Florence Pugh, in a candid conversation with British Vogue, revealed an unprecedented move in her illustrious career: she voluntarily requested a hiatus from acting during the summer. The Oscar-nominated actress, who had been hurtling through projects at a relentless pace, had just wrapped up roles in Christopher Nolan's "Oppenheimer," Denis Villeneuve's epic "Dune," Marvel's upcoming "Thunderbolts," and the highly anticipated A24 romantic drama, "We Live in Time." It was then that she decided it was time to press the pause button.
"This is the very first time in my entire career where I've consciously sought a summer break," Pugh confessed. "I'm a self-proclaimed workaholic, but I could see the toll it was taking on me. I woke up one day last year, realizing how much of my life I'd missed. Sure, I aspire for a lifelong career, but that dream would be shattered if I exhausted myself to the brink."
Refreshed and rejuvenated after her summer sabbatical, Pugh graced the red carpet at the Toronto International Film Festival for the world premiere of "We Live in Time," alongside her co-star Andrew Garfield. This heart-wrenching romance, helmed by the visionary director of "Brooklyn," John Crowley, is set to captivate audiences in U.S. theaters on October 11th, distributed by A24. In the film, Pugh portrays a chef whose life intertwines with Garfield's character after an accidental collision, leading to a love story that unfolds in a nonlinear narrative, kickstarted by a devastating cancer diagnosis.
For her role, Pugh underwent a transformative experience—shaving her head on camera. "For any actor embarking on such a journey, it's imperative that the audience witnesses this raw vulnerability," she emphasized. "It was a no-brainer. It's an honor to do something so profound for the sake of your character."
Delving deeper, she shared, "In many cultures, hair is seen as the vessel of our memories, dreams, and histories. Shaving it off was surreal. My scalp felt so exposed, and the constant touch from others made it feel alive in a strange way. My body even went through a mini-trauma; I was constantly shivering."
Pugh's dedication to her craft knows no bounds. In a previous interview on the "Off Menu" podcast, she candidly admitted to "definitely" pushing herself to the brink for her role in Ari Aster's horror masterpiece, "Midsommar." Playing Dani, a grieving American psychology student who descends into madness during a trip to Sweden's midsummer festival with her toxic boyfriend, Pugh immersed herself so deeply into the character that she found herself in emotionally treacherous situations.
"When I was Dani, I was consumed by her. It was a feeling I'd never experienced with any of my other characters," she reminisced. "Playing someone in such excruciating pain was new to me, and I found myself putting myself in situations that perhaps other actors wouldn't have to, but I just couldn't help but imagine the worst."
