In perhaps the most shocking Golden Globes win in the early hours of Sunday night, Demi Moore took home a statuette for best motion picture actress in a musical or comedy for her lead role in the horror film body “The Substance”.
Moore faced off against some strong favorites in the category, including Karla Sofía Gascón in “Emilia Pérez” and Cynthia Erivo in “Wicked.”
Moore, the star of “Ghost” and “A Few Good Men,” seemed surprised to be honored with the award, acknowledging that it is the first major acting award she has received in her storied career.
In a powerful acceptance speech, Moore recalled a producer who, 30 years ago, told her she was a “popcorn actress.”
“I made that mean that this wasn’t something I allowed myself to have. That I could make movies that were successful but couldn’t be recognized. I bought it and I believed it,” Moore said.
That mentality, he said, “gnawed at me over time” to the point where he thought his career was over just a few years ago. He has also received four Razzies over the course of his career, dubious honors that were mocked in several of his films.
“Maybe this was it, maybe this was complete, that I did what I was supposed to do,” Moore recalled thinking.
It was at that low point, Moore said, that “a magical, bold, brave, innovative, absolutely crazy script came across my desk called ‘The Substance,’ and the universe said to me, ‘You’re not done.'”
In fact, the universe was right.
“The Substance” follows Elisabeth Sparkle (Moore), a fading actress who is fired from her longtime job as a television fitness instructor because she is considered too old.
When offered the opportunity to take a “substance” to reveal a better version of herself, Sparkle takes it, in turn creating Sue (Margaret Qualley), a younger, attractive and therefore more successful version. from Sparkle, who tries to claim her. the life of his predecessor as his own.
Things, of course, go wrong.
Moore made sure to take the time to thank director Coralie Fargeat, Qualley, and the people who believed in her when she didn’t believe in herself.
“In these times when we don’t believe we are smart enough, pretty enough, thin enough or successful enough [enough] …or basically not enough, one woman told me, ‘I know you’ll never be enough, but you can know your worth if you just let go of the measuring stick,'” Moore said.
He continued, “Today I celebrate this as a marker of my fulfillment and the love that drives me and for the gift of doing something I love and remembering that I belong.”
Following the notable victory, emcee Nikki Glaser weighed in on Moore’s “comeback.”
“There’s been a lot of talk about comebacks, right? Like Pamela Anderson and Demi Moore, who just won,” Glaser began.
“And it turns out, if you’re a woman over 50 in a lead role, they call it a ‘comeback’. If you’re a guy over 50 in a lead role, congratulations. You’re about to play Sydney Sweeney’s boyfriend.” .
