At 62, Demi Moore is on the brink of winning her first-ever Academy Award, and many in Hollywood say it’s justice long delayed.
Despite more than 40 years in the industry, starring in some of the most iconic films of the last few decades, Moore has never received Oscar recognition. Now, thanks to her powerhouse performance in “The Substance,” she is the frontrunner for Best Actress on Sunday night.
Was Hollywood ‘Anti-Demi’?
Director Roland Joffe, who worked with Moore on 1995’s The Scarlet Letter, claims that certain industry power players actively worked against her throughout her career.
Speaking exclusively to Page Six, Joffe revealed that a prominent arts editor once warned him that casting Moore in the lead role of Hester Prynne would not sit well with Hollywood’s elite.
“People felt that Demi had not earned the right to such a plum, classic American role. They even suggested other actresses and told me I’d regret casting her,” Joffe recalled.
Moore had been a major box office draw, but her overt sensuality and unapologetic image made her a target of Hollywood’s double standards.
The Backlash Over That Iconic Vanity Fair Cover
Moore shocked the world in 1991 when she posed nude and seven months pregnant on the cover of Vanity Fair. It was a moment that redefined cultural norms, but it also ruffled the wrong feathers in Hollywood.
Joffe says an industry insider suggested that the actress’ bold move disqualified her from being taken seriously as a dramatic performer.
“She suggested that Demi’s appearance on the cover, nude and pregnant, and the sensuality of her performances somehow disqualified her as a serious actress,” Joffe revealed.
The Striptease Fallout
The backlash only intensified in 1996, when Moore starred in Striptease—a role that earned her a $12.5 million paycheck, making her the highest-paid actress in the world at the time.
The film flopped, and suddenly, Moore became Hollywood’s punching bag.
“The anti-Demi sentiment was a mix of jealousy—jealousy at her physical freedom and jealousy that she was the highest-paid female star,” Joffe said.
Hollywood was eager to celebrate men who played sexualized roles, but when a woman did it, she was blacklisted.
‘Popcorn Actress’ Label Crushed Her Confidence
At the Golden Globes in January, Moore delivered a raw and emotional speech about being typecast.
“Thirty years ago, a producer told me I was a ‘popcorn actress’—and I believed it,” Moore confessed.
That label corroded her confidence, making her doubt whether she would ever be taken seriously as an artist.
“I thought maybe I was done. Maybe I’d already done everything I was meant to do,” she admitted.
But then came “The Substance.”
How The Substance Revived Her Career
Moore credits director Coralie Fargeat and her bizarre, gutsy horror film The Substance for reigniting her passion.
The film follows an aging Hollywood star who takes a miracle drug that creates a younger version of herself—a chilling metaphor for the industry’s obsession with youth and beauty.
“I was at a low point when this script landed on my desk. It was wild, audacious, totally out of the box… and it reminded me that I wasn’t done,” Moore said.
Now, she’s on the verge of Oscar history.
Bruce Willis, Her Biggest Supporter
Through it all, Moore has remained close with her ex-husband Bruce Willis, with whom she shares three daughters.
Willis, who is battling frontotemporal dementia, has been a pillar of support for her comeback.
“For me, there was never a question—I show up for the people I love,” Moore said of their bond.
Her daughters, Rumer, Scout, and Tallulah, have also been cheering her on every step of the way.
Can She Beat Hollywood’s New It-Girl?
Moore’s biggest competition for Best Actress is Mikey Madison, 25, who delivered a breakout performance in “Anora”.
But longtime industry insiders say this is Demi’s year.
“Demi Moore is an Academy-standard actress. She has the ability to connect with audiences in a way very few stars can. She has earned this moment,” Joffe said.
Now, Hollywood’s ultimate comeback queen is just one golden statue away from finally getting the respect she deserves.
