Demi Moore has recounted her experiences with Tom Cruise during the filming of the 1992 movie A Few Good Men, revealing that Cruise seemed uneasy about her pregnancy while on set. The actress discussed this during a New Yorker Festival event, reflecting on the challenges of combining parenthood with a demanding acting career in the early 1990s.
Moore’s Account of Tom Cruise’s Response to Her Pregnancy
At the New Yorker Festival, Demi Moore shared details about working with Tom Cruise and director Rob Reiner while she was about eight months pregnant with her daughter Scout Willis. The actress noted that Cruise appeared embarrassed during their early rehearsals, a reaction she attributed to the era’s cultural norms regarding pregnancy and work in Hollywood.
I think Tom was quite embarrassed,
Moore recalled during the session.
I actually felt okay about it. I was moving around, though, right? But I could tell he felt that it was a bit awkward.
Contextualizing Hollywood’s Attitudes Toward Parenthood in the Early 1990s
Moore reflected on how uncommon it was for actors, especially women, to balance motherhood and their careers at the time. She explained that Tom Cruise’s discomfort likely stemmed from these prevailing attitudes. Moore challenged this mindset, questioning why it was considered difficult to pursue both roles successfully.
It’s one of the many things, for me, that I just felt didn’t make sense. And so I challenged that to say, you know, ‘Why not? Why can’t you have both?’
The Physical and Emotional Demands of Filming While Pregnant
Despite the challenges, Moore pushed herself rigorously to prepare for her role as a Navy lawyer, which required wearing a military uniform. She revealed intense physical activities she engaged in just before her daughter was born, explaining how these exertions may have even contributed to an early delivery.
I was going to be in a military uniform, and probably overly anticipated and started working out and trying to get in shape even before she was born,
Moore said.
I did a two-and-a-half-hour hike the day my water broke. I did a 24-mile bike ride, and then was dancing at a reggae club — hence why she came two-and-a-half weeks early.
Looking back, she expressed some bewilderment at her own determination during that time.
What the f–k was I thinking? And what was I even trying to prove?
Moore’s Family and Career Highlights
Demi Moore shares three daughters—Rumer, Scout, and Tallulah—with her ex-husband Bruce Willis. During her second pregnancy, Moore gained significant attention for appearing nude on the August 1991 cover of Vanity Fair, a bold and widely discussed image of a heavily pregnant woman.
The movie A Few Good Men, adapted from Aaron Sorkin’s play, featured Cruise, Moore, and Jack Nicholson. Its critical and commercial success, with a worldwide box office gross of $141.3 million, cemented it as a memorable courtroom drama in Hollywood history.
Current Developments and Industry Recognition
Moore’s recent remarks about her pregnancy and working with Tom Cruise have not been met with public comments from Cruise’s representatives. Meanwhile, Moore herself has gained new acclaim, securing a Best Actress nomination for the 2025 Oscars for her role in The Substance. In that film, she portrays an aging celebrity who resorts to a black-market drug to maintain a youthful appearance.
