Demi Moore’s Golden Globe Win Highlights Hollywood’s Gender Gap

The 82nd Golden Globe Awards, considered a precursor to the Academy Awards, took place on January 5th (local time) in Los Angeles, USA.

The historical drama “SHOGUN” (starring and produced by Hiroyuki Sanada) triumphed in all four categories it was nominated for: Best Drama Series, Best Actor in a Drama Series (Hiroyuki Sanada), Best Actress in a Drama Series (Anna Sawai), and Best Supporting Actor (Tadanobu Asano).

In the main film category, 62-year-old Demi Moore won Best Actress in a Comedy/Musical for her role in The Substance (original title, Japanese title: The Substance. Surprisingly, this was her first award in over 45 years of career, and she captured Hollywood’s attention with a shocking speech.

The film is a suspenseful story about a former top actress, played by Moore, who, after turning 50, begins using a new regenerative medical treatment after noticing a decline in her appearance and a drastic reduction in job opportunities. This leads to horrifying events. The movie will be released in Japan on May 16th.

Even if you make a lot of money, your acting will not be recognized.

Moore, known for her role in the romantic story Ghost/ New York’s Phantom (1990) with Patrick Swayze, saw a huge hit with the film and starred in other major works like The Truth About Cats and Dogs (1996), G.I. Jane (1997), and Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle (2003). In The Truth About Cats and Dogs, where she played a stripper, she earned a fee of $12.5 million (about 2 billion yen), becoming the highest-paid actress in the world at the time.

In her personal life, her marriage and divorce from Bruce Willis, star of the Die Hard series, generated gossip that dominated U.S. entertainment media, making her a Hollywood star. However, she remained disconnected from major film awards such as the Golden Globe and Academy Awards.

Moore was nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Musical/Comedy for Ghost/ New York’s Phantom, but she did not win. Additionally, while Ghost earned Whoopi Goldberg the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, Moore was not even nominated for Best Actress.

In her acceptance speech, Moore referred to these moments in her career.

“Thirty years ago, a producer called me a popcorn actress,” 

She revealed.

“At that time, I believed that awards like this were not meant for me. I could be in movies that earned a lot of money, but I thought my acting would never be recognized, and I truly believed that.”

She confessed, 

“When I was at my lowest point, a script came to me that was magical, bold, courageous, unconventional, and absolutely extraordinary. That was The Substance. The universe told me, ‘You are not finished yet.'”

Then continued.

 

Moore’s speech was

“Exposing the ugly side of Hollywood” (New York Post)

“It’s hard to think of a more touching and impactful moment than Demi Moore winning Best Actress for The Substance” (VOGUE magazine)

and was praised and garnered attention.

What exactly does popcorn actress mean? VOGUE magazine explains:

“If popcorn films are evaluated more for their entertainment value and box office success than for critical acclaim or contribution to film theory, then a popcorn actress is one who tends to appear in such films.”

It is explained.

“Is being a popcorn actress objectively a bad thing? Not necessarily. (However) that said, it’s disappointing to think that an undeniably talented actor like Moore was made to believe she couldn’t contribute more to cinema or provide something better.”

And pointed out.

In Hollywood, there is an entirely different world for men and women.

Moore did not mention the producer’s name, but the fact that she had suffered from a form of power harassment-type comment from a producer who held power over Hollywood’s production and casting decisions was revealed for the first time, drawing attention.

At the end of her speech, Moore shared the message from the film The Substance:

“A woman once told me, during moments when I felt that I wasn’t smart enough, beautiful enough, thin enough, successful enough, or basically just not enough, ‘Remember this. You will never be enough, but if you lower the measuring stick, you can know your own value.'” She concluded with: “So today, I would like to celebrate this (award) as a testament to my wholeness, and as a gift for being reminded that I have a place in this world and that I’m doing what I love. Thank you very much.”

She concluded her speech with:

The comedian who hosted the award ceremony, Nikki Glaser,

“If a woman over 50 plays the lead role, it’s called a comeback. If a man over 50 plays the lead role, it’s ‘Congratulations, you’re going to be the boyfriend of Sydney Sweeney (a popular young actress).'”

Moore’s friend commented to the New York Post:

“What Nikki said is absolutely true. Hollywood is an entirely different world for men and women.”

It was commented that:

Moore’s revelation is hoped to be the catalyst for transforming Hollywood’s working environment. There is also anticipation over whether Moore can secure victory at the 97th Academy Awards all eyes are on her.