Demi Moore, Pamela Anderson, and Other Empowered Women Making a Comeback

This awards season, the red carpet resembles a nostalgic high school reunion, with numerous prominent actresses from the ’90s and 2000s making a comeback, and we are absolutely loving it. At 62, Demi Moore is finally receiving the recognition she deserves, earning her first-ever Golden Globe for her remarkable performance in the brilliantly gruesome “feminist horror” film The Substance. (Her first nomination came in 1991 — more than half a lifetime ago — for Ghost). Even more notably, she is the frontrunner for Best Actress at the upcoming Oscars on March 2.

Pamela Anderson, 57, who also graced countless men’s magazine covers in her youth as the iconic face and body of Baywatch, has been receiving widespread acclaim this awards season for her role in The Last Showgirl.

Meanwhile, Cameron Diaz has made her red carpet return at 52 with her first film in ten years, appropriately titled Back in Action. She is charming audiences once more with her signature sparkle and charisma after taking a break to focus on her family.

Additionally, Lindsay Lohan, who was largely dismissed in her 20s for her party girl image rather than her acting talent, has experienced a career resurgence over the past year. Now at 38, she embodies a more relaxed role as a wife and mother and is receiving praise for her delightful performances in festive romantic comedies and her classy transformation.

On one hand, this is excellent news. These actresses have remained popular for a reason: they are icons who starred in some of the shows and films that shaped our childhoods, teenage years, and early adulthood: Baywatch, Charlie’s Angels, My Best Friend’s Wedding, Freaky Friday, Mean Girls… After reading that list, who wouldn’t want to cozy up in a cabin with friends and binge-watch them all?

Perhaps this resurgence is all about comfort and nostalgia. While many talented young actresses are currently making waves in Hollywood, such as Sydney Sweeney, Zendaya, and Margaret Qualley (who portrays Moore’s younger, seemingly superior character in The Substance), the shifting landscape of fame means they may not hold the same level of fame or love as their predecessors—yet.

Your boomer relatives might struggle to recognize them, but they would undoubtedly identify Moore or Anderson without hesitation, just like they did 30 years ago.

Fast forward to 2025, where reality stars and influencers frequently dominate magazine covers, endorsement deals, and the red carpet with outfits that break the internet, making it increasingly difficult for genuine talent to cut through the noise and drama.

However, these ladies — true Hollywood royalty — demonstrate that, at the end of the day, skill, resilience, and determination can prevail. You’re never finished; all you need is the right role, often one that cleverly plays on the idea of being past your prime.

That raises an important point: ageism is also a factor here. Now that actresses like Moore and Anderson are seen as “too old” to embody typical sex symbols — a central theme in The Substance — the world is finally recognizing their true talent. But did it really require Anderson to go makeup-free and Moore to transform into a creature for everyone to realize these women have always been more than just a pretty face?

In the end, everyone loves a reinvention, especially considering some of these stars have faced personal tragedies, heartbreaks, and numerous challenges since their peak years. Let’s hope that acknowledging strong, older women is not merely a trend for 2025 but the beginning of a lasting change in perspective.