“This is the first time I’ve ever won anything as an actor,” 62-year-old Demi Moore said after she accepted the Golden Globe for Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Motion Picture, Musical or Comedy.
After over 45 years in the acting business, Moore is revered as an iconic actor whose contributions to acting paved the way for many female actors after her.
Her inclusion in the legendary “Brat Pack” has produced minor media buzz with the public’s revisiting the iconic era — Moore’s impactful career in the cult classic, comedy and dramedy genres has made her a household name in the United States. However, she has not been celebrated in the industry as one.
“Thirty years ago, I had a producer tell me that I was a popcorn actress, and at that time, I made that mean that this [award] wasn’t something that I was allowed to have,” Moore said.
The term “Popcorn Actress” or “Popcorn Actor” is used to segregate those considered “serious actors” from those who seem to play more “shallow” roles. Popcorn actors are actors who appear in movies prioritizing commercial appeal and entertainment value.
With hit movies like “St. Elmo’s Fire” (1989), “Ghost” (1990), “A Few Good Men” (1992), “Indecent Proposal” (1993) and “Now and Then” (1995), Moore has claimed the place as a notable actor despite being type-casted for roles. However, she has been vocal about the profound impact the categorization of “popcorn actress” had on her confidence.
“That I could do movies that were successful, that made a lot of money, but that I couldn’t be acknowledged, and I bought in, and I believed that,” Moore said in her acceptance speech. “And that corroded me over time to the point where I thought, a few years ago, that maybe this was it. Maybe I was complete. Maybe I would — I’d done what I was supposed to do. And as I was at kind of a low point, I had this magical, bold, courageous, out-of-the-box, absolutely bonkers script come across my desk called ‘The Substance.’”
Moore’s performance in “The Substance” shows not only her legitimacy as an actor but also her newfound confidence in her abilities.
Pamela Anderson has a similar story in the industry. With the release of “Pamela, A Love Story,” a documentary by her son Brandon Lee, Anderson saw a resurgence in popularity. The 2023 Netflix documentary shared with the public never-before-seen footage and stories behind some of the star's most intimate and public experiences.
In the documentary, Anderson recalls studios' refusal to give her series roles after her time on “Baywatch.” Anderson was unceremoniously type-casted, a point she highlighted in an interview with USA Today. Anderson spoke about her enthusiasm towards acting from a young age, remembering her Dad watching “All in the Family” while she recited Shakespeare sonnets riding an exercise bike.
“Even when I was shooting covers of Playboy, I was reading Tennessee Williams and Eugene O’Neill plays,” Anderson said in the interview. “I felt disappointed I wasn’t doing things that were challenging me. I was getting away with murder in a bathing suit.”
Anderson’s latest film, “The Last Showgirl,” has earned her praise for her acting. As InStyle contributor Meg Walter writes, “Anderson’s performance has been widely praised, if backhandedly — Like Moore, she has earned a few career-first awards nods, including nominations for a Golden Globe and a Gotham Award.”
Anderson expressed excitement for her future with Forbes, as she tells of the encouragement she is receiving from studios.
"I've been meeting with people and getting wonderful notes from directors and others in the industry,” Anderson said. “I'm excited to work on future projects together, so that's all the apology I need — I'm in the right place now. Sometimes, it takes a little time, and you must have patience.”
Popcorn actors bring unique, lighthearted, whimsical and dramatic creative media to the screens. And with the recent rise in popularity of Anderson and Moore, the two have challenged the negative designation often associated with popcorn actors.
