Hollywood icon Demi Moore achieved a historic milestone after winning her first major acting award at the 2025 Golden Globes with an acting career spanning over four decades.
The 62-year-old actress took home the “Best Female Actor – Musical or Comedy” award for her portrayal in 2024 body horror film “The Substance”.
The film explores toxic beauty culture as aerobics star Elisabeth Sparkle (Moore), fired on her 50th birthday, turns to a mysterious substance promising to transform her into a better version of herself.
The Substance was nominated for “Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy”, alongside “A Real Pain”, “Anora”, “Challengers”, “Wicked”, and “Emilia Perez”, with the latter emerging as the winner.
Moore, on the other hand, won over Amy Adams (Nightbitch), Cynthia Erivo (Wicked), Karla Sofía Gascón (Emilia Perez), Mikey Madison (Anora), and Zendaya (Challengers) for the best actress category.
During her acceptance speech, Moore expressed her disbelief from winning as she admitted that she hadn’t expected to win.
“I really wasn’t expecting that. I’m just in shock right now,” she said, visibly emotional.
Reflecting on her 45-year career, Moore revealed this was her first major acting accolade, saying, “I’ve been doing this for over 45 years and this is the first time I’ve ever won anything as an actor.”
She continued, “Thirty years ago, I had a producer tell me that I was a ‘popcorn actress’ and at that time I made that mean [winning an award] wasn’t something I was allowed to have, that I could do movies that were successful and made a lot of money but I couldn’t be acknowledged… I bought in and I believed that.”
Demi shared that she nearly gave up acting a few years ago during a particularly low point in her life. However, she credited director Coralie Fargeat’s script for The Substance as the turning point.
Describing the said movie as “magical, bold, courageous, out-of-the-box, absolutely bonkers”, Moore said it reignited her passion for acting.
Moore thanked Fargeat, her co-star Margaret Qualley, her team at Creative Artists Agency, and everyone who supported her.
She concluded her speech with a powerful message about self-worth, inspired by a pivotal moment in her life.
“In those moments when we don’t think we’re smart, pretty, skinny, successful, or basically just not enough, someone told me, ‘You will never be enough, but you can know the value of your worth if you just put down the measuring stick.’”
She added, “I celebrate this as a marker of my wholeness and of the love that is driving me and for the gift of doing something I love and being reminded that I do belong.”
After the ceremony, Moore took to Instagram to share her joy with fans, posting clips and photos from the prestigious event.
“Woke up this morning still in shock but full of so much joy, love, and gratitude for this honor and recognition,” she wrote in the caption. “I am so deeply humbled, and the little girl in me is saying f— yeah!”
Moore is known for her roles in iconic films such as Ghost (1990), A Few Good Men (1992), Indecent Proposal (1993), and G.I. Jane (1997).
