A faded 50-year-old Hollywood fitness star dismissed from her television show due to age. After injecting an illegal serum, she creates a younger alter ego, Sue, with whom she must switch consciousness every seven days. As the duality fractures her psyche, she descends into a self-hating recluse suffering from rapid biological deterioration, ultimately meeting a violent demise at the hands of her own creation.
The nurse introduces Elisabeth to the serum that drives the plot.
After Elisabeth's car crash, the male nurse secretly gives her a flash drive advertising The Substance.
Harvey controls Elisabeth's employment on the program.
Harvey is the producer of Elisabeth's long-running aerobics television show.
Sue is Elisabeth's younger manifestation, created through the serum.
Sue emerges from Elisabeth's back after Elisabeth injects The Substance and is explicitly described as a younger version of herself.
Explore the full interactive character relationship map of The Substance