Demi Moore, who is nominated for Best Actress at the 2025 Oscars, and Margaret Qualley, who plays a younger version of Moore's character in Coralie Fargeat's horror film 'The Substance,' each put their bodies on the line for the demanding shoot.

Demi Moore thought her four-decade Hollywood career might be over a few years ago. The actress, 62, battled negative thoughts about herself after a producer dismissed her as a "popcorn actress."

Of course, part of Moore’s Oscar narrative is that a win would be nice, but not particularly neat. Moore didnt

The Substance took theaters by storm, but the body horror film starring Demi Moore is not for the weak. Some viewers might prefer to watch it at home so they can take a breath and a walk around the block after witnessing French filmmaker Coralie Fargeat’s confrontational and explicit imagery.

In the coming-of-age film, "Now and Then," Moore played the older version of a young girl named Samantha, who together with her friends, played by Rosie O'Donnell, Rita Wilson and Melanie Griffith, recall a memorable summer they shared in 1970.

Horror movies have generally struggled to earn respect from the Oscars, but "The Substance" getting a best picture nomination could be a game changer.

Demi Moore and Margaret Qualley went through rigorous physical preparation for their roles in the Oscar-nominated film The Substance. Directed by Coralie Fargeat, the movie stars Moore as Elizabeth Sparkle, a former Hollywood star and aerobics show host who is replaced by her younger self, Sue (Qualley), after consuming a mysterious substance.

Her past performances may never have been taken seriously for acting, relegating her to “popcorn actress” status — but they should be.