Let’s Not Forget The Biggest 2025 Oscar Nomination Snub
As the 2025 Oscars loom near, there were plenty of surprises on nomination day, but one of the most glaring omissions was Margaret Qualley in The Substance.
While her co-star Demi Moore rightfully secured a Best Actress nomination, Qualley’s absence in the Best Supporting Actress category was a major oversight. In a year filled with strong performances, Qualley delivered one of the most haunting and transformative roles of the season. Her snub one of the biggest injustices of this awards cycle!
In The Substance, Qualley plays a pivotal role, matching Moore’s intensity while bringing a unique energy to the film. Her performance is equal parts unsettling and mesmerizing, elevating the psychological horror elements of the story. She fully commits to the role, embodying The Substance’s themes of transformation, identity, and self-destruction with a chilling authenticity. It’s the kind of performance that lingers long after the credits roll, something the Academy usually rewards, but for some reason, overlooked this time.
The Best Supporting Actress category is always competitive, and this year was no exception. The nominees included Zoe Saldaña (Emilia Pérez), Felicity Jones (The Brutalist), and Ariana Grande (Wicked), among others. While all of these performances are worthy of recognition, there’s no denying that Qualley’s omission feels like a major snub, especially given the film’s strong presence in other categories.
One possible explanation for Qualley’s snub could be the Academy’s long-standing hesitation to recognize horror and genre films. Despite The Substance being one of the most critically acclaimed films of the year, its body-horror elements may have worked against it when it came to securing nominations across the board. Historically, performances in psychological thrillers and horror films have often been overlooked, no matter how deserving they are (Toni Collette in Hereditary, anyone?).
Margaret Qualley gave one of the most daring, intense, and memorable supporting performances of the year.
Her absence from the Oscar nominations is a disappointing reminder that even the most deserving performances can fall through the cracks.
