Demi Moore's shocking transformation in the intense horror film 'The Substance'

The new Demi Moore film is considered a "body horror." The actress has filmed many intense and sometimes even disgusting scenes. This has taken a toll on her own body.

In the horror movie "The Substance," Demi Moore plays Elizabeth Sparkle, a movie star who, struggling with time, turns to a mysterious drug. This drug allows her to clone herself. Her younger version can enjoy life but only for a few days. After the set time, the women have to switch. The film is receiving many positive reviews despite being shocking and, at times, repulsive. Many believe this is the role of Moore's career. The actress admits that filming was torturous and affected her body.

The actresses are now conducting interviews about the behind-the-scenes work of the highly anticipated film. In an interview with the "L.A. Times," Moore said: "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. And I then lost, like, 20 pounds. You have to walk away feeling that you put it all on the table. It called for it, and it’s what you want to bring to it."

Just to remind you, shingles is an infectious disease caused by the same virus responsible for chickenpox. It can become active when our immune system is weakened. Symptoms initially resemble a cold, followed by skin problems like a rash, redness, and blisters.

Margaret Qualley, who plays the younger version of the star in "The Substance," admitted in the same interview that she developed severe acne that plagued her throughout the filming period.

"The Substance" is a brutally honest depiction of the entertainment industry, challenging established norms of beauty and desire. The horror that unfolds in women's lives translates to their bodies. As it turns out, even the actresses playing the leading roles felt it physically.

Moore admitted in an interview with "Variety" that some scenes were particularly difficult for her. The actress had to perform 45 takes of one of the most emotional scenes in the film, which involved hiding signs of aging while getting ready for a date. The 61-year-old actress confessed that working with director Coralie Fargeat, known for her lengthy creative process, was exceptionally demanding. "My face was just raw," Moore recalls. Eventually, the intervention of the makeup artist ended the lengthy filming session when the star decided she couldn't go on any longer.