Florence Pugh talks about the 'hard' realities of being a young woman in Hollywood

Florence Pugh opened up about the challenges of being a young woman in Hollywood, describing the experience as “exhausting” but empowering.

The actress discussed how the Me Too movement shaped her need to advocate for herself and prioritize mental health.

Florence Pugh has also discussed the emotional toll of intense roles such as Midsommar and her pride in the performances.

During an appearance on the Reign With Josh Smith podcast, Pugh opened up about her struggles as a young woman in Hollywood.

The 29-year-old actress, who first appeared on screen in the 2014 drama The Falling at the age of 18 and has since become one of the most sought-after stars in the industry, reflected on how she got into the entertainment world. coincided with the rise of the Me Too movement.

She explained that this time reinforced the importance of standing up for yourself.

“It's very hard. It's also tiring. It's really, really tiring,” Pugh shared. Daily mail. “There's so much for young women in this industry to fight for and protect and defend and then shout about. It's really, really hard. It's an experience and it makes you claim yourself. It makes you figure yourself out.”

Pugh added that she has learned to prioritize her well-being, saying, “Now I can only take care of myself, I take care of my heart, and that's where I am right now. I wouldn't change a thing. I'm really proud of the things that entered.”

Reflecting on the progress women have made in the industry, Pugh acknowledged the improvements, but stressed the fight for fairness and equality remains.

“We're in a time now where women are definitely getting better, but that doesn't mean you don't have to constantly fight for the things you think are right,” she noted.

The actress continued, “I've always been proud of the way I stand up for myself, whether it's on Instagram or in interviews. I've always been proud of the way I'm not afraid to speak up for myself.”

Pugh also revealed how important it is for her to prioritize her mental health, especially after taking on emotionally demanding roles.

Reflecting on her experience filming the horror film Midsommar, the 29-year-old admitted that the role left her exhausted, describing it as a form of self-inflicted tension.

“Self defense is something I had to learn,” she shared. “There have been roles where I've given too much and then I'm broken for a long time.”

She continued: “Like when I did Midsommar, I definitely felt like I was abusing myself in the places that I was in. When you figure these things out, you have to say, 'Okay, I can.' don't do it again because it was too much.”

Despite the toll, Pugh said she was proud of her performance: “I still look back at that performance and I'm really proud of what I did and I'm proud of what came out of me. So I don't regret it.”

Pugh discussed her decision to shave her head for her role in The Time We Live In, where she plays a woman battling ovarian cancer alongside Andrew Garfield.

“If I hadn't been able to shave my head, I wouldn't have accepted this film. I think it's so important to do it,” she said. Cover media. “If you lend yourself to a story like this, if you lend yourself to a cancer story like this, I couldn't not do it.”

The “Black Widow” star described the scene as a touching and tender moment in the film.

Pugh explained: “The scene was always very beautiful… This couple made it a beautiful act that their daughter could remember and it didn't have to be sad. The sun was going to come out. They were going to have a chair outside.”

She added: “They had biscuits and tea and they were all going to shave mum's hair and they were going to cover it. I added the collection because I wanted to keep my hair this time.”

During the chat, Pugh also revealed that working on We Live In Time was just as emotionally intense for her and Garfield as it was for the audience watching the final product.

She shared that many of the scenes “really hit (her) in the heart.” However, she had to fight back her tears to stay true to her character Almut, who remains a steady source of strength throughout the film.

“There were certain things that happened just because they were so emotional, and we had an emotional conversation within the scene, and (director) John (Crowley) came in and said, 'No, no, no.' Florence, you can't cry here,' said Pugh.

The actress continued, “I'd like to say, 'What? It's heartbreaking! And he said, “No, you're the backbone of the family, it's happening to him, but not to you, and when you really break, hopefully it's going to really hurt.”