Despite a lifetime in the spotlight as one of the world’s most famous actresses, Demi Moore had spent her entire career shunned by acting accolades.
Throughout the years, the Hollywood icon, famed for her roles in blockbuster hits like Ghost, A Few Good Men, and Indecent Proposal, proved she was every bit as formidable as the leading men she married. Yet despite her parts, it wasn’t until Sunday the 62-year-old was finally recognised for her work, taking home her first-ever Golden Globe for her stunning performance in The Substance.
Lifting the gong for best female actor in a film, musical, or comedy, Moore marked a triumphant comeback. Her decades-long career has been a mix of movie triumphs, personal challenges, and the kind of resilience that defines Tinseltown’s biggest stars. Visibly stunned as her name was announced, the mother-of-three took to the stage to deliver a deeply emotional acceptance speech that earned her a standing ovation.
Demi has never won a big award before ( Image:
Penske Media via Getty Images) Demi Moore accepted Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy for her role in the feminist horror The Substance ( Image:
Penske Media via Getty Images) “I’ve been doing this a long time – over 45 years – and this is the first time I’ve ever won anything as an actor,” she said, her voice breaking with emotion. Thirty years ago, I had a producer tell me I was a ‘popcorn actress.’ At the time, I believed it. I thought it meant I could do movies that made money, but I wasn’t allowed to be acknowledged for my work. I bought into that, and it corroded me.”
Moore reflected on how the comment lingered in her mind ever since it was made, shaping her perception of herself and her career. At one point, she admitted, she considered walking away from acting altogether. “I thought maybe this was it, that I had done all I was supposed to do,” she confessed. But when Coralie Fargeat’s script for The Substance landed in her lap, it reignited her passion for acting.
“The universe told me, ‘You are not done,'” Moore said, her voice strong and confident. Her heartfelt speech resonated deeply with the audience, many of whom were visibly moved. Even the evening’s host, Nikki Glaser, quipped, “Good luck to whoever has to follow that.” Moore’s victory is all the more poignant given the challenges she has faced throughout her life and career.
Born in Roswell, New Mexico, she endured a tumultuous childhood marked by instability and tragedy, including her stepfather’s suicide. In another devastating revelation, Moore also found out that the man she knew and loved as her dad was actually not her biological father. Upon finding out, she said she told herself “that I wasn’t wanted, or that I don’t deserve to be here.” After her parents divorced, Moore lived at home with her unstable mother. As a young, anxious teen, her mum would bring her along to bars so that men would take notice.
In her book, she revealed that when she was 15, she came home to an older man they knew in their apartment with a key. She said he raped her and asked how it felt “to be whored” by her mother “for $500.” Moore recalled: “I think, in my deep heart, no. I don’t think it was a straightforward transaction,” she said about whether she thought her mom sold her. “But she still — she still did give him the access and put me in harm’s way.” She dropped out of high school as a teenager and left her mum’s home to invent a future for herself. Acting became both an escape and a calling.
Demi Moore found global fame after starring alongside Patrick Swayze in Ghost ( Image:
Paramount/REX/Shutterstock) Her breakout role in St Elmo’s Fire in 1985 made her a member of the iconic Brat Pack, and her performance in Ghost catapulted her to superstardom. The 1990 film, starring alongside Patrick Swayze, became a cultural phenomenon and remains one of the most beloved romantic dramas of all time. However, her success wasn’t without its hurdles.
Despite starring in major hits, Moore was often met with scepticism from critics who downplayed her talent. Her bold choices, including shaving her head for G.I. Jane and commanding a then-record-breaking salary for Striptease, made headlines but also attracted criticism. And while she became a pioneer for women in Hollywood, her personal life – particularly her marriages to Bruce Willis and Ashton Kutcher – often overshadowed her professional achievements.
For Moore, off-screen was often as complex as her roles on it. Her marriage to Willis, with whom she shares three daughters, was one of Hollywood’s most high-profile unions. Together, they navigated the pressures of fame while raising a family, even maintaining a close friendship after their divorce. Her second marriage to Ashton Kutcher made her a tabloid fixture. The 15-year age gap between the couple sparked endless speculation and judgment, with Moore often painted as insecure about ageing in an industry that prizes youth.
The eventual collapse of their marriage left the actress struggling with addiction to drink and drugs and self-esteem issues, a battle she bravely chronicled in her 2019 memoir, Inside Out. The book was a bestseller, praised for its raw honesty about her struggles and journey toward self-acceptance. Backstage after Sunday’s Golden Globe win, Moore opened up about the significance of the award and how it marked a turning point in her life. “I celebrate this win as, for the love that’s driving me, and for the gift of doing something I love,” she said.
Demi Moore married Ashton Kutcher following her divorce from Bruce Willis ( Image:
George Pimentel / Getty Images) She spoke candidly about the freedom that comes with age and the joy of no longer seeking external validation. “As human beings, our greatest task is to let go entirely of what other people think,” she said. “When we value ourselves, when we have enough self-love, the world will reflect that back to us.”
Turning 60 has been liberating for Moore, and all self-doubt has now gone. She said: “I think as human beings, that is a great task, to really let go entirely of what other people think. I think it becomes less and less as you increase your appreciation for yourself. I think as we live a long time, we also can look back and see how far we’ve come and really can then take a little bit more time to acknowledge ourselves.”
The role makes it clear to audiences – and perhaps Moore herself – that she has always been more than a “popcorn actress.” Reflecting on her journey, Moore offered words of wisdom for anyone feeling sidelined or underestimated. “We can spend our time focusing on all that we’re not, or we could be celebrating all that we are, and I think it’s just a subtle shift,” she said. “We all know that there are certain kind of conditions, conditioning, societal conditioning, but what we really have to look at is what we are choosing to buy into. Because it exists, it doesn’t make it the truth.
“And I think it all goes back to how we choose to hold ourselves and when we value ourselves, when we have enough self-love. “And that then will reflect out in the world and then the world will follow and change to accommodate how you are reflecting of yourself.” Moore made it clear that her story is far from over.
Demi Moore posed naked for the film Striptease “This is what we’ve got,” she said, gesturing to her award. “It’s so full and rich unto itself. “And if I were to look at it from a hopeful perspective, it’s really what it can do for me, which is what I’ve been saying along this whole journey, which is it’s important not to make it mean too much, but it’s also important to remember not to make it too little and to really be in the joy of what this is. And then out of that present space, allow for whatever is to come to unfold.”
For an actress who has spent decades defying expectations, Moore’s Golden Globe win isn’t just a personal victory, it’s a testament to the power of resilience, reinvention, and self-belief. At 62, Moore has proven that it’s never too late to earn the recognition you deserve – and silence the critics who said she was simply a “popcorn actress”.