Florence Pugh Reflects on the 'Challenging' Aspects of Hollywood and Her Role in "Midsommar"

Florence Pugh, 29, recently opened up about the emotional challenges of being a young woman in Hollywood, especially when it comes to taking on intense roles. In a candid conversation on the Reign with Josh Smith podcast, Pugh shared that she’s unlikely to portray a character similar to Dani from Midsommar again.

Florence Pugh (@florencepugh Instagram)

Florence Pugh recently discussed the emotional challenges of playing Dani in Midsommar during an appearance on the Reign with Josh Smith podcast. She revealed how the intense role took a significant toll on her and how she has learned to protect herself from the emotional strain of such demanding characters.

Portraying Dani, a grief-stricken American woman who experiences a psychological breakdown at a Swedish midsummer festival, deeply affected Pugh. She emphasized that some roles can take such a toll on an actor that it’s important to recognize when a role is too much.

“There have been roles where I’ve given so much of myself that I’ve felt broken for a long time afterward,” Pugh reflected. “With Midsommar, I truly felt like I pushed myself to a point of abuse in the depths I had to reach.”

However, Pugh doesn’t regret the experience. “But then I look at that performance and I’m really proud of what I did, and I’m proud of what came out of me. I don’t regret it. But, yeah, there’s definitely things that you have to respect about yourself,” she continued.

While filming Midsommar, Pugh revealed that many of the difficulties were self-imposed, with director Ari Aster being a key figure in creating such a taxing environment. “He’s peculiar in a mad genius kind of way,” she said, praising Aster’s creativity and humor.

She also described the challenges of filming in extreme conditions, stating, “We were shooting in a very hot field with three different languages, so I wouldn’t say that all of it was pleasurable... Also, it shouldn’t be. Why would making a movie like that be pleasurable?”

As the film progressed, Pugh felt herself pushing harder and harder to achieve the complex performance. “Every day, the material became increasingly strange and challenging. I was filling my mind with darker and more dismal thoughts,” she shared. “By the end, I can say I definitely pushed myself too hard to achieve that performance.”

Florence Pugh (@florencepugh Instagram)

After wrapping up Midsommar, Pugh quickly transitioned to the set of Little Women, which led to an emotional moment for the actor. “I remember looking out the plane and feeling immense guilt because I felt like I’d left Dani in that field in that emotional state,” Pugh confessed. “It’s so weird. I’ve never had that before... I felt like I’d left her there to be abused... almost like I’d created this person and then I just left her there to go and do another movie.”

Pugh’s honesty about the toll acting can take—especially when fully immersing herself in emotionally intense roles—provides a rare look into the challenges of being a young actress in Hollywood. Despite the struggles, she remains proud of her performances and the growth she’s experienced along the way.

Florence Pugh is an English actress known for her remarkable versatility and powerful performances in both independent films and mainstream blockbusters. Born on January 3, 1996, in Oxford, England, Pugh began her acting career at a young age, gaining attention for her role in the critically acclaimed film The Falling (2014). However, it was her breakout performance in Lady Macbeth (2016) that truly marked her as a rising star, earning her widespread recognition for her ability to portray complex, intense characters.

Florence Pugh (@florencepugh Instagram)

Pugh continued to build her career with a variety of roles in films such as Outlaw King (2018) and Fighting with My Family (2019), the latter of which showcased her comedic talents. Her role as the grief-stricken Dani in Midsommar (2019), directed by Ari Aster, further solidified her place in Hollywood, with many praising her ability to convey deep emotional pain and vulnerability.

In addition to her film work, Pugh garnered widespread acclaim for her portrayal of Amy March in Greta Gerwig's Little Women (2019), which earned her an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress. Florence Pugh's growing reputation as one of Hollywood's most talented young actresses has continued with her role as Yelena Belova in Black Widow (2021) and her highly anticipated appearances in future Marvel projects. Pugh is known for her raw authenticity, emotional depth, and fearless approach to challenging roles.

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