Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Demi Moore
How Demi Moore built a successful career. Explore key moments that defined the journey.
Demi Moore is an American actress who gained significant recognition in the 1980s, eventually becoming the highest-paid actress in the world by 1995. She has received a Golden Globe Award and a Screen Actors Guild Award, and she has been nominated for an Academy Award, a British Academy Film Award, and an Emmy Award. Moore was also named one of Time's 100 most influential people in the world in 2025.
1980: Magazine Cover Appearances Since 1980
As of 2024, Demi Moore has appeared on magazine covers every year since 1980.
August 1991: Vanity Fair Cover
In August 1991, Demi Moore appeared nude on the cover of Vanity Fair while seven months pregnant with her second child, Scout LaRue Willis. The photo, shot by Annie Leibovitz, generated significant media attention.
August 1992: Vanity Fair Cover
In August 1992, Demi Moore appeared nude on the cover of Vanity Fair again, this time modeling for body painting artist Joanne Gair in Demi's Birthday Suit.
1995: Highest-Paid Actress
In 1995, Demi Moore became the world's highest-paid actress, earning $12.5 million for her role in 'Striptease'. Her salary caused a "reverse domino effect" in Hollywood, leading to an increase in other actresses' asking prices.
1995: Roles in 'The Scarlet Letter' and 'Now and Then'
In 1995, Demi Moore's portrayal of Hester Prynne in 'The Scarlet Letter' was critically panned, with her performance being described as weak. She also starred in 'Now and Then', which, while not a critical success, garnered a cult following and box office success.
1996: Producing and Starring in 'If These Walls Could Talk'
In 1996, Demi Moore produced and starred in HBO's 'If These Walls Could Talk', which became HBO's highest-rated original film to date. She received Golden Globe and Primetime Emmy Award nominations for her work. Also in 1996, she provided voice acting in 'The Hunchback of Notre Dame' and 'Beavis and Butt-Head Do America'.
1996: Starring in 'Striptease' and 'The Juror'
In 1996, Demi Moore starred in 'Striptease', receiving a record-breaking salary. The film, while grossing $113 million, was heavily disliked. She also starred in 'The Juror', which was also unsuccessful. She received the Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Actress for both films in 1996.
1997: Role in 'G.I. Jane'
In 1997, Demi Moore starred in 'G.I. Jane', undergoing rigorous training and shaving her head for the role. The film received mixed reviews, earning her another Golden Raspberry Award, though her performance was largely praised. Also in 1997, she appeared in Woody Allen's 'Deconstructing Harry' and the short film 'Destination Anywhere'.
1999: Guest Editor for Marie Claire
In 1999, Demi Moore was a guest editor for the November issue of Marie Claire magazine. She was also ranked eighth on Forbes' list of Top 20 Actresses.
2000: Starring in 'Passion of Mind'
In 2000, Demi Moore returned to the screen after a three-year hiatus in 'Passion of Mind'. Her performance was favorably reviewed, but the film did not find a wide audience.
2001: Turning Down Film Offers
In 2001, Demi Moore was reportedly turning down commercial film offers, focusing on her family. This further extended her self-imposed career hiatus.
2003: Role in 'Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle'
In 2003, Demi Moore played a villain in 'Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle', which was a commercial success. Her role garnered media attention, and she found herself questioning her place in the industry after the response. She later signed on as the face of Versace and Helena Rubinstein.
2003: E! True Hollywood Story special
In 2003, Demi Moore was the subject of an E! True Hollywood Story special, highlighting her life and career.
2006: Roles in 'Half Light' and 'Bobby'
In 2006, Demi Moore starred in 'Half Light' and reunited with Emilio Estevez for 'Bobby', in which she played an alcoholic singer. As part of the ensemble cast for 'Bobby', she received nominations and awards.
2007: Roles in 'Flawless' and 'Mr. Brooks'
In 2007, Demi Moore reunited with Michael Caine for 'Flawless', a heist drama. She also appeared as a police officer in 'Mr. Brooks', which was profitable.
2007: The Guardian Profile
In 2007, The Guardian profiled Demi Moore, observing her enduring screen persona characterized by toughness, strength, and determination.
2008: Financial Crisis
Demi Moore played a chief risk management officer at a large Wall Street investment bank during the initial stages of the 2008 financial crisis in the corporate drama Margin Call (2011).
2008: Directorial Debut with 'Streak'
In 2008, Demi Moore made her directorial debut with the short film 'Streak', starring her daughter Rumer.
2009: Launch of DNA Foundation
In 2009, Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher launched DNA Foundation, a nonprofit, non-governmental organization directed towards fighting child sexual slavery.
2009: Roles in 'Happy Tears' and 'The Joneses'
In 2009, Demi Moore played roles in 'Happy Tears' and 'The Joneses'. 'The Joneses' was highlighted for its satire of consumer culture and Moore's performance. Also in 2009, she acted in the 9th edition of 24 Hour Plays on Broadway.
August 2010: Harper's Bazaar Report on Twitter Usage
In August 2010, Harper's Bazaar reported that Demi Moore uses Twitter to raise awareness of sexual trafficking and slavery, with over half of her posts dedicated to the subject.
2010: Pepsi Refresh Celebrity Challenge Win
In 2010, Demi Moore defeated Kevin Bacon to win $250,000 in the Pepsi Refresh Celebrity Challenge. She chose to support the organization GEMS: Girls Educational & Mentoring Services.
2010: Starring in 'Bunraku'
In 2010, Demi Moore starred in 'Bunraku' as a courtesan and femme fatale with a secret past.
2011: Role in 'Margin Call' and Directing 'Five'
In 2011, Demi Moore appeared in 'Margin Call', which received favorable reviews and earned the cast nominations. She was also nominated for a Directors Guild of America Award for directing a segment of 'Five'.
2011: Roles in 'Another Happy Day'
In 2011, Demi Moore played a 'brash and overtly sexual second wife' in the black comedy 'Another Happy Day'.
November 2012: Renaming of DNA Foundation to Thorn
In November 2012, the DNA Foundation announced it was renaming itself to Thorn: Digital Defenders of Children.
2012: Role in 'LOL'
In 2012, Demi Moore played a mother in the coming-of-age film 'LOL'.
2013: Role in 'Very Good Girls'
In 2013, Demi Moore played a mother in the coming-of-age film 'Very Good Girls'.
2015: Role in 'Forsaken'
In 2015, Demi Moore played an old flame of a quick-draw killer in the Western drama 'Forsaken'.
2016: Role in 'Wild Oats'
In 2016, Demi Moore played the daughter of a retired high school teacher in the road comedy 'Wild Oats'.
2017: Recurring Role on 'Empire' and Appearance in 'Rough Night'
In 2017, Demi Moore had a recurring role as a mysterious nurse on 'Empire' and appeared in 'Rough Night' as part of a swinger couple.
2017: Role in 'Blind'
In 2017, Demi Moore played the neglected wife of an indicted businessman in the drama 'Blind'.
2017: Thorn Assisted Law Enforcement
In 2017, Thorn assisted law enforcement in identifying 5,894 child sex trafficking victims and rescuing 103 children according to the organization's impact report.
2018: Role in 'Love Sonia'
In 2018, Demi Moore played a social worker in the Hindi-language drama 'Love Sonia'.
2018: Visionary Woman Award
In 2018, Demi Moore was honored with the Visionary Woman Award for her work to combat human trafficking by the Los Angeles-based nonprofit organization, Visionary Women.
September 2019: Publication of Memoir 'Inside Out'
In September 2019, Demi Moore's memoir, 'Inside Out', was published by HarperCollins, reaching number one on The New York Times' best-sellers lists.
October 2019: Harper's Bazaar Cover
In October 2019, Demi Moore posed nude on the cover of Harper's Bazaar magazine.
December 2019: The Wall Street Journal Cover Story
In December 2019, The Wall Street Journal listed a cover story about Demi Moore as one of their most-read stories of the year.
2019: Role in 'Corporate Animals'
In 2019, Demi Moore played an unethical CEO in the black comedy 'Corporate Animals'.
2020: Roles in 'Songbird', 'Brave New World', and Savage x Fenty Show
In 2020, Demi Moore played a matriarch in 'Songbird', recurred in 'Brave New World', and modeled in Rihanna's Savage x Fenty Vol. 2 show. That year, she also produced and starred in the podcast 'Dirty Diana'.
2022: Roles in 'Please Baby Please' and 'The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent'
In 2022, Demi Moore's role in 'Please Baby Please' earned her positive reviews. She also made a cameo in 'The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent'.
2022: Thorn Identified Child Sexual Abuse Files and Victims
In 2022, Thorn found 824,466 child sexual abuse material files and identified 1,895 victims of child sexual abuse.
2024: Continued Magazine Cover Appearances
As of 2024, Demi Moore continues to appear on magazine covers every year since 1980 and has appeared in commercials for brands such as Keds, Oscar Mayer, Diet Coke, Lux, Jog Mate, Seibu Department Stores, Versace and Ann Taylor
2024: Roles in 'Feud: Capote vs. The Swans' and 'Landman'
In 2024, Demi Moore played Ann Woodward in 'Feud: Capote vs. The Swans' and starred in 'Landman'.
2024: Courage Award
In 2024, Demi Moore received the Courage Award at The Women’s Cancer Research Fund's gala.
2024: Role in 'The Substance'
In 2024, Demi Moore starred in Coralie Fargeat's 'The Substance', which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival and received critical acclaim for her performance. Moore won the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy, the Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Actress, and the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role, and was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actress and the BAFTA Award for Best Actress.
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