How Demi Moore Felt Empowered To Bare It All in New Movie That Put Her in a ‘Vulnerable’ State

Hollywood’s take on sex scenes and nudity has been a hot topic lately with celebrities chiming in with their opinions on the use of intimacy coordinators on set. Demi Moore is the latest star to enter the chat about these “vulnerable scenes” because she bares it all in her upcoming body horror movie with a feminist twist, The Substance.

The 61-year-old actress shared with Variety at the Cannes Film Festival that everything was “really spelled out” to her ahead of filming the movie. She appreciated that director Coralie Fargeat explained “the level of vulnerability and rawness that was really required to tell the story.” Moore added, “And it was a very vulnerable experience and just required a lot of sensitivity and a lot of conversation about what we were trying to accomplish.”

The film revolves around a TV aerobics instructor, who faces ageism on the job after years in the limelight. She decides to take a black-market drug that takes her back to a younger version of herself, played by actress Margaret Qualley. Both women live in the same space, but Qualley’s younger character gets to thrive while Moore’s older character is forced to stay in a “dormant state.” As the younger version of Moore abuses herself, it is the older version who feels it — this movie should have everyone talking upon its mass release!

The roles required full-frontal nudity from both of them, and there was plenty of preparation ahead of time so they would both feel empowered, not uncomfortable, while filming together. “I had someone who was a great partner who I felt very safe with. We obviously were quite close — naked — and we also got a lot of levity in those moments at how absurd those certain situations were,” Moore revealed. “But ultimately. it’s just about really directing your communication and mutual trust.”

The film has been earning rave reviews with Screen Daily describing the movie as “a condemnation of Hollywood’s obsession with youth” that satirically looks at “how psychologically damaging sexist attitudes about ’older’ women can be.” Moore has been at the forefront of knocking down patriarchal views of women and aging, so this movie is just the next step.

“I remember hearing someone say that when women get older, they shouldn’t have long hair. And something about that stuck with me,” Moore told People in 2022. “Like who says?’ It made me feel like, well, if it can grow and it’s not unhealthy, then why shouldn’t we? I’m not comfortable with rules that don’t seem to have any real meaning or justification.” Instead, Moore is making her own rules.

Before you go, click here to see which other stars got naked on camera.