Demi Moore’s Golden Globe Best Actress win for The Substance has, almost overnight, transformed the 1990s megastar into a seemingly unlikely favorite for the Oscars.
In her acceptance speech Sunday, the 62-year-old – who once generated headlines as much for her love life and naked Vanity Fair covers as for her hit films – said she had long been dismissed as a “popcorn actress,” and had never “won anything as an actor.”
But for Coralie Fargeat, the French director who also wrote Moore’s new, blood-drenched body horror film, nothing is surprising about the late-career reappraisal her leading lady is now enjoying.
“It was so moving to see Demi on that stage,” Fargeat told AFP, the morning after Moore’s big win.
The movie allowed audiences “to see who she is as an actress, and not project any more the stereotype that if you’re beautiful, you can’t be a good actress.”
“It is being called a comeback. But she has always been here,” Fargeat added.
Society’s obsession with pigeonholing and pinning expiration dates on women is the core premise of The Substance. In the film, globally distributed by MUBI, Moore’s character Elisabeth is a fading movie star, who is abruptly fired from her hit TV fitness show as she turns 50.
Out of desperation, she injects herself with a mysterious serum that allows her to live in a younger version of her body – as long as she returns to her older form every week.
Inevitably, the allure of remaining young proves too strong, especially after Elisabeth’s stunningly youthful alter ego is catapulted to fame by creepy male executives.
Fargeat had long been a fan of Moore’s acting work, which included hits like Indecent Proposal, and Ghost, as well as more divisive fare like G.I. Jane.
“I could like or not like the movies, but I think she always delivered pretty great performances,” said the director.
But Moore’s real-life career also incarnated “this iconic star” represented by her character in The Substance.
“Someone who has been totally valued for this dream, this fake promise that if you’re young, beautiful, you’re going to be happy and successful,” said Fargeat. “And when this goes away, it’s like all your life is going away.”
With the Globes win, more attention will come to The Substance – both from wider audiences and Oscars voters, who are picking their final nominees on ballots due this week.
Fargeat herself could earn nods for best director and best original screenplay, and The Substance is tipped by many pundits to make the best picture list. AFP
