Demi Moore, a Hollywood icon, broke barriers in the 1990s by becoming the highest-paid female actor of her time. Her role in the 1996 film Striptease placed her at the center of a major cultural moment, but it also brought about significant challenges. While she was ruthlessly criticized, one thing always stuck out in her mind: “why shouldn’t I” be paid?
Striptease did not perform well
Striptease, released in 1996, was a comedy-drama about a woman, played by Demi Moore, who becomes a stripper to make ends meet and fight for custody of her daughter. Directed by Andrew Bergman, the film starred Moore alongside Burt Reynolds and Ving Rhames. Despite Moore’s star power, the movie did not perform as well as expected at the box office. While Striptease grossed over $113 million worldwide, it was considered a commercial disappointment, especially when compared to its $50 million budget. Critics were not kind either, with many criticizing the film’s storyline despite Moore’s performance.
A groundbreaking payday
Despite the film’s lukewarm reception, Moore made history by becoming the highest-paid actress at the time, receiving $12.5 million for her role in Striptease. This paycheck set a new precedent for women in Hollywood, who had historically been paid far less than their male counterparts. In an interview with Variety, Moore reflected on how receiving this salary was a pivotal moment in her career and for women in the industry: “Landing that salary was so powerful for me because it wasn’t just about me; it was about changing the playing field for all women.”
However, this groundbreaking achievement also marked the beginning of a backlash against her. Many critics dismissed her earnings, attributing it solely to the fact that she was playing a stripper. “The narrative quickly became, ‘Well, she’s only getting paid that number because she’s playing a stripper,’” Moore shared. “It hit me really hard, but I understood that anyone who steps out first is going to take the hit.”
It was never about comparing herself to Bruce Willis
At the time of her Striptease payday, Moore was married to fellow Hollywood star Bruce Willis. Despite public comparisons between the two, Moore made it clear that her fight for equal pay wasn’t about competing with her husband. “It wasn’t about comparing myself to him. Yes, I saw what he got paid,” Moore said in an interview with The New York Times’ podcast, The Interview. “It was really more about: ‘Why shouldn’t I? If I’m doing the same amount of work, why shouldn’t I?’”
Moore understood the importance of being paid fairly for her work, just as male actors were. The fact that she earned a salary comparable to Willis wasn’t about rivalry; it was about equity. She believed that her achievements in securing equal pay should be viewed as a win for all women, regardless of her relationship with her then-husband.
Someone had to take the first blow
For Moore, being the first woman to receive such a high salary came with its challenges. She faced a wave of criticism from both men and women. “With Striptease, it was as if I had betrayed women, and with G.I. Jane, it was as if I had betrayed men,” she recalled. Moore felt the weight of the public’s judgment, particularly because she was portraying a stripper in Striptease. “I was extremely shamed,” she said. “But I think the interesting piece is that when I became the highest-paid actress — why is it that, at that moment, the choice was to bring me down?”
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While it was painful for Moore to face the criticism, she knew it was part of being the first to break new ground. She explained, “I don’t take this personally. I think anyone who had been in the position that was the first to get that kind of equality of pay would probably have taken a hit.” Moore remained steadfast in her belief that her fight for equal pay was about more than just her; it was about creating a fairer landscape for women in Hollywood and beyond.