Demi Moore Says Fame Put Her ‘Through the Wringer’—But She’s Finally at Peace

Demi Moore has weathered more than her fair share of Hollywood storms over the past forty years, and she’s not shy about saying it. Recently crowned People Magazine's Most Beautiful Person at 62, Moore opened up about the highs and lows of fame, admitting that the spotlight has definitely put her "through the wringer."

"It’s put me through the wringer," Moore confessed, drawing a striking parallel between her real life and her latest film, The Substance, where she plays an actress wrestling with self-image. She says the role forced her to face her own bouts of self-judgment head-on. Hollywood therapy, but with better lighting.

Moore described the universal experience of "compare and despair"—that old trap of harsh, self-critical judgment that everyone faces, only dialed up to eleven for those in the public eye. "Everyone who’s in the public eye does face a little more judgment and harsher external criticism," she said, but what really resonated was the "violence we can have against ourselves."

The mom of three has been open about her past struggles—rocky family relationships, marriage drama, battles with body image, and alcoholism. She even admitted to once biking from Malibu to Paramount just to lose baby weight, all because she was "punishing" herself for not looking a certain way. Today, though, Moore says her focus has shifted to health, longevity, and, above all, being kinder to herself. "I was so harsh and had a much more antagonistic relationship with my body. And straight up I was really just punishing myself," she reflected.

Now, she listens to her body, trusts its needs, and accepts the inevitable changes. "It doesn’t mean that sometimes I look in the mirror and don’t go, ‘Oh God, I look old,’ or ‘Oh, my face is falling’—I do. But I can accept that that’s where I’m at today, and I know the difference today is that it doesn’t define my value or who I am." After decades under scrutiny, that’s what you call a plot twist.

Off camera, Moore is just as committed to family. While filming season 2 of Paramount+’s Landman, she remains a pillar of support for ex-husband Bruce Willis, who’s battling dementia, and a dedicated mom to their three daughters: Rumer, Scout, and Tallulah. "Regardless of what the outside relationship has been, we have maintained being a family in various forms," she said, now also enjoying her role as grandma to Rumer’s daughter, Luetta. She credits the unwavering foundation of prioritizing their children for keeping the family bond strong.

As for her personal philosophy on love, Moore says, "Without loving yourself, you cannot truly experience love with another." And if you need practice, she recommends spending time with her Chihuahua, Pilaf, who apparently delivers a daily dose of unconditional affection.

So, how does Demi Moore feel after all this? Her answer: "Peaceful—and free." Not a bad place to land after a whirlwind career in the limelight.