“It was me and 40 guys”: Demi Moore Went Through Hell While Training With Real Navy SEALs For One of the Best Body Transformations in Movies

For the 1997 Ridley Scott film G.I. Jane, actress Demi Moore underwent a horrifyingly intense training regimen under the guidance of real Navy SEALS.

Demi Moore Went Through Hell While Training With Real Navy SEALs For One of the Best Body Transformations in Movies

SUMMARY

  • Demi Moore's G.I. Jane was not met with praise from either fans, or the ever-so-hard critics.
  • However, the actress still considers her role in the 1997 movie the proudest achievement of her career.
  • That is partly because of the kind of intense training that she underwent in preparation for the role.
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Many may recognize Demi Moore’s G.I. Jane as the punchline that sparked the 2022 Oscars’ Chris Rock and Will Smith controversy. Most of us, if not all, have come to associate the endeavor under such a context. However, what is not commonly known are the behind-the-scenes details about the lead actress’ intense Navy SEAL training routine, which caused her to throw up and grow blisters on her feet.

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G. I. Jane (1997)
G.I. Jane (1997)

Read also: Demi Moore Is Devastated After Bruce Willis Fails To Recognize Her

Even though critics and viewers emphasized the film’s mediocrity when it first came out, Moore considers G.I. Jane her proudest professional achievement. People may question this sentiment, but the grueling experience that the actress put herself through justifies her claims. On The Howard Stern Show, the 61-year-old star revealed the petrifying extent of what she had to undergo while training alongside real Navy SEALS.

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Demi Moore Underwent Torturous Training For G.I. Jane

Demi Moore in G.I. Jane
Demi Moore in G.I. Jane

Demi Moore plays Lt. Jordan O’Neil in Ridley Scott’s G.I. Jane, which showcases a fictional tale about the first woman who underwent special operations training comparable to the U.S. Navy SEALs. Moore’s metamorphosis into the character required more than shaving off her hair—many people were astonished to see her physical transformation. The actress’ dedication to the part is further underscored by her willingness to train alongside real Navy SEALS.

The movie may have underperformed at the box office and reaped criticism for its subpar narrative and factual inconsistencies. However, the passion with which the Ghost star took the initiative remains highly commendable.

Speaking on The Howard Stern Show, Moore explained how physically demanding the training regimen was:

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“It was hardcore. Ours was modified, but we had real SEALS down there. It was me and 40 guys.”

Demi Moore was dedicated to the role!
Demi Moore was dedicated to the role!

Read also: Demi Moore Felt Something Was Wrong After Her Organs Started Shutting Down Due to Her Addiction!

She revealed that the military training included running a mile from 5 A.M. onwards.  A mistake that the actress reflected on highlighted how Moore took vitamins on an empty stomach before beginning the run. This led to her “puking her guts out” after she crossed the finishing line. This routine would continue till mid-day. The Striptease alum recalls the aftermath in the following way:

“I take my shoes off, and I have these massive blisters. Harry Humphries, our consultant, said that, ‘You know, you don’t really have to do all this.'”

Despite the consultant’s suggestion, the actress refused to give up.

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Demi Moore Was Only Called By Her Character’s Name

Demi Moore as Jordan O'Neil
Demi Moore as Jordan O’Neil

Demi Moore’s hellish experience didn’t end there. The Indecent Proposal star mentioned how the SEALS would never use the actress’ real name to refer to her. Instead, she was called by her character’s name, Jordan. Moore continued with an anecdote about how she was late for training on the second day. She can vividly recall the fallout from this action. Following was her statement:

“I’m convinced to be late the second day. Everyone was in formation, and I was like, ‘I’m gonna squeak in the back.’ And all of a sudden, I hear, ‘Jordan! Front and center!’ I go up to the front […] He says, ‘Drop your f**king a** down right now!'”

The drill sergeant continued reprimanding the actress while giving her severe instructions to perform push-ups. Demi Moore continued:

“He was screaming, ‘Who the f**k do you think you are? Do you think we’re gonna let some split tail come in here? Drop your f**king ass down!'”

Demi Moore engaged in a terrifying regimen!
Demi Moore engaged in a terrifying regimen!

Related: Demi Moore Called This $48 Million Movie Her Proudest Professional Achievement!

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Not only was the actress scolded, but the weight of her actions fell on the other members. The rest of the SEALS also got admonished by the drill sergeant. We can affirm from Demi Moore’s remarks that this doesn’t sound like a fun experience. Nevertheless, the Hollywood star’s willingness to undergo such a torturous regimen is reflected in the movie, where we see the actress’ impressive body transformation.

The Demi Moore starrer may have flopped commercially, garnering only $48.2 million against a budget of $50 million, but details of the actress’ efforts evoke respect. It’s no wonder she considers the endeavor her proudest professional achievement.

G.I. Jane is available via buying/renting on Amazon Prime Video.

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Written by Debdipta Bhattacharya

Articles Published: 659

Debdipta Bhattacharya is a content writer at FandomWire, where she has written more than 500 articles on various topics of interest. She possesses a sincere passion for popular culture, anime, film production, and the evolving world of YouTube and streaming culture which has allowed her to be a devoted and well-informed writer. Debdipta holds a bachelor's degree in Mass Communication. She has honed her skills and expertise in content writing with over two years of experience and strives to learn and grow daily.