Florence Pugh Reflects on Emotional Toll of ‘Midsommar’ Role

Florence Pugh, the acclaimed actress known for her intense performances, recently opened up about the emotional toll of her role in the 2019 horror film “Midsommar.” In an interview, Pugh revealed that playing Dani, a grief-stricken woman who experiences a psychological breakdown, left her feeling as though she had “abused” herself during the filming process.

“There have been some roles where I’ve given too much, and I’ve been broken for a long while afterwards,” Pugh said. “Like when I did ‘Midsommar,’ I definitely felt like I abused myself in the places that I got myself to go.” She explained that the nature of such demanding roles requires actors to recognize their limits, adding, “I can’t do that again because that was too much.”

Despite the emotional strain, Pugh expressed pride in her performance. “I look at that performance, and I’m really proud of what I did, and I’m proud of what came out of me,” she said. “I don’t regret it, but there are definitely things that you have to respect about yourself.”

Pugh praised director Ari Aster, describing him as a “mad genius” and a “stand-up comedian at heart.” She recalled the challenging filming conditions, including shooting in a hot field with multiple languages being spoken. “It shouldn’t be pleasurable,” she said of the experience. “Why would making a movie like that be pleasurable?”

The actress also shared that transitioning from “Midsommar” to her next project, Greta Gerwig‘s “Little Women,” was emotionally jarring. “I remember looking out the plane and feeling immense guilt because I felt like I’d left [Dani] in that field in that state,” Pugh said. “It’s so weird. I’ve never had that before.”

Pugh’s candid reflections highlight the often-overlooked emotional challenges actors face when immersing themselves in deeply psychological roles. Her ability to balance vulnerability with self-preservation continues to define her career.