Demi Moore recently claimed the Golden Globe award for Best Actress for her role in the horror sci-fi film, The Substance, in January. During her acceptance speech, she reflected on a comment made 30 years prior by a producer who labeled her a “popcorn actress,” implying that she was not a “serious” actress worthy of accolades.
Now, with an Oscar nomination under her belt for the same role, it appears her talent is finally gaining the acknowledgment it deserves. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Moore was a leading figure in mainstream cinema, known for her appearances in big-budget films—a reputation that contributed to the “popcorn” designation. However, when examining her most iconic films, a notable theme emerges.
As a scholar focusing on gender representation in film and television, I have always found Moore’s work fascinating. While this is particularly evident in The Substance, much of her body of work critically explores themes of womanhood and power.
Moore’s portrayal of the faded celebrity Elisabeth Sparkle in The Substance is marked by a fierce intensity. However, her powerful performances are not new; that intensity has been a consistent thread in her on-screen roles.
Take her role as the femme fatale Meredith in Disclosure (1994), for instance. Moore commanded the screen with a rare and aggressive power. Film researcher Linda Ruth Williams has characterized this power as a form of “dangerous sexiness.”
In Disclosure, Meredith, a woman entwined in senior executive Tom’s (Michael Douglas) life, uses her cunning, business acumen, and raw aggression to manipulate situations to her advantage. At one point, Tom admits he can’t compete physically with her due to her rigorous StairMaster workouts. Ultimately, while she may not prevail, Meredith remains the most formidable and captivating character in the film.
In more subdued roles, such as Molly in Ghost (1990), Moore has an undeniable ability to convey a range of emotions, shifting seamlessly between deep-seated rage and profound sorrow.
Another standout is her role in G.I. Jane (1997), where she famously shaved her head on screen and delivered the unforgettable line “suck my dick” to Master Chief Urgayle (Viggo Mortensen), effectively challenging societal norms regarding women’s capabilities in the military. Williams referred to this role as an example of “corporeal shapeshifting,” owing to the rigorous physical training Moore undertook.
In A Few Good Men (1992), Moore’s character, Lieutenant Commander Joanne Galloway, displayed immense intelligence and legal expertise, overshadowing her male counterparts. While Tom Cruise’s character, Lieutenant Daniel Kaffee, impresses with courtroom theatrics, it is Galloway’s unwavering refusal to succumb to patriarchal pressures, embodied by Jack Nicholson’s Colonel Jessep, that truly drives the story forward.
Women Aging in Hollywood
In an interview in September 2024 regarding older women in the entertainment industry, journalist Christobel Hastings discussed the historical neglect of female actors. Research indicates that women’s careers tend to peak by age 30, whereas men’s often peak 15 years later or more.
However, Hastings also noted a growing diversity of roles for older actresses in both film and television, a movement championed for over two decades by the Geena Davis Institute, which focuses on equitable representation.
If I were to encapsulate Demi Moore’s career in a single word, it would be “defiance.” With her role in The Substance, she once again breaks barriers, joining the ranks of talented women who are receiving substantial roles as they mature in their careers.
