Top 10 Reasons You Should Know Florence Pugh
#10: Her Early Work in Film & TV
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Pugh was barely of legal age when she made her film debut in 2014’s “The Falling.” While her screen time was cut short, this mystery drama’s plot largely revolved around Pugh’s character, Abbie. She subsequently landed the lead role of Katherine Lester in “Lady Macbeth,” earning rave reviews for her layered performance as a woman trapped in a loveless marriage. Although its title may suggest otherwise, “Lady Macbeth” wasn’t a Shakespearean adaptation. However, Pugh did brush up on her Shakespeare in a modern “King Lear” TV movie. Playing the king’s youngest daughter Cordelia, Pugh starred opposite legends like Anthony Hopkins and Emma Thompson, who she considers “a massive mentor.” Pugh gained further praise as Charlie in “The Little Drummer Girl” miniseries – and we haven’t even scratched the surface of her filmography!
#9: Her “Game of Thrones” Links
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Although Pugh never appeared on “Game of Thrones,” both her and Emilia Clarke went to St. Edwards in Oxford, albeit at different times. Plus, Pugh is a dead ringer for Daenerys Targaryen, right? She also has some direct ties to the HBO fantasy drama’s cast. Pugh co-starred with Arya Stark herself, Maisie Williams, in “The Falling.” The two played best friends, which served as a driving force for the film’s narrative. Most significantly, Pugh’s brother is actor Toby Sebastian. You might recognize him as Trystane Martell, Doran Martell’s youngest child. Before getting into acting, Sebastian started off as a musician. Like her brother, Pugh has dabbled in singing and playing the guitar. We guess both have a song of ice and fire in their hearts.
#8: She Made Forbes 30 Under 30
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Before even turning 25, Pugh has lit up the industry as one of its brightest rising stars. In February 2019, just one month after her 23rd birthday, Pugh earned a well-deserved spot on Forbes’ 30 Under 30 list. This annual list singles out Europe’s most prominent individuals under the age of 30. Pugh has actually co-starred with a few actors who made this list in previous years, including Maisie Williams, Saoirse Ronan, and Emma Watson. So, it was only a matter of time until Pugh joined the same ranks. We can only imagine how far Pugh will go by the time she does hit 30.
#7: Her Red Carpet Looks
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Even if you haven’t caught up with all of her movies, Pugh has probably caught your eye on the red carpet. The young actress blossomed at the 2019 Governors Awards in a purple Valentino dress. Pugh described herself as a “walking flower,” which is fitting given her work in “Midsommar.” “Little Women” has also offered Pugh several opportunities to showcase her strong sense of fashion. She wrapped herself in a blue Valentino ensemble at the film’s New York premiere, a sleek Chloé gown at its French premiere, and a pink Emilia Wickstead dress at the London premiere. Her performance in the film scored Pugh a Best Supporting Actress nomination at the Critics' Choice Awards where she stunned spectators in a shimmering Prada dress.
#6: Her Performance in “Fighting with My Family”
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If you think Pugh hit the ground running, it turns out that her early roles were just a warm up! 2019 was a breakthrough year for Pugh and she kicked it off with the biographical wrestling dramedy, “Fighting with My Family.” This Sundance favorite generated a fair deal of buzz due to Dwayne Johnson, who produced the film and made an appearance as himself. Yet, it was Pugh’s electrifying performance as real-life professional wrestler Saraya “Paige” Knight that had people talking coming out of the theater. The film received critical acclaim for its unique exploration of family dynamics and Pugh was at the center of the praise. Kevin Maher of the Times called the film “a triumph, with a star turn from Florence Pugh.”
#5: Her Instagram
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If you can’t get enough of Pugh’s wardrobe, you’ll find no shortage of bold red carpet looks and striking magazine covers on her Instagram. Even when she’s dressed in casual jeans and a red sweater, Pugh has “fashion icon” written all over her. Above all else, Instagram has provided an outlet for Pugh to channel her offbeat sense of humor. Whether she’s palling around with Dash Barber, Saoirse Ronan, or her BF Zach Braff, you get the impression that Pugh is usually the most down-to-earth person in the room. Pugh’s most memorable Instagram moments are usually the most random ones, from her “skin care routine” to her umm… “beautiful pumpkin.” Oh, and in case you didn’t notice, she has a thing for cacti.
#4: Her Performance in “Midsommar”
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Only a few months after demonstrating her comedic chops in “Fighting with My Family,” Pugh delivered a completely different kind of performance in “Midsommar.” Pugh starred as Dani, a young woman overwrought with grief following a family tragedy. Along with director Ari Aster, Pugh does an impeccable job at plunging the audience into an immediate state of discomfort. We can genuinely feel the agony that’s tearing Dani apart, as well as the frustration she expresses towards her boyfriend. This is a character who’s constantly on the verge of breaking down and Pugh sells every gut-wrenching moment. Even when Dani isn’t given much dialogue, the audience always senses what she’s thinking thanks to Pugh’s emotive performance, which scored her a Gotham Independent Film Award nomination.
#3: Her Performance in “Little Women”
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“Little Women” was the perfect way to cap off an already phenomenal year for Pugh. In an all-star cast, Pugh arguably stole the show as Amy March. Given her spoiled, sometimes downright mean-spirited actions, Amy has never been the easiest character to like. Yet, Pugh and writer/director Greta Gerwig not only made Amy surprisingly lovable, but also relatable. We’ve all met somebody like Amy during our youth. Heck, some of us basically were Amy growing up. Throughout the film, though, we see Amy evolve as a person and a sister. By the end, the audience truly feels like they’ve watched Amy mature from an entitled girl to a complex, independent woman. Likewise, we get to see Pugh go from rising star to full-fledged starlet.
#2: She’s Gonna be in “Black Widow”
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You know that you’ve achieved A-lister status when you land a role in the MCU. In “Black Widow,” Pugh puts on a Russian accent as Yelena Belova, who’s something of a sister to Natasha Romanoff. Ironically, the studio also considered Pugh’s “Little Women” co-star Saoirse Ronan for the role. Marvel reevaluated Pugh, however, following the critical success of “Fighting with My Family.” That makes sense, seeing how Yelena gets into a few fights with her surrogate family. Given Natasha’s fate in “Avengers: Endgame,” there’s been some speculation that Yelena may take over the Black Widow mantle going forward. Of course, Pugh has denied such theories. In any case, we hope this isn’t Pugh’s only MCU adventure.
#1: She’s Making a Splash at All the Award Shows
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Pugh’s rise to superstardom has been reflected on the awards circuit. “Lady Macbeth” won her the Best Actress prize at the British Independent Film Awards. The following year, the British Academy Film Awards nominated Pugh for their Rising Star Award. BAFTA singled out Pugh once again for her work in “Little Women.” Pugh and her cacti thanked the BAFTA on Instagram for her nomination, but the best had yet to come. Only a few days later, Pugh’s performance as Amy March earned her an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress. Pugh naturally posted her reaction on Instagram, even though she was still in bed… and shirtless. Nothing that some avocado emojis can’t cover up! We doubt it’ll be Pugh’s last trip to the Oscars.
