She’s played a wrestler, an emotionally starved wife and a spy, and up next, the nemesis to Scarlett Johansen’s Black Widow. Her achievements have certainly not gone unnoticed; on top of her British Film Independent Award, she has the Chopard Trophée to add to her mantel. Pugh talks about career choices, music and her dream role:
Is this your first Cannes Film Festival?
This is my first Cannes, it’s unbelievable. I’m having lots of ‘pinch me’ moments and I often find myself looking out to the sea and thinking, “Oh my goodness, I’m here!”
It’s obviously a massive privilege to be here, let alone being here–literally–glittering in jewels, which I’m trying my very best not to lose! I think there’s a secret person who is following me around all day and then, if I go missing, alarm bells will start ringing. I’m having an amazing time.
How do you feel about receiving the Chopard Trophée award?
It feels great. Crazy. It’s pretty wonderful. The nature of what we do is obviously to move and keep on moving. You don’t really have much time to pause and take it all in and the best thing about this is that it gives you a second to receive an award and realise that your work is being appreciated. People have been watching you and they’re patting you on the back.
Photo: @florencepugh/Instagram
You’ve taken up such varied roles—is this deliberate?
I think it’s part accidental, and also part whatever role is important for me to do. I have done a wrestling film and I was terrified when I signed on to do it. That’s another thing, if I get scared by something, I feel like I should do it.
What do you love about acting?
I love the people that I meet and the places that I go, and I love the anxiety and nervous energy that you live off of for two months. It all comes back to the creativity of the project and that’s probably one of the most exciting things.
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Can you share what’s next?
I’ve just started Marvel’s Black Widow. I’m very happy to be welcomed into the universe and to be working on this film with the women that are involved. I think it’s an exciting time, and the movie is very female-led which makes it quite special.
Photo: @florencepugh/Instagram
