At the Cannes Film Festival, iconic actresses are always in the spotlight. Brigitte Bardot, Grace Kelly, Catherine Deneuve, Jane Birkin, Sharon Stone, Cate Blanchett, to name just a few, have made global headlines in recent years as they basked in the glow of the paparazzi at the world's most glamorous film festival. Now it's Demi Moore's turn.
That was decided earlier this week when the sultry, 61-year-old star landed at Nice Côte d'Azur Airport to attend the 77th festival, The Hollywood Reporter announced her arrival, noting five high-profile appearances she will make in the coming week, including hosting amfAR's 30th anniversary charity gala on May 23 and, memorably, her first appearance on the Cannes red carpet in 27 years .
It happened last night, when Moore fulfilled her duty as 'godmother' of the Trophée Chopard, presenting the annual laurel wreath on behalf of the brand to emerging actors, Mike Faist and Sophie Wilde, whom she accompanied as mentor Caroline Scheufele, artistic director and co-president of the Swiss jeweler, to the premiere of Yorgos Lanthimos's Types of kindness.
What made her moment on the red carpet even more moving was that in 1997, when Moore made her debut there, at the premiere of Luc Besson's The fifth element, she backed the lead role in her then-husband Bruce Willis' stylish thriller. The action hero, with whom Moore remains close, was diagnosed with the language disorder aphasia in March 2022.
Adding to the anticipation of Moore's second red carpet appearance on Sunday night is that it will commemorate her own debut in a film competing for the festival's prestigious Palme d'Or, namely: The substance. The plot of French filmmaker Coralie Fargeat's 'feminist take on body horror' is top secret. Moore's stylist, Brad Goreski, reveals that his client will show off a look reminiscent of the film's focus on the female anatomy. In other words, Moore is method dressing. "Her red carpet look reflects themes in her film," says Goreski.
Moore's schooled physique remains as toned and tantalizing as it was when she appeared at age 29 in body paint by make-up artist Joanne Gair as a frontwoman Vanity Fairs August 1992 issue. Annie Leibovitz's legendary image was published a year after a heavily pregnant Moore, wearing nothing but diamond jewelry, posed on the cover. Noting how a pregnancy bump became a badge of honor, instead of a burden, thanks to 'buck naked' Moore, Fashion noted: "There was a seismic shift in the portrayal of pregnancy once the photo was printed."
Moore's body - reportedly maintained through grueling workouts that would put the Kardashians to shame - became her commodity and will surely light up the screen during The substance. "She has the perfect body," confirms Lou Eyrich, the costume designer/producer of Feud: Capote vs. the Swans. The critical acclaim Moore has received for immortalizing Ann Woodward, a New York socialite driven to suicide by rumors that she murdered her husband, means her week in Cannes is about much more than just her immediate commitments.
The festival is certainly a stop on Moore's campaign to land an Emmy nomination for Ryan Murphy's dramatic series (which is streaming on Disney+), as well as the place for her to promote. Husbandman, producer Taylor Sheridan's upcoming streaming TV show. "Demi plays the stylish wife of a wealthy Texas oilman," reveals Eric Buterbaugh, a Los Angeles floral designer and perfumer who is one of Moore's longtime friends.
"She has so many roles at the festival this year and we have amazing looks to support them," says Goreski.
Her Cannes wardrobe was a collaborative effort, the stylist adds. "We do it together," he says of their work. The preparations were probably intense. "I sat with her before she left and looked at her stuff - and the amount of outfits she needs is crazy," Buterbaugh adds. "Demi loves clothes and she studies them. She knows what works on her body. She's totally into it." These days, Moore also often wears her chihuahua Pilaf as her signature accessory.
Together with Moore and Goreski's main sources - namely the houses of Dior, Fendi, Gucci, Saint Laurent and Schiaparelli, for starters - the work of the roster of young designers with whom Moore is friends could shine if they get started goes with the French Riviera. The roll call includes Harris Reed (who created the outfit she wore to the Met Gala), Carolina Herrera's Wes Gordon and Balmain designer Olivier Rousteing, who created the show-stopping black and white bustier dress with feathers and sequins which Moore wore to Row January premiere.
Another source of inspiration for the duo is Moore's 'mega collection' of vintage clothing, which reportedly includes 40,000 items. She started collecting in the mid-1980s when she was a teenage star General Hospital, the American afternoon soap opera. She grew up collecting hordes of museum-quality clothes from Lily et Cie, the famed vintage boutique in Beverly Hills-when she became Hollywood's "most affordable actress" in the early 1990s.
A 1940s lavender dress, which Moore wore to the 1992 64th Academy Awards, helped her bounce back from the depths of the world. Women's Clothing Daily Worst Dressed List. Moore landed there in 1989, after appearing at the Oscars wearing an ensemble she designed. "The bizarre combination of cycling shorts, bustier and bustle skirt [was]...one of the worst outfits in the history of the Academy Awards," he noted Vanity fair.
But Moore's spunk, her sense of game and enviable physique have helped make her the fashion icon she is today, soaking up the sun and ready to rule the red carpet at Sunday's premiere of The substance. "Demi thinks outside the box and wears what excites her, not what is trendy," says Eyrich.
"There have been some setbacks along the way," Buterbaugh admits. "The misses could have happened when fashion didn't have her full attention - because when Demi puts her mind to it, she succeeds. Right now she's having a good time."
