Florence Pugh Reveals She Abused Herself Emotionally For Acclaimed Horror Film Midsommar

Florence Pugh recently opened up about the emotional challenges she faced while portraying Dani, the grief-stricken lead character in Ari Aster’s 2019 folk horror film Midsommar. In an interview on the Reign with Josh Smith podcast, Pugh discussed the intense emotional toll the role took on her. She explained that to authentically portray Dani’s trauma and grief, she had to push herself to emotional extremes, saying, “I definitely felt like I abused myself in the places that I got myself to go.”

Pugh’s role in Midsommar required her to delve into deep sorrow following a tragic loss, and she admitted that the experience was mentally and emotionally exhausting. Reflecting on the process, she shared, “I mean, the nature of figuring these things out is you need to go, ‘Alright, well, I can’t do that again ’cause that was too much.’” Despite the strain, Pugh noted that the role left a significant impact on her, revealing how far she had to go emotionally to make the performance authentic.

Even though the role was draining, Pugh expressed pride in her performance, stating, “I look at that performance, and I’m really proud of what I did, and I’m proud of what came out of me. I don’t regret it.” She acknowledged that portraying Dani in such a raw and emotionally charged way was a career-defining moment for her. It showed her ability to tackle deeply emotional material while maintaining a sense of believability in the film’s surreal, unsettling circumstances.

Released the same year as her Oscar-nominated role in Little Women, Midsommar highlighted Pugh’s incredible versatility as an actress. The film, directed by Ari Aster, is now regarded as a modern horror classic, exploring themes like grief, trauma, and toxic relationships with both psychological depth and striking visuals. Pugh’s performance in the film further cemented her place as one of Hollywood’s most talented and adaptable stars.

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