Florence Pugh has always been vocal about living her life unapologetically, and this time, she’s calling out Hollywood on the industry’s obsession with making women fit into certain stereotypes.
Speaking with The Times, the Dune actress candidly detailed her struggles with fitting into Hollywood, describing it as “exhausting” for any young woman in Hollywood to be.
“I’m not nasty. I hope people think I’m kind. But there are fine lines women have to stay within, otherwise, they are called a diva, demanding, problematic,” the Little Women star said. “And I don’t want to fit into stereotypes made by others. It is really exhausting for a young woman to just be in this industry, and actually other industries.”
Pugh catapulted into stardom when she was 18 years old after starring in the 2014 drama The Falling. Her acting debut was met with acclaim, with critics deeming her acting remarkable and striking. It even earned her a nomination for Best British Newcomer at the BFI London Film Festival and Young British/Irish Performer of the Year at the London Film Critics’ Circle.
Since then, Pugh continued to carve a unique path for her career, starring in major films like Lady Macbeth, Midsommar, Little Women, Black Widow, Oppenheimer, and the Dune film series.
Having been in the industry for a decade now, Pugh has witnessed how women were being torn apart because of their looks.
“Look, not everybody has legs that go on for days. I remember watching this industry and feeling that I wasn’t represented. I remember godawful headlines about how Keira Knightley isn’t thin anymore, or watching women getting torn apart despite being talented and beautiful. The only thing people want to talk about is some useless crap about how they look. And so I didn’t care to abide by those rules. I’ve loved challenging ideas I don’t like,” she explained.
Pugh is not new to criticism about her looks. In the past, Pugh revealed that at the beginning of her career, she received comments from studio executives that she had to change her physical appearance and lose some weight.
In 2022, she also made waves online after donning a pink see-through Valentino gown that showed her nipples. With this, the 28-year-old actress received criticism, prompting her to call out those who body shamed her and told them to “grow up” and “respect all women.”
Looking back, Pugh stood proud that she’s “stuck by myself” and that she won’t change anything about herself. She hopes that her unapologetic outlook will help young women navigate the industry.
“Actually I wasn’t trying to challenge. I just wanted to be there, to make space for a version of a person that isn’t all the things they used to have to be,” Pugh said. “I’m proud I’ve stuck by myself and look the way I look — I’m really interested in people who are still angry with me for not losing more weight, or who just hate my nose ring.”
“I am not going to be able to just change the way that things are… but I can certainly help young women coming into this industry by making conversations happen where they weren’t before,” she added.
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