Demi Moore’s recent Best Actress victory at the SAG Awards on February 23 has been a profoundly moving milestone for the veteran actress. Despite her decades-long career in Hollywood, this awards season marks the first time Moore has been recognized with major industry accolades, making each win particularly significant.
A Long-Awaited Moment of Recognition
At 62, Moore has spent over 45 years in the industry, starring in iconic films such as Ghost, G.I. Jane, St. Elmo’s Fire, Striptease, and About Last Night…. However, it wasn’t until her gripping performance in the psychological body-horror The Substance that she began receiving long-overdue recognition in the form of awards. This year, she has secured nominations in nearly every major Best Actress category and already won at the Golden Globes, Critics’ Choice Awards, and the Screen Actors Guild Awards.
Moore has openly shared that she once believed she would never receive such recognition. During her Golden Globes acceptance speech in January, she reflected on a producer’s comment from 30 years ago that labeled her a “popcorn actress.” At the time, she internalized that criticism, believing that prestigious acting awards were out of her reach. “I’ve been doing this a long time—over 45 years—and this is the first time I’ve ever won anything as an actor,” she said. “I made myself believe that [award recognition] wasn’t something I was allowed to have.”
Empowering Herself and Others
Moore’s recent success has reinforced her belief in her own talent and has inspired her to encourage others who may have felt overlooked. In her Golden Globes speech, she emphasized self-worth, saying, “You can know the value of your worth if you just put down the measuring stick.”
The Power of Peer Appreciation
Moore’s SAG Awards win carries additional emotional weight because the winners are chosen by fellow actors. The Indecent Proposal star expressed deep gratitude for the impact that the Screen Actors Guild has had on her life, recalling how becoming a SAG member at just 16 years old in 1978 helped shape her career.
“[SAG] gave me meaning, it gave me purpose, and it gave me direction,” she said in her heartfelt acceptance speech. “I was a kid on my own who had no blueprint for life, and I certainly knew nothing about acting. But I watched, and I listened, and I learned from all of you. You have all been my greatest teachers.”
A Step Closer to Oscar Glory?
Moore’s SAG win also reignites discussions about her chances at the upcoming Academy Awards on March 2. After losing the BAFTA Best Actress award to Anora’s Mikey Madison on February 16, some experts questioned her status as the Oscars frontrunner. However, with her SAG victory reaffirming industry support, Moore is once again considered the favorite to take home the coveted golden statuette.
Her compelling journey—from being dismissed as a “popcorn actress” to earning industry-wide acclaim—has added an emotional depth to her awards season narrative. With the Oscars just around the corner, Demi Moore’s SAG triumph could be the final push that cements her long-awaited Academy Award win.
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