Elisabeth Sparkle is a character in the movie The Substance, played by Demi Moore. She is a once-famous TV star who is now struggling with her fading celebrity status. On her 50th birthday, she loses her job on a popular aerobics show, which makes her feel sad and rejected. To regain her youth and beauty, she turns to a mysterious black market drug that transforms her into a much younger version of herself named Sue.

Trivia/Facts

• Elisabeth Sparkle is a fading Hollywood TV star, once famous for her aerobics show. She is played by Demi Moore in The Substance. As she turns 50, her age becomes an issue, and she is removed from the show. This makes her feel deeply sad and rejected.
• After being fired, Elisabeth gets into a car accident while distracted by a billboard of herself being removed. She ends up in the hospital, where a nurse secretly gives her information about a mysterious drug called The Substance. This drug can make her younger and more beautiful. Curious, Elisabeth decides to try the drug.

The Substance (2024)

• The drug transforms Elisabeth into a younger version of herself, named Sue, played by Margaret Qualley. Both versions of her share one consciousness, and Elisabeth must switch between bodies every seven days. Sue quickly becomes more famous and successful, replacing Elisabeth in the TV world. Meanwhile, Elisabeth feels jealous of Sue’s youth and popularity.
• Over time, Elisabeth and Sue start to hate each other, even though they are the same person. Elisabeth becomes jealous of Sue’s beauty and carefree lifestyle. Sue, on the other hand, is annoyed by Elisabeth’s self-pity and unhealthy habits. This growing hatred creates serious problems between them.
• Sue starts taking extra stabilizer fluid from Elisabeth to extend her time as the younger self. This causes Elisabeth’s body to age rapidly, leaving her scared and desperate. Despite warnings, Sue continues to break the switching schedule, making Elisabeth’s condition worse. Their relationship deteriorates as both struggle for control.

The Substance (2024)

• Elisabeth tries to stop Sue by injecting her with a termination serum, but she hesitates and doesn’t finish the job. This causes both versions of her to become fully conscious at the same time. Sue, realizing what Elisabeth tried to do, becomes furious and kills Elisabeth. After this, Sue’s body starts falling apart.
• In her panic, Sue attempts to create another version of herself with the activator serum, but it goes wrong. She turns into a horrible mix of Elisabeth and Sue, wearing a mask to hide her deformed face. Despite her condition, she goes on stage to host a major event. But the audience is horrified when her mask falls off, leading to chaos.
• In the end, Sue’s body completely falls apart, leaving behind a pile of organs and blood. Elisabeth’s original face detaches from the pile and crawls onto her Hollywood star. She smiles, imagining herself being admired by fans once again. Her remains are quietly cleaned up the next day, marking a tragic end to her story.

The Substance (2024)

Elisabeth Sparkle’s Relationship with Other Characters

• Sue: Sue is the younger version of Elisabeth created by the drug. At first, they share one mind, but as time goes on, they start to hate each other. Elisabeth feels jealous of Sue’s beauty and success, while Sue is annoyed by Elisabeth’s self-pity and unhealthy habits.
• Harvey: Harvey is the producer of Elisabeth’s aerobics show. He dismisses her because of her age, which deeply hurts Elisabeth. He later hires Sue to replace her, causing Elisabeth to feel more rejected and angry.
• The Nurse: The young male nurse at the hospital gives Elisabeth the flash drive about The Substance. He plays a crucial role in introducing her to the drug that changes her life. Their interaction sparks Elisabeth’s decision to regain her youth.
• The Supplier: The supplier of The Substance warns Elisabeth about the dangers of the drug. Their conversations highlight the risks of using the serum and the consequences of breaking the switching schedule. The supplier’s advice becomes very important as Elisabeth’s situation worsens.