Florence Pugh’s rise to the top of Hollywood has been swift and deserved, with the Oxford-born actress having only made her on-screen debut back in 2014’sThe Falling. Since then, Pugh has made a name for herself as one of the most trustworthy performers in the business, never disappointing and regularly turning in show-stealing performances. After just five years in the industry, Pugh was already earning her first Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress, eventually losing toLaura Dern’s magnificent performance as Nora inMarriage Story.
Now, eleven years on from her debut, Pugh is headlining Marvel’sThunderbolts*, as well as stunning in projects under the very best directors in the business, fromChristopher NolantoDenis Villeneuve. A sure-fire money-making name for production companies, Pugh has already accumulated an eye-watering number of top-tier performances in her catalog, with many more still to come, such as in theupcomingEast of Edenremake. With all that in mind,here’s a look at 10 essential Florence Pugh performances, ranked.
10’We Live in Time' (2024)
Directed by John Crowley
At the heart of every Pugh performance is unequivocal sincerity, and that is perhaps no better seen than inJohn Crowley’sWe Live in Time. Telling the tale of a whirlwind romance between Pugh’s chef Almut andAndrew Garfield’s recent divorcée Tobias,We Live in Timeunpacks all the major milestones and intricate memories of their modern relationship, from the highs of childbirth to the lows of grief.
A heartfelt tearjerkerboasting an interesting non-linear narrative design, We Live in Timetakes two of Britain’s finest actors and allows them to shine with a neatly crafted script fromWanderlust’sNick Payne. Often, it is easy to overlook the everyday nuances of love, withWe Live in Timereminding its audience to cherish every second they have with those they care about.
We Live in Time
9’Thunderbolts*' (2025)
Directed by Jake Schreier
Also playfully known asThe New Avengers,Thunderboltsis the latest in a long line of entries in the MCU, and is widely considered one of the best in recent memory. Instead of crafting a famed team of the universe’s strongest good guys,Thunderboltsinstead gives the antiheroes a chance to shine, with this rag-tag bunch of superheroes normally left in the background pulled front and center on their own world-saving mission.
A politically charged superhero flick with all the trimmings,Thunderbolts*is an unquestionable success thanks in no small part to its brilliant cast. IncludingHannah John-Kamen(Ant-Man and the Wasp),Julia Louis-Dreyfus(The Falcon and the Winter Soldier),Sebastian Stan(Avengers: Endgame),Wyatt Russell(The Falcon and the Winter Soldier),Olga Kurylenko(Black Widow) andDavid Harbour(Black Widow), among others, it is Pugh that perhaps manages to stand out above the rest with her immersive portrayal of Yelena Belova.
Thunderbolts*
8’Puss in Boots: The Last Wish' (2022)
Directed by Joel Crawford, Januel Mercado
Not just a face for the screen, Pugh’s talents have also stretched to voice work, with the actress portraying the leader of the unorthodox Three Bears Crime Family, Goldilocks. The movie, a sequel to the 2011Shrekspin-off, follows the swashbuckling titular feline (Antonio Banderas) as he embarks on a wild adventure to find hisLast Wishafter learning he has nearly run out of his nine lives.
Brilliantly animated, utterly hilarious, and boasting a wonderful heart,Puss in Boots: The Last Wishis arguably the best installment in the entireShrekfranchise. Nominated for an Academy Award and earning an incredible95% score on review aggregatorRotten Tomatoes,The Last Wishis a movie perfect for every family to enjoy together without isolating any generation, something that many of its contemporaries cannot boast.
Puss in Boots: The Last Wish
7’King Lear' (2018)
Directed by Richard Eyre
It feels like a rite of passage for every British-born actor to take on the wit and depth of the timelessWilliam Shakespeare, with the 2018 BBCadaptation of King Leara perfect example of Pugh proving her versatility. DirectorRichard Eyrestays true to the original tale despite its time and setting, crafting the story of an aging King who abdicates his throne and divides his kingdom among his three daughters.
A stunning rendition of one of Shakespeare’s best tragedies,King Leardoesn’t miss a tonal shift or beat in this ever-moving drama. Although just over 20 years old during filming, Pugh manages to go toe-to-toe with some of Britain’s most iconic performers, fromEmma ThompsontoJim Broadbent, even holding her own against a magnificent titular performance from the geniusAnthony Hopkins.
6’The Boy and the Heron' (2023)
Directed by Hayao Miyazaki
Although not in the original voice cast, Pugh provides the English-dub voice of Kiriko inHayao Miyazaki’s latest effort,The Boy and the Heron. The film follows young Mahito, a boy who has recently moved to his family’s estate in the countryside following the death of his mother in the war. Grieving his loss and fearful of life moving forward,Mahito enters a magical worldon the hunt for his missing new stepmother.
Studio Ghibliand Miyazaki are masters of their craft and have been for many decades, with the Academy Award-winningThe Boy and the Heronno different. Visually inspiring andfeaturing a central tale sure to tug at the heartstrings, the film is a joy, whether in its original language or via the English dub, with fans of Pugh and her incredible filmography likely to choose the latter.
The Boy and the Heron
5’Dune: Part Two' (2024)
Directed by Denis Villeneuve
After the simply stunning first installment in Villeneuve’s take on theFrank Herbertnovel, no one could quite expect just how incredible its sequel would be, with many suggesting it surpassed its predecessor. Part of this success can be chalked down to the cast, withPugh shining among a star-studded affairthat includes the likes ofTimothée Chalamet,Rebecca Ferguson,Javier Bardem,Zendaya,Stellan Skarsgård,Dave Bautista, and many others.
The film follows the events of the first after the defeat of House Atreides by House Harkonnen, with Chalamet’s Paul uniting with Chani and the Fremen on a bloody hunt for revenge.Visually mind-blowing and narratively indulgent,Dune: Part Twoproves that, not only was Villeneuve’s first adaptation no fluke, but it sets in motion the likelihood that this could be one of sci-fi cinema’s greatest ever franchises.
Dune: Part Two
4’Little Women' (2019)
Directed by Greta Gerwig
Pugh’s one and only Academy Award nomination to date, although almost definitely not her last, came inGreta Gerwig’s 2019 adaptation ofLouisa May Alcott’s classic novel,Little Women. The filmfollows the March sistersliving in 19th-century Massachusetts in a time of patriarchy and civil unrest. With their father away fighting in a war, it’s up to the four siblings and their mother to forge a path that will bring hope and prosperity at a time of such uncertainty.
A doting homage to its source material,Little Womenseems to understand the very essence of Alcott’s original novel, despite 150 years separating them. Alongside an engaging tale and superb performances, notably from the likes of Pugh andSaoirse Ronan, the film also boasts preeminent production design, from the gorgeous countryside settings to the inch-perfect costuming.
Little Women
3’Lady Macbeth' (2016)
Directed by William Oldroyd
BeforeWilliam Oldroyd’s indie dramaLady Macbeth, the world wasn’t aware of Pugh’s acting prowess. After it had been released, it was all many could talk about, with thisone of themost impressive breakout performances of 2016. Pugh stars as Katherine Lester, a woman living in rural England who has been cruelly sold into marriage. However, a passionate, condemned affair with one of the workers on her husband’s estate starts a fire in Katherine’s stomach as the fire of a woman scorned begins to rage.
Pugh is an unquestionable powerhouse throughout Oldroyd’sLady Macbeth,perfectly driving this often bleak tale with the vigor of a veteran. Katherine’s journey from nigh-on nihilism to bloody revenge is effortlessly engaging in the hands of Pugh, with the movie, for all its triumphs, arguably outshone by its lead performance, such is its brilliance.
Lady Macbeth
2’Oppenheimer' (2023)
Directed by Christopher Nolan
Nolan’sOppenheimeris one of the highest-rated movies of this decade. The movie leaves no stone unturned in thelong and winding tale of J. Robert Oppenheimer(Cillian Murphy), as he embarks on his journey from humble physicist to the man labeled as the creator of one of humanity’s most terrifying weapons.
It’s difficult to pick just one performance out of this incredible line-up of stunning turns, with both Murphy andRobert Downey Jr. earning Academy Awards for their roles. However, considering she is relegated to little screen time compared to others,Pugh steals every scene she is in as Jean Tatlock, the emotionally broken romantic interest of Oppenheimer’s who meets a devastating, pivotal end.
Oppenheimer
1’Midsommar' (2019)
Directed by Ari Aster
Considered by many to be Pugh’s best performance to date,Ari Aster’s blend of dark comedy and gut-wrenching horror,Midsommar, tells the tale of Dani (Pugh) and her partner Christian (Jack Reynor), as they travel to a remote Swedish village for the midsummer festival in an attempt to piece together their broken relationship. However, fraught with grief from a recent tragedy and surrounded by an offbeat environment, the pair soon become overwhelmed by the unorthodox practices of the festival, which soon transforms into sheer horror.
Moving seamlessly from unconventional humor tovisceral folk horrorin mere seconds, Aster’sMidsommaris a true great of the modern horror genre. From the unapologetically crude final act to the hidden faces in the film’s background, every aspect of this frightful flick is meticulously crafted to chisel a sense of unease. However, beyond all this, it is Pugh’s performance that truly cements the movie as a remarkable feat of horror filmmaking, with the actress herself even admitting that it took an immense toll on her well-being, such was her investment in the part.
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