Demi Moore Goes Full Frontal For Cannes Hit ‘The Substance’ At Age 61: “It Was A Very Vulnerable Experience”

Demi Moore is baring it all in the new feminist horror flick The Substance, which received a 13-minute standing ovation at Cannes Film Festival on Sunday night (May 19).

In the film, Moore, 61, strips down for several full-frontal nude scenes, which the actress described as a “very vulnerable experience.”

“Going into it, it was really spelled out — the level of vulnerability and rawness that was really required to tell the story,” she said during a press conference for the movie, per Variety. “And it was a very vulnerable experience and just required a lot of sensitivity and a lot of conversation about what we were trying to accomplish.”

The movie follows Moore’s character, a movie star who takes a black-market drug that creates a younger, better version of herself (played by Margaret Qualley). In one of the several nude scenes, Moore studies her naked body before taking the pill, ultimately birthing an equally as nude Qualley.

The Ghost actress credited Qualley with helping her feel comfortable during those scenes.

“I had someone who was a great partner who I felt very safe with,” she said. “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.”

Moore and Qualley aren’t the only A-listers featured in the gory film, which has received astounding reviews from critics. Dennis Quaid also nabbed a role that was originally supposed to go to the late Ray Liotta before his shocking death in May 2022.

“In my heart, I dedicated this role to Ray Liotta, who was set to play it,” Quaid said at the press conference, per Variety. “It was this week, two years ago that he passed, so I’d like to remember him. He was such an incredible actor.”

Following the prolonged standing ovation at Cannes Film Festival, Variety reports that Moore said, “This is my first time to have a film premiere in Cannes. I’m so happy to be here. I’m a little exhausted — that was intense.”

The Substance is expected to be released in theaters sometime later this year.