# Florence Pugh: The Machine > At 28, Florence Pugh has mastered the art of being a star without the usual cost. - Title: Florence Pugh: The Machine · Vanity Fair | Shortify - Summary: At 28, Florence Pugh has mastered the art of being a star without the usual cost. Pugh succeeds by being genuinely kind, fiercely private about what matters… - Keywords: florence pugh, actor, east of eden, dune, avengers, zoe kazan, character work, mental health, social media, gaza support, don't worry darling, midsommar - Source: Vanity Fair — https://vanityfair.com/story/cover-story-florence-pugh - Author: Hillary Busis - Published: 2026-09-25T12:30:00+00:00 - Read time: 4 min - Topics: florence pugh, actor, east of eden, dune, avengers, zoe kazan, character work, mental health, social media, gaza support, don't worry darling, midsommar ## A voice shaped by asthma Florence Pugh has had tracheomalacia, a windpipe condition, since birth. Her husky voice and distinctive laugh have become her signature traits, making her seem wise beyond her years in roles like Lady Macbeth and The Little Drummer Girl. > a weirdly low voice and a confusing laugh ## Characters who plot and poison Pugh's onscreen roles rarely laugh. She plays women who poison, kill, grieve, and burn houses. Her characters are psychologically damaged or born in the wrong century, always trying to escape their circumstances. > Are you aware that you always play women who are trying to get out? ## Bubbly off-screen, serious on-screen Pugh is a study in contrasts: an English rose with a septum piercing who loves cheese and vodka martinis, yet manages to be cool without alienating other women. She controls her narrative without seeming controlling. > fun, talented, and unproblematic ## Two blockbusters, same release day This year Pugh stars in Avengers: Doomsday, where Kevin Feige hints her character will anchor the film, and Dune: Part Three, where her role is smaller. Both arrive on the same day. ## East of Eden's darkest character Before those blockbusters, Pugh debuts as Cathy Ames in a limited series adaptation of John Steinbeck's East of Eden, created by Zoe Kazan. Cathy is both Eve and serpent, a coldhearted madam who commits murder, infanticide, and worse. ## Why Kazan chose Pugh Zoe Kazan wanted Pugh because she presents as feminine and beautiful but has something darker inside. When pitching to Netflix, Kazan said Pugh was the only person she wanted for the role. > The only person I think that I'd want to do this is Florence Pugh. ## Making candles and organizing Pugh loves activities during interviews. She's done pasta-making with Elle, weaving with Vogue, and now candles. She's a consummate organizer who arranges screenings for cast and crew and hosts multiday ski trips with assigned dinner duties. ## Protecting her siblings' privacy Pugh's parents are creatives: a designer, restaurateur, and former dancer. Her siblings are also in creative fields, but she refuses to discuss her younger sister's career publicly so her own fame won't interfere with her sister's work. ## Cathy's trauma rewritten In Kazan's adaptation, young Cathy is sexually abused at age five by an older boy with candy. This traumatic origin explains her rage and cruelty. Pugh calls it a beautiful love letter to protecting Cathy as a child. > I can't imagine for a moment after that abuse that she'll ever be the same person again. ## Midsommar took a toll Pugh has spoken about how Ari Aster's Midsommar made her sad for six months after filming. The role required huge psychological investment, but she's since learned to protect her mental space while still delivering committed performances. > I've learned over the years to know when enough is enough ## Venice drama stays private Four years ago, Don't Worry Darling caused a scandal at Venice Film Festival. Pugh missed a press conference and was photographed with an Aperol spritz. She refuses to discuss it publicly, redirecting the conversation to other topics. > I feel like there's so much stuff we've covered that is important for me ## Finn Cole and privacy Pugh has been dating Peaky Blinders actor Finn Cole for years but only went public on Instagram in March. She's clear about boundaries: I don't want to be a secret, but I also don't want everything divulged. > I don't want to be a secret, but I also don't want everything to be divulged ## Social media evolution Pugh went viral in 2022 for addressing backlash over a sheer Valentino gown and in 2020 for defending her relationship with Zach Braff. Now her feed is more professional, focused on red carpets and key art. She's no longer addicted to posting. > I guess maybe I'm not addicted to it anymore ## Gaza support despite the cost Pugh has openly supported Gaza since 2021, sharing donation links and performing at Together for Palestine, which raised over two million dollars. She estimates losing hundreds of thousands of followers for the stance but was never scared. > Babies are still dying. Mothers are still in pain. ## Accessible but guarded Pugh is warm, funny, and generous with compliments, calling everyone darling. Yet she's also all business on set and fiercely private about what matters. Even collaborators don't fully understand how she manages this balance. > She's so lovely and warm and approachable and funny. And at the same time, she's kind of all business on set. ## Theater dreams and McKellen's shock On the Doomsday set, Ian McKellen was horrified to learn Pugh has never done a play. She hopes to perform in a London theater soon, though not a musical. She doesn't think her voice is big enough for singing. > I don't think my voice will ever be big enough. ## Directing ambitions ahead Pugh wants to direct one day, but only when she's ready. She doesn't like messy sets and wants people to feel cared for at work. She believes directing is a luxury that requires the right conditions. > I don't like messy sets. I want people to come to work and work, and enjoy that it's a luxury to do this. ## Aware of rises and falls Pugh knows everyone in the industry experiences ups and downs, especially women. But she doesn't care about being adored by strangers. She cares about respect, pushing herself, and having a life outside work so criticism doesn't sting. > I've seen that happen to loads of people, especially women. We love to build them up, and we love to bring them down. ## A month-and-a-half break Before press obligations ramp up, Pugh is taking a proper rest. She wants to stay home, tend her garden, host friends, and nuzzle her dog instead of living out of a suitcase. She loves packing but hates unpacking. > I love packing. I hate unpacking. ## Key takeaway Pugh succeeds by being genuinely kind, fiercely private about what matters, and willing to take on dark, complex roles while protecting her mental health.