At 61, Demi Moore bares all in her latest film, The Substance, and describes the experience as deeply vulnerable. Speaking at a press conference at the Cannes Film Festival on Monday, the actress credited her co-star Margaret Qualley for helping her feel comfortable during the film’s most intimate scenes.
“I had someone who was a great partner who I felt very safe with,” Moore shared, as quoted by Variety. She highlighted the close bond they developed, saying, “We obviously were quite close – naked – and we also got a lot of levity in those moments at how absurd those certain situations were. But ultimately, it’s just about really directing your communication and mutual trust.”
Moore plays Elizabeth Sparkle, a fading celebrity who resorts to a black-market drug to create a younger version of herself, portrayed by Qualley. The film, which required intense vulnerability and rawness, sees Moore’s character scrutinize her nude body before using “the substance.”
However, the story takes a dark turn as Sparkle becomes disfigured due to the abuse from her other self. By the film’s end, Moore’s character transforms into “a humpback abomination,” a look achieved through extensive prosthetics. “It was very strange,” Moore admitted, noting that the transformation made her resemble Anjelica Huston’s character from the 1990 film The Witches. Despite the drastic change, Moore humorously mentioned, “My dog still recognized me,” using this as a touchstone of reality.
This isn’t Moore’s first time baring it all on screen. She previously appeared nude in 1995’s The Scarlet Letter and the following year in Striptease, for which she earned a record-setting $12.5 million. Reflecting on her career and past experiences, Moore mentioned the mixed reactions to her Brat Pack fame in the 1980s and the moniker’s impact.
“For me, I didn’t love it, being thought of as a brat because I thought it kind of diminished us as professionals,” she told Good Morning America. “But I didn’t carry it.”
With The Substance, Moore steps into a role that demands both physical and emotional exposure, once again proving her versatility and bravery as an actress. The film is a testament to her enduring commitment to her craft, even when it means confronting profound vulnerability.
—
Photo Credit: Kathy Hutchins / Shutterstock.com