Top 10 Moments That Made Us Love Florence Pugh
#10: Commencing Her Breakout Year “Fighting with My Family” (2019)
Many bought a ticket because the Rock is on the poster. However, walking out of this sports biopic, everyone asked the same question: who was that actress playing Saraya “Paige” Bevis? Well, maybe not everyone asked this, as Pugh already had several stellar performances under her belt. This is the role that launched the Year of Florence Pugh, though, marking her ascension into A-lister territory. “Fighting with My Family” not only demonstrated Pugh’s ability to carry a film, but also served as a showcase for her dramatic and comedic range, not to mention her potential as an action star. Like Paige, Pugh established herself as a true original. After seeing these two meet in real life, we want a buddy comedy starring both of them!
#9: Shining Through the Controversy “Don’t Worry Darling” (2022)
The behind-the-scenes drama surrounding “Don’t Worry Darling” has largely overshadowed the film itself, which received a mixed critical response. While the film has its problems, Pugh isn’t one of them. If anything, Pugh and the below-the-line artists do most of the heavy lifting in this psychological thriller. Pugh plays Alice, a suburban housewife whose seemingly idyllic life starts to feel more like navigating through Wonderland. Even as the ambitious story starts to take predictable turns, Pugh makes us want to follow Alice’s climb up the rabbit hole to see what’s on the other side. Her performance is bold, passionate, and endearing, showing how the right actress can sometimes elevate an entire production. The controversy is fascinating, but Pugh’s work should also be a talking point.
#8: Her Cactus Barry
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Whether playing guitar on YouTube or lighting up Instagram with her fashion, Pugh is a social media butterfly. Pugh can even make her followers genuinely invested in a cactus. On her Insta stories, Pugh revealed that her cactus, who she named Barry somewhere down the line, was ill. Rather than call a cactus doctor (which is apparently a real thing), Pugh performed surgery herself. As Barry’s condition worsened, Pugh put him back under the butter knife with more coming off the top. As funny as the Barry saga is, you also get a sense that Pugh is sincerely trying to grow as a cactus mother. Pugh has welcomed other cacti into the family, and nobody was more ecstatic when she got a BAFTA nomination.
#7: Her Mom Hanging with Snoop Dogg “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” (2003-)
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You thought Snoop Dogg and Martha Stewart had an unlikely friendship? Well, apparently Pugh’s mother is also pretty tight with Snoop. When Pugh was up for an Academy Award, she brought her mom and dad to the ceremony. At Madonna’s afterparty, Pugh grew concerned when her mom went missing. Eventually, Pugh found her mother crawling, revealing that she was “hanging out” with Snoop Dogg. Since this is Snoop we’re talking about, Pugh knew what “hanging out” is code for. Pugh’s father was also acting like a kid at a college party, connecting with all the celebrities. Pugh had to step up as the adult, taking her parents home. There needs to either be a reality show about Pugh’s parents or a sitcom based on them.
#6: Being a Foodie
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We also need a cooking show hosted by Pugh. Just as her father is a restaurateur, Pugh “occasionally cooks.” Scrolling through her Instagram, Pugh’s passion for cuisine is evident. The only thing that makes us hungrier than seeing Pugh pose with food is listening to her talk about it. You don’t really need visual accompaniment when Pugh discusses what she eats in a day. Her words alone paint a vivid portrait that makes our mouths water. Pugh not only loves cooking, but tickling her tastebuds as well. Observing Pugh eat through eleven English dishes is almost as satisfying as chowing down ourselves. If we could spend a day with Pugh, we’d either want to go on a food tour or just chill in her kitchen.
#5: Hugging Meryl Streep “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” (2015-)
Pugh’s mom hung out with Snoop Dogg while her dad bonded with Renée Zellweger. Pugh may have her parents beat, though, being among the select few who’ve gotten to hug Meryl Streep. As Amy in 2019’s “Little Women,” Pugh starred opposite Streep, who played her Aunt March. Pugh was naturally awe-struck watching Streep perform. Maybe even a little intimidated. Getting her jitters out before one scene, Pugh couldn’t help but throw her arms around Streep when she arrived on set. Pugh isn’t sure if she’d do that again, but Meryl didn’t seem to mind. Pugh also got to see Streep’s relatable side when she expressed her craving for fries. Of course, somebody almost immediately appeared with Wendy’s, which isn’t quite as relatable!
#4: Becoming Our May Queen “Midsommar” (2019)
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2018’s “Malevolent” marked Florence’s foray into horror. Then in 2019’s “Midsommar,” she delivered one of this genre’s most layered performances we’ve ever seen committed to the screen. Pugh is devastating as Dani, a woman who has lost the most important people in her life. The only one left is her boyfriend, although Dani knows deep down that their relationship isn’t built to last. Rather than rip off the Band-Aid, “Midsommar” follows Dani through the five stages of grief and the stages of a breakup, which share a fair deal of common ground. Dani’s breakup is unlike any other, though, as she blossoms from a withered flower to a thriving garden. Pugh keeps us emotionally grounded in Ari Aster’s surreal nightmare before finally accepting the madness.
#3: Telling Off Body Shamers
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Few stars have lit up the red carpet with more stunning and diverse looks as of late than Pugh. The sheer pink dress she wore to a 2022 Valentino event was among her most daring looks yet, flawlessly beaming with confidence. Pugh was well aware of the outfit’s see-through nature, posting, “Technically they’re covered?” For all the positive feedback the dress generation, there were haters who criticized Pugh’s body. Pugh wasn’t afraid to fire back at the “vulgar” body shamers who harass complete strangers online. She went on to write about learning to love her physique and those who inspired her to “find power in the creases of [her] body.” Pugh is inspiring other women to let it free, and in more ways than one.
#2: Being Iconic as Yelena Belova “Black Widow” (2021) & “Hawkeye” (2021)
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For years, Marvel fans asked, “When is Natasha Romanoff getting her own movie?” While we finally got it in 2021, “Black Widow” left us with another question: “When are we going to see Yelena again?” Pugh steals the show as Natasha’s sister, putting on a Russian accent that could’ve come off as over-the-top. However, Pugh not only nails the dialect, but her line delivery is pitch-perfect. As badass as Yelena is, our favorite moments are her down-to-earth comments about her sister’s poses. Nat meets a tragic fate that saves her sister, allowing Yelena to share a mac and cheese dinner with Kate Bishop. We’d watch a whole show just about those two. Yelena will return in “Thunderbolts,” but when is she getting a solo movie? Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions. Playing Katherine Lester, “Lady Macbeth” (2016) Pugh Kills in Her First Lead Role Her Hair Dying Accident Pugh Turns Red Over Going Blue Her New “Shallow” Lyrics Something to Sing While Swimming Her Friendship Test with ScarJo These Two Have Spot-On Chemistry On Screen & Off Whenever She’s With Timothée Chalamet Is “Dune: Part Two” Out Yet?
#1: Her First Oscar-Nominated Role “Little Women” (2019)
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Pugh’s breakout year culminated with a performance that would grant her a Best Supporting Actress nomination. Amy is among the harder “Little Women” characters to cast, as she can come off as whiny, spoiled, and even infuriating. Seriously, what she does to Jo’s book is hard to forgive. Yet, the audience does forgive Amy, and not just because of her skating accident. Pugh and writer/director Greta Gerwig make Amy sympathetic, charming, and relatable to modern women without doing a complete 180. Although Amy’s desire to marry rich can seem shallow, her reasoning is surprisingly layered, showing that maybe there was more to this character all along. Thanks to Pugh, Amy goes from being the Worst to being one of this timeless story’s best.
