Demi Moore's Boldest Role Was Not in The Substance, but in This 28-Year-Old Drama Everyone Hated
The actress even received a Golden Raspberry for this role (a completely undeserved one).
Coralie Fargeat's The Substance brought Demi Moore, a star of the 1990s, back to the big screen. Throughout her career, Moore has played provocative roles and championed women's right to self-determination, fighting against the exploitation of the female image in cinema.
Demi Moore herself will never admit to her courage, but almost every role she has played has challenged gender stereotypes. One of the most provocative films of her career was Ridley Scott 's G.I. Jane.
What Is G.I. Jane About?
Jordan O'Neil serves as a lieutenant in the US Navy, but because of her gender, she can't advance in the ranks. It's not that O'Neil dreams of fighting on an equal footing with men – it's more important to her to have the right to choose and equal opportunities.
O'Neil agrees to Senator Lillian's experiment and enters the Navy's most rigorous military training, and with each new test, O'Neil proves to herself and those around her that women are no weaker than men.
G.I. Jane Was a Critical Disaster Upon Its Release
Critics tore the film apart, and Moore won not an Oscar, but a Golden Raspberry, for her role in G.I. Jane. Perhaps the film's subject matter was too provocative, even by the standards of the 2000s.
Moore's character exposes patriarchal attitudes about the superiority of men over women, shows that there should be no losers in the battle of the sexes, and demands that women have the opportunity to fight for their ambitions.
And to have the chance to play the social roles they like.
In Addition to Shaving Her Head, Demi Moore Underwent Grueling Physical Training for the Role
Demi Moore's transformation for Ridley Scott's war drama may not be the most eye-catching – the actress' shaved head is more noticeable than anything else. But to get in shape and look believable as an elite soldier, Moore spent months training like a real Navy SEAL.
She ran in water, did one-armed push-ups, and traversed obstacles in the mud – all to create a physically and mentally convincing image.
The Movie Had an Alternate Finale – And Not a Happy One
G.I. Jane had an alternate ending. In another version of the movie, Demi Moore's character dies to save Viggo Mortensen's Jack. And at the end of the movie, viewers see the three women in a new training group of Navy SEAL recruits.
In test screenings, viewers liked this ending more than the happy one. However, the producers decided to go with the version that made it into the final cut.