California, US, February 8: In a career-defining achievement, actress Demi Moore was honored with the Critics Choice Award for Best Actress for her standout performance in The Substance at the 30th Annual Critics Choice Awards. The prestigious event took place on Friday at the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, California.
Moore, 62, claimed the award after facing competition from a talented list of nominees, including Cynthia Erivo (Wicked), Karla Sofia Gascon (Emilia Perez), Marianne Jean-Baptiste (Hard Truths), Angelina Jolie (Maria), and Mikey Madison (Anora).
In The Substance, Moore portrays Elisabeth Sparkle, a struggling actress who becomes obsessed with a mysterious drug that promises eternal youth and relevance. The film, a dark horror-comedy, features Moore alongside Margaret Qualley, who plays a younger version of her character. Together, they navigate the complexities and dangers of sharing the same public persona.
Moore’s powerful performance in the film has earned her rave reviews and solidified her place as a standout talent in Hollywood. She also won her first Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Comedy or Musical for the role.
“I’m truly honored to receive this recognition,” Moore said in her acceptance speech. “This role challenged me in ways I never expected, and I’m grateful to everyone who believed in this project.”
In addition to the Critics Choice Award, Moore is one of the five nominees for Best Actress at the upcoming 2025 Academy Awards.
The rescheduled ceremony, initially set for January 12 but moved to February 7 due to the LA wildfires, also saw Conclave and Wicked lead the film nominations with 11 nods each, including Best Picture. On the TV side, Shogun led with six nominations, while Abbott Elementary, Disclaimer, Hacks, The Diplomat, The Penguin, and What We Do in the Shadows each earned four nominations.
Hosted by Chelsea Handler, the event was streamed live in India on Lionsgate Play.