Demi Moore has revealed her shock full frontal nudity scenes in acclaimed new film The Substance were easier to perform with co-star Margaret Qualley by her side.
Moore, 61, whose film has been met by rave reviews and received a 13-minute standing ovation at Cannes, told Variety Qualley, 29 made her feel ‘very safe’ while they filmed the scenes for the body horror film.
In The Substance, Moore stars as Elisabeth, an ageing TV fitness instructor who signs up for a mysterious medical regime called The Substance that promises to create the perfect, younger and better version of herself – played by Qualley.
The role required Moore to be completely naked in a scene where Qualley’s character is ‘birthed’ – which shows Moore examining her own nude body before Qualley emerges and looks at her own skin in a full-frontal scene.
Moore said: 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. But ultimately. it’s just about really directing your communication and mutual trust.
Demi Moore has revealed her shock full frontal nudity scenes in acclaimed new film The Substance were easier to perform with co-star Margaret Qualley by her side
Demi stars as Elisabeth, an ageing TV fitness instructor a la Jane Fonda, who signs up for a mysterious medical regime called The Substance – with both lead stars going fully nude
Moore also transforms into a deteriorating old woman through prosthetics and said: ‘It was very strange. One thing that helped was my dog still recognized me. It was my touchstone of reality.’
After the film premiered on Sunday night it reportedly received a 13-minute standing ovation and Demi’s own performance has been branded ‘fearless’.
Demi’s co-star Dennis Quaid referred to her Cannes comeback as a ‘incredible third act’ during a press conference after the film screened during the festival.
After branding her ‘inspirational’, Demi spoke about her own experience with making the film, which she claimed ‘pushed her out of her comfort zone’.
She said: ‘I look for things that push me out of my comfort zone; the opportunity to make a better person and actor.
‘This touched on so many themes that we all face, we seek validation and belonging. By doing [the movie] it takes us to extremes and allows us to step into it in a unique way.
‘Through the process of the film, I think I came out with greater acceptance of myself.’
The 13-minute standing ovation after the film was the longest the 77th annual festival has seen so far, as a rapturous applause filled the theatre.
The risky experiment promises to create the perfect version of herself – played by Margaret Qualley (pictured)
The role required Moore to be completely naked in a scene where Qualley’s character is ‘birthed’ – which shows Moore examining her own nude body before Qualley emerges and looks at her own skin in a full-frontal scene
Demi said the vulnerability required for her role in the body horror film was both demanding and exciting.
Demi stars as Elisabeth, an ageing TV fitness instructor a la Jane Fonda who signs up for a mysterious medical regime called The Substance that promises to create the perfect version of herself – played by Margaret Qualley.
The role required Demi to be completely naked as well as transform into a deteriorating old woman through prosthetics.
‘All of it at different times had moments that were challenging. The level of vulnerability that this role called for on all the different levels – emotionally, physically – were as demanding as it was exciting because it was really pushing me to step out of my comfort zone.’
Critics were positive on her performance, with Variety calling it ‘nothing short of fearless’ and The Hollywood Reporter praising how she ‘imbues her character with a visceral desperation.’
This year’s festival marks the first time in more than a quarter-century that Demi, who became a sex symbol through films like Striptease in the 1990s, was at the festival.
Meanwhile, Margaret said having to portray the so-called perfect version of a woman’s body was a weird experience.
She said: ‘She is meant to be perfect, but she’s probably like the least beautiful character I’ve ever played because she’s heartless’.
French director and writer Coralie Fargeat said that her goal was to explore women’s toxic relationships with their bodies and how they are taught that their worth is tied to their appearance.
She said: ‘The way I wrote the movie really sticks to what we experience as women with our bodies. So, it’s the way our body is seen, but also the way we see our own body.’
