LEILA FADEL, HOST:
In "Honey Don't!", Margaret Qualley stars as a private detective. She's investigating a mysterious death that's somehow connected to this cultist church in central California, led by an egomaniac pastor played by Chris Evans.
(SOUNDBITE OF FILM, "HONEY DON'T!")
MARGARET QUALLEY: (As Honey O'Donahue) What can you tell me about her?
CHRIS EVANS: (As Reverend Drew Devlin) Do you drink?
QUALLEY: (As Honey O'Donahue) Heavily. It's a point of pride. What can you tell me about her?
EVANS: (As Reverend Drew Devlin) Should you and I discuss this over a drink?
QUALLEY: (As Honey O'Donahue) No. This is business. What can you tell me about...
EVANS: (As Reverend Drew Devlin) After business.
QUALLEY: (As Honey O'Donahue) Tuesdays I dry out.
FADEL: It's the second volume in a trilogy of playful, pulpy, lesbian films directed by Ethan Coen and co-written with his wife, Tricia Cooke. I spoke with Qualley about this film, and I started by asking what it was that drew her to this character.
QUALLEY: I was super excited by the idea of doing something that was, like, completely opposite to what I was doing at that time. Like, especially from a physicality POV. Just couldn't be more polar opposites.
FADEL: How did you prepare for the role of Honey when you thought about this character in Bakersfield, California, who dresses in wrap dresses and heels and pencil skirts and talks like a 1950s film star?
QUALLEY: Yeah. Well, that was - the thing you just said was a lot of it, right? Like, it says in the script that her voice is smooth like honey. And I'm, like, OK. Well, my voice is not smooth like honey. Like, (laughter) I got to figure that out. But I watched a lot of - you know, Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall were both really big inspirations. So I watched...
FADEL: Oh, I can see that.
QUALLEY: ...A lot of old movies. "The Long Goodbye." At the time that those movies were made, it wasn't so much about art imitates life, from what I understand. There was more of an aspirational quality to Hollywood that I think has evolved and gone in and out of style over the years. But I think this film is an ode to those kind of aspirational tones where it is a bit heightened and not entirely reality based.
FADEL: You are - like, central to your character is you're a lesbian in the movie, and you're in this tryst with Aubrey Plaza, who is a cop. What is different about these two women and what unites them?
QUALLEY: I think that their attraction as characters is kind of feeling like they've met their match, you know? Like, two people that usually feel like they're in the power seat, kind of competing for that power seat. I won't say too much more because...
FADEL: You don't want to give too much away.
QUALLEY: Yeah.
FADEL: (Laughter) There's some plot twists.
QUALLEY: Yeah, there's some plot twists, for sure. But it was such a joy to work with Aubrey.
(SOUNDBITE OF FILM, "HONEY DON'T!")
AUBREY PLAZA: (As MG Falcone) The address you wanted.
QUALLEY: (As Honey O'Donahue) Thanks, MG.
PLAZA: (As MG Falcone) Honey, right? Love those click-clacking heels.
(SOUNDBITE OF FOOTSTEPS)
FADEL: This year is a big year for you. Also, I don't even know how you have time for this interview based on all the stuff that you're doing. You have four films out this year. It does feel like you really are having a moment.
QUALLEY: Thank you. I feel really lucky to be able to do what I love to do for a living, and, you know, I - I'm just still figuring it out.
FADEL: Yeah.
QUALLEY: (Laughter)
FADEL: What do you love about this? About acting, about jumping into different characters and being totally different people?
QUALLEY: I think I have a strange learning curve because I didn't start acting 'cause I love movies. I started acting 'cause I quit dancing.
FADEL: Oh, wow. OK.
QUALLEY: And I started watching a lot of movies at, like, 18 years old when I was becoming serious about acting. But I - probably taken me 10 years to really, like, understand what it means to make a movie beyond just, you know, trying to be there and be present.
FADEL: When I was watching this and thinking about, you know, I had - the last thing I watched you in was "Substance," which was such an incredible film. You had a Golden Globe nomination for it and explored this obsession society has and we have with being young and beautiful. And I just thought, how do you choose the roles that you do choose? 'Cause they're all so complex, and they explore different aspects of what being a woman is.
QUALLEY: I put a lot of pressure on myself to make the right decisions about things, and I haven't always made the right decisions. And sometimes I get to a job, and I'm like, nope. I didn't do this one right.
(LAUGHTER)
FADEL: Is there anything where you're like, why did I do this?
QUALLEY: Of course. Yeah. Like, for sure. I'm trying to do stuff where I'm able to work stuff out for myself in the process, you know?
FADEL: You don't seem to be afraid of trying anything, or you don't seem afraid of leaning into different types of characters, whether they're like you or different than you in real life, whether it's based in reality or on a totally different planet. Is there anything that does scare you that you wouldn't try?
QUALLEY: Thank you. I'm 30 years old. I think I'm just now arriving at the point where I might have more limitations, you know (laughter)?
FADEL: Have you always felt like you just have to say yes to things?
QUALLEY: You said that I'm not afraid, and I said thank you. So I think that I've had pride in my recklessness. The older I get, the more precious I realize life is...
FADEL: Yeah.
QUALLEY: ...And the more intention I have with being careful and the more attractive I find it to be careful and considerate.
FADEL: What do you mean by careful?
QUALLEY: Just, like, to take care of yourself, you know?
FADEL: Yeah.
QUALLEY: Like not wanting to do something that might hurt me 'cause why?
FADEL: Yeah.
QUALLEY: (Laughter).
FADEL: I really hear you.
QUALLEY: Yeah.
FADEL: I mean, I know in my career - totally different career - but there's - there are times where I would say yes to anything, you know?
QUALLEY: Yeah.
FADEL: Oh, you want me to go cover this war, and there's no protection, and there's - no problem.
QUALLEY: I'm your girl. Yeah.
FADEL: I'm on it.
QUALLEY: Yeah (laughter).
FADEL: And now in my 40s - I'm quite a bit older than you - I definitely am more discerning.
QUALLEY: Yeah. I think, you know, especially when you have that hunger for a job and you're willing to say, I'll do anything, right? Like, you can count on - I'm a daredevil. I don't care. I'm not scared.
FADEL: Yeah.
QUALLEY: Like, that's a winning attitude when you're trying to get ahead sometimes. But it doesn't - you know, sometimes has repercussions.
FADEL: That's Margaret Qualley. She plays the lead role in Ethan Coen's latest film "Honey Don't!" Thank you, Margaret. This was a joy.
QUALLEY: Yeah, thank you so much. I loved talking to you.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "HONEY DON'T")
WANDA JACKSON: (Singing) No, honey don't. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.
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