placing Qualley more sharply into the spotlight could have been a fun way of making things more exciting.
Death Note Live-Action Movie’s Mia Strangely Worked (Despite Not Being Misa)
Qualley’s Character Was The Most Interesting Part Of The Movie
AlthoughMia was a completely different character from Misa, there was something interesting about her personality that worked surprisingly well. She made up for the lack of ambition and drive that was present in Light’s character, bringing a more passionate performance to the film that was necessary to keep the momentum going steady from start to finish. Without her, the film would’ve been an even more lifeless adaptation that completely failed to capture the spirit of the original anime - but instead, much of the creativity was placed into Mia’s character.
Qualley brought her own take on the figure, filling her with personality and making her the star of the film.
Mia was essentially an original character - she was clearly based on Misa, but the two ended up being so different that it’s hard to see the inspiration. This certainly worked in the film’s favor, as there was nothing to compare her to;Qualley brought her own take on the figure, filling her with personality and making her the star of the film. Light is supposed to be aclassic anime tragic villain, but instead, it was Mia who carried the story on her shoulders.
Margaret Qualley’s Career Has Only Gotten Bigger Since Netflix’s Death Note
The Hollywood Actress Has Appeared In Several Excellent Projects
SinceDeath Note’s poor reception, Qualley’s career has taken a drastic turn that’s certainly worked out for the best. Her next major film was Quentin Tarantino’sOnce Upon A Time In Hollywood, where she played a hitchhiker named Pussycat. This huge-budget, extra-stylish film wasthe perfect opportunity for Qualley to prove her acting capabilities, which she certainly did alongside Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt. It was an iconic role that she’s still remembered for today, despite having starred in plenty of other projects.
From there, Qualley appeared in the limited seriesMaid, which earned her some awards attention for her performance as a single mother trying to break free of an abusive relationship. It was a more traditional role than Qualley is used to, and it proved her more dramatic acting capabilities. Since then, the actress has devoted her time to increasingly stylish and unconventional films such as Yorgos Lanthimos’Poor ThingsandKinds of Kindness, and Coralie Fargeat’s horror spectacleThe Substance. She’s also set to appear inHappy Gilmore 2, alongside Adam Sandler and Christopher McDonald.
