Demi Moore Dealt with Illness While Filming 'The Substance' — Details

Demi Moore endured an illness while she was filming an upcoming horror/sci-fi movie. The actress, who has spoken about her health before, opened up about her experience in a recent interview.

Hollywood icon Demi Moore, 61, divulged how intense it was filming "The Substance," which is a movie she stars in alongside famous actress Margaret Qualley.

During a recent LA Times interview about the new movie release, which is the film writer-director, Coralie Fargeat's gory follow-up to her 2017 debut movie "Revenge," Demi revealed that she had come down with something during production.

Described by the outlet as "provocative and explicit," "The Substance" tackles the theme of aging in Hollywood in a cleverly confrontational manner. When it was shown at the Cannes Film Festival, its satirical sense of humor shifted what Emily called "a somewhat snoozy" event.

"The Substance" is due to hit theaters on September 20, and now, a year after they wrapped filming in Paris, France, Demi recounted how her health suddenly took a turn for the worst during a four-way conversation at the Corinthia Hotel.

"To give you an idea of the intensity, my first week that I actually had off, where it was just Margaret working, I got shingles," disclosed the "Striptease" star.

Jumping in with her own recollection, Margaret divulged, "Oh yeah, I had crazy acne for a full [sic] time." Following Margaret's revelation, Demi added that on top of getting shingles, she lost around 20 pounds while filming.

After both the actresses shared what happened to them, Emily recalled how Coralie smiled and explained that the expression seemed to indicate she had no guilt about having put the stars through the wringer.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), shingles, which is also known as herpes zoster, is an illness where one develops a painful rash. The affected person's rash can be situated on either the right side of the body or the left and is often itchy or tingly.

In serious cases, shingles can cause severe complications such as postherpetic neuralgia (PHN), which is a long-term nerve pain. The illness is often caused by the same virus that causes chickenpox, Varicella Zoster Virus (VZV).

The CDC reports that approximately 1 million people get shingles each year in the United States. Those at risk include people who have had chicken pox before.

Other risk factors increasing the possibility of contraction include aging, medical conditions that weaken the immune system, and medications that keep the immune system from functioning properly.

People often get vaccinated to prevent contracting the disease, and there are also an array of antiviral medications to cure shingles once contracted. Demi's revelation about her getting shingles is not the first time she has shared information about her health.

In 2019, the "G.I. Jane" star sat down with actress Gwyneth Paltrow and author Arianna Huffington at the In Goop Health Summit to discuss the lifestyle changes she had made after her health had taken a turn for the worse.

In 2012, Demi collapsed at home and was hospitalized after the incident, she reportedly also entered rehab to treat addiction and an eating disorder.

What she had gone through forced her to shift her priorities and refocus on her health and the relationships she had with the people in her life, which include her daughters, Rumer, Scout LaRue, and Tallulah Willis.

Speaking about how improving herself affected her daughters, Demi shared, "I feel like the more that I work on myself it's automatically imparted because that's how I'm living, and I don't have to work as hard to show them or teach them."

Giving Rumer Willis, Scout, and Tallulah credit, Demi boasted that she gets more inspiration and insights from them than what she had to share with Gwyneth and Arianna at the time.

Other details discussed during Demi's conversation included the importance of putting one's phone down to connect deeply with the people they love.

Demi Moore was seen connecting with her daughter Scout while the two were at the Dior Homme Menswear Spring/Summer 2025 show during Paris Fashion Week in June.

While the mother and daughter certainly made a striking pair with their stylish outfits, it was Demi's physique that prompted a flurry of concerning comments.

Demi shared five photos and a video on Instagram, capturing her arrival at the event with her dog in her arms. In the video, her daughter, Scout, and stylist and judge on "Canada's Drag Race," Brad Goreski, walked behind her.

The Hollywood star put a playful spin on suiting up, wearing an oversized blazer and matching loose shorts, which highlighted her slender legs. She completed the look with a light gray shirt featuring large collars and a pair of white gladiator-styled sandals.

Demi finished her look with dark sunglasses and posed for pictures with Scout, who looked equally stylish. Scout donned an oversized button-down shirt in purple and gray print and a sleeveless jacket in dusty eggplant. She paired this with black loafers and white socks.

At the event, Demi sat next to actor Michael Ward, who wowed in a yellow jacket, a light gray sweater, pants, and brown shoes. The duo posed for the camera with Michael sitting relaxed and Demi crossing her legs.

Scout also shared the spotlight with actor Thomas Doherty. Thomas impressed guests with his striped blue shirt that was knotted at the center. He completed his look with a dark gray suit jacket and trousers.

Demi, who enjoyed the show among fellow celebrities, captioned her post, "Bonjour @Dior! A beautiful show with my three beautiful dates. Congratulations, @mrkimjones 😘 What a stunningly beautiful collection. We love you! Forever yours, Mrs. Jones." This caption, hinting at her role as the designer's muse, added a personal touch to her glamorous appearance.

However, her look sparked a flurry of reactions online. On the concerned side, one person commented, "She's not looking good, so thin." Another echoed a similar sentiment and focused on her legs. They expressed, "My God, her legs are so thin."

Adding a mix of speculation that the actress might have used Ozempic, another remarked "Demi's body type is naturally beautiful like when she was in ['G.I. Jane'] or ['Ghost.'] Ozempic does this..muscle wasting..not healthy goals especially when we are 60+. [Need] strong muscles and ++bone density [sic]."

In contrast, there was an outpouring of admiration and awe from her fans. "So cute, and so young," gushed one supporter while another exclaimed, "How awesome you are! I'm in awe of you!" A last commenter remarked, "Can she be any prettier???" which they paired with a heart emoji.

A more balanced view was also offered by a commenter who wrote, "She [looks] fabulous but gone so thin maybe the worry of Bruce [sic]," hinting at a possible emotional toll amid the well-documented health issues of her ex-husband, Bruce Willis.

Despite the mixed reactions, Demi continues to make bold fashion statements, showcasing her unique style and elegance. Her daring choices were evident last May at two major events: the amfAR Gala in Cannes and the Gucci Fashion Show in London.