Demi Moore reflects on full-frontal nude scene in horror flick: ‘Very vulnerable experience’

Photos of Demi Moore at Cannes
Demi Moore said her full-frontal nude scene in the film "The Substance" was "a very vulnerable experience."
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This is a lot more than a “Striptease.”

In Demi Moore’s new movie “The Substance,” which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival, the 61-year-old actress has her first full-frontal nude scenes of her long career.

Moore described the newfound nakedness as “a very vulnerable experience.”

Demi Moore called the nude scenes in her latest film “a very vulnerable experience.” REUTERS
Demi Moore called the nude scenes in her latest film “a very vulnerable experience.” REUTERS
Moore walks the red carpet ahead of the Cannes premiere of her film “The Substance.” Getty Images
Moore walks the red carpet ahead of the Cannes premiere of her film “The Substance.” Getty Images

“Going into it, it was really spelled out — the level of vulnerability and rawness that was really required to tell the story,” Moore said, 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.”

In the body-horror film, Moore plays a celebrity who uses a new drug that creates a younger version of herself which exists alongside her. Little Demi is played by Margaret Qualley.

“I had someone who was a great partner who I felt very safe with,” Moore said of her 29-year-old co-star.

“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 has done onscreen nudity before — most notably in 1996’s “Striptease,” but “The Substance” is said to go far beyond that.

In “The Substance,” Moore plays a celeb who is able to create a secondary, younger version of herself. Instagram / MUBI
In “The Substance,” Moore plays a celeb who is able to create a secondary, younger version of herself. Instagram / MUBI

Outside of its headline-grabbing skin scenes, the film has been warmly received on the Côte d’Azur.

“The Substance,” which also stars Dennis Quaid, got a long standing ovation at its Cannes premiere. Depending on who you ask, it lasted nine minutes (Hollywood Reporter), 11 minutes (Variety) or 13 minutes (Deadline).

Quaid’s role was originally supposed to be played by the late Ray Liotta, who died in 2022 at 67.

At the festival, the actor paid tribute to the “Goodfellas” star.

“In my heart, I dedicated this role to Ray Liotta, who was set to play it,” Quaid, 70, said. “It was this week, two years ago that he passed, so I’d like to remember him. He was such an incredible actor.”