Demi Moore’s powerful comeback: From ‘The Substance’ to Oscars?
Demi Moore believed her four decades-long Hollywood career could have come to an end a few years ago. The 62-year-old actress struggled with self-doubt, especially after a producer dismissed her as a “popcorn actress.”
The comment left her with the notion that even though her films were hits, she wasn’t giving award-worthy performances. But now, by playing the challenging role of an aging TV fitness instructor in ‘The Substance’, she’s capturing the attention of critics and awards committees.
Demi Moore’s deep thoughts in ‘The Substance’: age, self-doubt and self-worth
‘The Substance’ is not only a thriller, but it also delves into the deep emotions associated with aging and self-doubt. Demi Moore opened up at January’s Golden Globes that every woman at one point or another goes through the feeling that she’s “not smart enough, not pretty enough, not thin enough, or not successful enough.”
Sharing a lesson she learned from a woman, Moore said, “You can never be enough, but if you put the measuring stick down, you can know your true worth.”
At the Cannes Film Festival in May, when actor Dennis Quaid described his character in the film as “a cold-hearted man,” Moore promptly responded, “We’re not anti-men, we’re just anti-idiots.”
The film is making a comeback with not just a horror thriller but an empowering message, especially for women who dare to free themselves from society’s set parameters.
Demi Moore’s Oscar race: From ‘Brat Pack’ star to Academy Award contender
Demi Moore, who rose to fame as part of the “Brat Pack“ in the 1980s, is now a frontrunner for her first Oscar win. After decades in the film and TV industry, Sunday could be a landmark moment for Moore when she takes home the Best Actress Academy Award.
Ian Sandwell, movies editor at Digital Spy, said: “Hollywood loves comeback stories. They love rewarding actors who are well-known but haven’t yet found the success they deserve.”
Earlier in her career, Moore spent two years on the television soap opera ‘General Hospital’ before making her mark with hits such as ‘St. Elmo’s Fire’ and ‘About Last Night’. However, being part of the Brat Pack sometimes led to her being seen as an unprofessional and entitled star.
Now, years later, Demi Moore is not only changing her image with ‘The Substance’ but is also firmly in contention for Hollywood’s most prestigious award.
Demi Moore‘s Historical Salary: Hollywood’s First $10 Million Actress
In the 1990s, Demi Moore starred in several hit films, including the romantic drama ‘Ghost’ (1990), the thriller ‘Indecent Proposal’, and the military drama ‘A Few Good Men’. ‘Ghost’ became the highest-grossing film of all time in the US and established Moore as a superstar.
First $10 Million-Earning Actress
In 1995, Moore earned over $10 million for the film ‘Striptease’, making her the first Hollywood actress to earn such a large sum. However, ‘Striptease’ and 1997’s ‘G.I. Jane’ failed at the box office. After this, she began having difficulty finding strong roles in the industry, which led her to take a break from acting for a while.
Powerful Comeback in ‘The Substance’
Moore saw The Substance as an opportunity to turn her career around. In the film, she did one fully nude scene and used prosthetics to portray a grotesque old woman.
Award Winning
Her stellar performance won her a Golden Globe, for which she said, “This is the first time I’ve ever been appreciated as an actor.” In addition, she received a Screen Actors Guild Award, for which Moore expressed gratitude and said she felt extremely humbled.
Demi Moore’s Oscar race: Will she take home the trophy?
Celebrity stylist Alexandra Mandelkorn says Demi Moore has had a “great performance” during this year’s awards season. “I love the joy on her face,” she said. Moore had felt doubts about her place in the industry but ‘The Substance’ redefined her story.
Top Oscar contenders
According to experts at awards analysis website Gold Derby, **Moore is the top contender to win the best actress trophy. However, she is up against *25-year-old Mickey Madison*, who plays a sex worker in *Anora’*.
Other nominated actresses
- Carla Sofia Gascon (‘Emilia Perez’) – who was an early favorite, but her old social media posts came under controversy.
- Fernanda Torres (‘I’m Still Here’) – Brazilian actress, whose acting is being considered brilliant.
- Cynthia Erivo (‘Wicked’) – whose performance has also been praised by critics.
Will Moore make history?
Oscar winners are selected by about 11,000 members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. If Moore wins an Oscar trophy on Sunday, it will be “an inspirational story,” which the film industry needs most at this time, believes movies editor Ian Sandwell.
