Florence Pugh recently discussed her decision to shave her head for her upcoming film, We Live in Time. In an interview with Vanity Fair published on Thursday, Sept. 5, the 28-year-old actress shared her reasons behind the bold move. Pugh explained that she felt it was necessary to fully immerse herself in her role as Almut, a chef who faces a cancer diagnosis and undergoes treatment in the film. Despite being offered wigs and hairpieces as alternatives by director John Crowley, Pugh was resolute in her commitment to authentically embody her character’s journey by embracing a real-life transformation.
In a recent interview, actress Florence Pugh shared an anecdote about standing up for herself on set. “I just stopped him mid-sentence and I was like, ‘John, no one can play a character like this in a movie like this and not do the thing that is needed to be done,'” she said. “And if you don’t want to do it, I believe that you shouldn’t be doing a story like this.”
Pugh made a striking appearance with a buzz cut at the 2023 Met Gala, which garnered attention and sparked online commentary. Addressing rumors about her motivation for the haircut, Pugh clarified that she never made any statement claiming that the decision was about reclaiming her identity, despite reading such speculations online.
In July of the same year, British actress Florence Pugh opened up to Radio Times (as reported by the Daily Mail) about her approach to her appearance, specifically her hairstyle. Pugh expressed her desire to remove vanity from the equation when making decisions about her haircut. She discussed the challenges women face in Hollywood due to its heavy emphasis on glamour, stating that it can be difficult for the audience to see past the appearance of actresses. Pugh explained that whenever she has the opportunity to forgo glamorous looks and heavy makeup, she fights to maintain that authenticity, believing that it helps the audience connect with her performances. She emphasized her ongoing efforts to control her image, even from the early stages of her career, and how wearing minimal makeup allows her to fully express herself on screen, enabling her to portray raw and genuine emotions without the distraction of excessive glamour.
