Florence Pugh, star of 'The Wonder', discusses her fascination with playing women fighting societal constraints, the collaborative relationship with the director, the surprisingly delicious food in the film, her popular video series 'Cooking With Flo', being in control of her career, and her perfect day off.
The Wonder explores themes of women's rights, misogyny, and power dynamics in the 1860s.
Director Sebastian Lelio involves actors in the creative process, valuing their input and capturing the complexity of female characters.
Deep dives
Florence Pugh's Acting Prowess
Florence Pugh is praised for her versatile acting skills, excelling in various genres and delivering powerful performances in films like 'Lady Macbeth', 'Midsommar', 'Little Women', and 'Black Widow'. She has the ability to completely disappear into a character while still radiating star power.
The Intriguing Story of 'The Wonder'
Florence Pugh discusses her latest film, 'The Wonder', directed by Sebastian Lelio and based on the book by Emma Donoghue. The film explores the struggles and resilience of women in the 1860s and focuses on a Nightingale nurse named Lib, who despite having an esteemed reputation, faces resistance and indifference when she tries to make a difference in a village. The film highlights themes of women's rights, misogyny, and the power dynamics of the time.
Collaborating with Sebastian Lelio
Florence Pugh discusses her collaboration with director Sebastian Lelio, praising his talent and dedication to his craft. She shares that Lelio involves his actors in the creative process, seeking their opinions and valuing their input. Pugh appreciates his attention to detail, particularly when it comes to capturing the pain and complexity of female characters. She also acknowledges his focus on exploring the psychology of women, a unique aspect of his filmmaking career.
Life and Career Reflections
Florence Pugh reflects on her personal journey in the entertainment industry, mentioning the influence of her strong and creative family. She emphasizes the importance of bringing elements of her real-life experiences and the women in her life into her performances. Pugh also expresses gratitude for having control over her career and being able to collaborate with talented teams. She discusses the significance of social media in connecting with her audience and being true to herself amidst the changing landscape of Hollywood.
Florence Pugh joins the show to talk about her latest film, The Wonder. Directed by Sebastián Lelio and based on Emma Donoghue’s book by the same name, the film transports us to 1862, where English Nightingale Nurse Lib Wright (Florence Pugh) has been called to the Irish Midlands by a devout community to conduct a 15-day examination over one of their own. Anna O’Donnell (Kíla Lord Cassidy) is an 11-year-old girl who claims not to have eaten for four months, surviving miraculously on “manna from heaven.” As Anna’s health rapidly deteriorates, Lib is determined to unearth the truth, challenging the faith of a community that would prefer to stay believing.
Pugh shares what fascinates her about playing women battling the societal constraints of their time period, highlights the collaborative relationship between herself and Lelio, and explains how the film's talented chefs made food which was supposed to appear unappealing on camera, surprisingly delicious.
She also reveals the inspiration behind her popular video series, "Cooking With Flo," emphasizes the importance of being in control of her own career, and details her perfect day off -- which starts with a sandwich from Marks & Spencer and ends with a martini.
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