Florence Pugh Takes a Stand: “It’s Exhausting Being a Woman in Hollywood”

The actress opens up about defying stereotypes, body image criticism, and staying true to herself in an industry that often tears women down.

Florence Pugh is not holding back when it comes to the challenges of being a woman in Hollywood. In a candid conversation with The Times, the We Live in Time star reflected on her decade-long journey in the industry and the exhausting pressures women face to conform to unrealistic standards.

“I’m not nasty — I hope people think I’m kind,” Pugh began. “But there are fine lines women have to stay within, otherwise they are called a diva, demanding, problematic. It’s really exhausting for a young woman to just be in this industry, and actually other industries too. But I’ve always been encouraged to have a voice.”

Pugh, who has long made headlines for rejecting norms, also recalled the harmful narratives she observed growing up. Specifically, she pointed to the cruel media coverage surrounding Keira Knightley’s appearance. “Not everybody has legs that go on for days,” she said. “I remember watching this industry and feeling that I wasn’t represented. There were godawful headlines about Keira Knightley not being thin anymore or talented women getting torn apart. The only focus was some useless crap about how they look.”

Rather than abide by those unspoken “rules,” Pugh has spent her career challenging these perceptions. “Actually, I wasn’t trying to challenge anything,” she clarified. “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.”

From her bold fashion choices — like see-through red carpet gowns — to chopping her hair and embracing her natural body, Pugh has unapologetically remained true to herself. “I’m proud I’ve stuck by myself and look the way I look,” she said. “It’s fascinating how people are still angry with me for not losing more weight or for having a nose ring. I’m not here to change the world overnight, but I can help young women coming into this industry by starting conversations that didn’t happen before.”

As she continues breaking barriers, Pugh shows no signs of slowing down. Following We Live in Time alongside Andrew Garfield, she’s set to star in Marvel’s Thunderbolts and will lead Netflix’s upcoming limited series adaptation of John Steinbeck’s East of Eden.

With her unwavering authenticity and fearless voice, Florence Pugh is paving the way for a new generation of women in Hollywood.