Demi Moore recently opened up about filming “A Few Good Men,” remembering an especially awkward moment with her co-star Tom Cruise. Speaking at the New Yorker Festival, the actress explained that she was nearly eight months pregnant with her daughter, Scout, during pre-production. This personal recollection opened a wider window into the pressures faced by working mothers in 1990s Hollywood.
An Awkward Encounter: What Happened with Tom Cruise?
What was it like to be a heavily pregnant actress on a major film set in the early 1990s? Moore provided a telling anecdote. “I think Tom was quite embarrassed,” she told the audience. While Moore herself felt physically fine and was actively moving around, she could sense Cruise’s discomfort. She contextualized his reaction not as a personal slight, but as a reflection of the era’s norms. Seeing a starring actress in a popular show navigate the visible phases of pregnancy was uncommon at the time.
Why Did Moore Feel She Had to Overachieve?
Moore’s experience was about more than a single awkward moment; it was a catalyst for immense personal pressure. She described becoming an “overachiever” to prove a point. “It’s one of the many things, for me, that I just felt didn’t make sense,” she said. “And so I challenged that to say, you know, ‘Why not? Why can’t you have both?’” This driving question led her to put immense pressure on herself to demonstrate that women could seamlessly maintain successful careers while raising families.
Looking Back: How Does She View That Time Now?
With the clarity of hindsight, Moore now questions her own relentless drive. “I look back at that time now, and I go, ‘What the f*** was I thinking?’” she candidly admitted. She recalled the intense physical demands she placed on her body, including rehearsing while heavily pregnant and then blocking scenes soon after giving birth while also breastfeeding. Her commitment was staggering, all in an effort to meet professional obligations without showing strain.
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How is Hollywood Different Today?
Moore said this story is more than just a memory — it shows how far things have come. She’s proud that the industry is now more supportive of mothers. The actress noted that younger actresses today no longer seem to feel the same need to “prove themselves” in the way she once did. She is heartened that the current environment in Hollywood increasingly allows women to embrace both motherhood and ambition without carrying the same burden of guilt she experienced.
