Florence Pugh has been kind of popping up everywhere over the past few years, with her latest film, Don’t Worry Darling, just hitting theaters on September 23rd. That adds a psychological thriller to her already impressive filmography that also includes an Academy Award nomination, modern horror classic, and MCU appearances.
On top of that, Pugh is slated to show up in Christopher Nolan’s next movie, another MCU film, the Dune sequel, and so much more. Her current roles have been met with strong praise from Letterboxd users, whether they were on the big screen or a small screen miniseries.
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King Lear (2018) – 3.10
Stream On Amazon Prime
Shortly before becoming a household name, Florence Pugh proved her acting chops by sharing the screen with some legends in King Lear. This television film is one of the many William Shakespeare adaptations made over the years and stars Anthony Hopkins and Emma Thompson.
This version is set in an alternate universe but still focuses on the titular character splitting his kingdom among his daughters. Pugh has the most important role outside of Hopkins, playing Cordelia, the youngest daughter who refuses his decision and is left to survive on her own. Of course, she’s one of the highlights of the film.
Don’t Worry Darling (2022) – 3.15
See In Theaters
Helmed by a director whose debut was met with widespread acclaim, featuring an intriguing premise, and boasting a loaded cast, Don’t Worry Darling has a lot going for it. As the release date grew near though, it became a focal point of the news for a troubled production.
Despite that, the film has opened well enough at the box office. Although most reviews are mixed, the main aspect of Don’t Worry Darling receiving acclaim is the lead performance of Pugh as Alice Chambers, a devoted housewife who learns that her seemingly perfect life isn’t what it seems.
Black Widow (2021) – 3.21
Stream On Disney+
Fans waited about a decade for Scarlett Johansson to get a lead role as her iconic character, Natasha Romanoff. They finally got it with Black Widow, a prequel set before her character’s demise in Avengers: Endgame and reviews were strong.
While it was great to see Johansson get her moment to shine, the best thing the movie did was introduce her sister Yelena Belova, played brilliantly by Florence Pugh. The character was funny, charming, tough, and had an emotionally charged backstory that quickly made her a fan favorite. She will return to the big screen in the upcoming Thunderbolts film.
Outlaw King (2018) – 3.22
Stream On Netflix
Historical dramas surrounding warfare and kings are the norm in Hollywood and Netflix got in on the action with 2018’s Outlaw King. This one tells the tale of Robert the Bruce, a Scottish ruler who launches a guerilla war against an English army way bigger than his own.
As is the case with a lot of similar films, critics were pleased with the production value and performances but had some issues with historical inaccuracies. Starring alongside Chris Pine and Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Pugh shines as Elizabeth de Burgh, the wife of the protagonist.
Fighting With My Family (2019) – 3.43
Rent On Apple TV
2019 was a remarkable breakout year for Florence Pugh, who delivered the goods in three separate feature films. The first to get released was Fighting with My Family, which sees Pugh portray pro wrestling superstar Paige, aka Saraya.
Her story is perfect for a big screen adaptation as Saraya’s entire family are wrestlers and she rises from relatively humble beginnings to become a major star in WWE. Being produced by (and featuring a cameo from) Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson helped but even he couldn’t take away the spotlight from Pugh’s commanding on-screen presence.
Lady Macbeth (2016) – 3.47
Stream On Tubi, Freevee, The Roku Channel & Hoopla
The first leading role for Florence Pugh came in 2016’s Lady Macbeth when she was barely 20 years of age. Based on the novella Lady Macbeth of the Mtsensk District, this movie follows a young lady struggling with her marriage to a much older, bitter man.
Making a splash at the Toronto International Film Festival, Lady Macbeth showed everyone that Pugh could be a leading lady with a mesmerizing performance. She took home a slew of accolades, including Best Actress at the British Independent Film Awards and the European Film Awards.
The Wonder (2022) – 3.51
Stream On Netflix On 11/16
It’s still too early for most people to see The Wonder as it doesn’t get a wide theatrical release until early November and then doesn’t arrive on Netflix until a few weeks later. However, it did make its debut in early September at the Telluride Film Festival.
Although it doesn’t have a ton of reviews so far, The Wonder managed to impress those who caught it. Adapted from a novel of the same name, The Wonder sees Pugh play Lib Wright, a nurse in the 1800s who travels to see a girl who has supposedly survived without food for months.
Hawkeye (2021) – 3.56
Stream On Disney+
Fans were clamoring for the return of Florence Pugh’s Yelena almost immediately after they finished watching Black Widow. They got their wish a few months later when she appeared in the final three episodes of Disney+’s Hawkeye miniseries.
While the show is mainly about the relationship between Clint Barton and Kate Bishop (the new Hawkeye), fans came to love the banter between Kate and Yelena. Pugh has electric chemistry with Hailee Steinfeld to the point where fans want more from them and Yelena gets some of the show’s most emotional scenes.
Midsommar (2019) – 3.84
Stream On Showtime & Kanopy
The stellar 2019 for Florence Pugh continued with her first appearance in a horror movie and it’s a role that people still talk about to this day. Midsommar is the second feature film from Ari Aster and it’s one of the most unique out there, taking place almost entirely in a bright, sunny setting.
Pugh portrays Dani Ardor, a girl who travels to Sweden for a festival with her friends following a harrowing family trauma. While there, they find themselves part of a ritual run by a sinister cult. Though some felt it was a bit long, Midsommar was praised for the unsettling nature and the performances.
Little Women (2019) – 4.16
Stream On DIRECTV
Florence Pugh capped 2019 in the best way possible. She landed a major role in Greta Gerwig’s adaptation of the iconic Little Women story, playing Amy March. Even more than most versions, this was met with widespread acclaim and grossed over $200 million commercially.
Most of the cast delivered on the screen but it was Pugh and Saoirse Ronan who were showered with accolades. Pugh secured her first (and probably not last) Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress, while being up for the same category at a bunch of other ceremonies.