Actress Florence Pugh has spoken out against the unrealistic beauty standards in Hollywood, calling them “exhausting” and highlighting the pressure young women face in the industry.
In a candid interview with The Times, the 28-year-old star discussed the challenges that women, especially young actresses, encounter as their appearances often take center stage, overshadowing their talents. Pugh explained that women are often forced into narrow expectations of behavior and appearance, or else they risk being labeled as “divas” or “problematic.”
“There are fine lines women have to stay within, otherwise they are called a diva, demanding, problematic,” Pugh said. “It is really exhausting for a young woman to just be in this industry, and actually other industries. But I’ve always been encouraged to have a voice.”
Pugh also shared her frustration with the media’s focus on the looks of women in the industry, recounting how actresses like Keira Knightley have faced harsh criticism about their appearance. “I remember godawful headlines about how Keira Knightley isn’t thin anymore, or watching women getting torn apart despite being talented and beautiful,” she recalled.
The We Live in Time star revealed that she has often challenged the stereotypes imposed on women in Hollywood. “The only thing people want to talk about is some useless crap about how they look,” Pugh said. “And so I didn’t care to abide by those rules. I’ve loved challenging ideas I don’t like.”
Pugh emphasized that her goal has always been to create space for a more diverse representation of women. “I wasn’t trying to challenge. I just wanted to be there, to make space for a version of a person that isn’t all the things they used to have to be. I’m proud I’ve stuck by myself and look the way I look,” she said, expressing her desire to redefine how women are perceived in the industry.
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