Florence Pugh explains why it’s “exhausting” being a woman in Hollywood

Posted On December 17, 2024December 17, 2024

Hollywood actor Florence Pugh has described being a woman in Hollywood as “exhausting” while reflecting on past headlines about Keira Knightley’sappearance.

Pugh is no stranger to calling out industry sexism, having made it known on multiple occasions she doesn’t stand for unfair or misogynistic treatment towards women in Hollywood, whether directly or indirectly.

The English star has also been the focus of such scrutiny on multiple occasions, with audiences and the media choosing to criticise aspects of both her appearance and acting since she first started working in acting as a teenager.

During a recent interview, Pugh described the restrictions and pressures on women in Hollywood as “fine lines” they have to coast, describing the consistent strain as “exhausting.” She also addressed previous headlines criticising Knightley for not being “thin anymore.” Knightley was first exposed to widespread fame after starring in 2003’s Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl at just 17 years old.

“There are fine lines women have to stay within, otherwise they are called a diva, demanding, problematic,” Pugh told The Sunday Times. She continued: “And I don’t want to fit into stereotypes made by others. It is really exhausting for a young woman to just be in this industry, and actually other industries.”

Discussing the discourse surrounding Knightley’s experience, she added: “I remember watching this industry and feeling that I wasn’t represented. I remember godawful headlines about how Keira Knightley isn’t thin anymore, or watching women getting torn apart despite being talented and beautiful. The only thing people want to talk about is some useless crap about how they look. And so I didn’t care to abide by those rules.”

The sexism faced by Florence Pugh in Hollywood

Pugh previously recalled being body-shamed by executives when she was 19, who tried to urge her to change parts of her appearance to better suit the Hollywood “look”, which included her weight, face shape, and other physical attributes.

She also experienced a surge of criticism among audiences following the release of Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer, proving that certain people remain more concerned with her appearance, namely her weight.

However, she remains steadfast in her commitment to calling out industry toxicities and often calls out such behaviours in interviews or on her social media pages. For instance, after receiving backlash for a dress she wore to Valentino’s couture show in Rome, she took to Instagram to express her disdain, saying, “Grow up. Respect people. Respect bodies. Respect all women. Respect humans. Life will get a whole lot easier, I promise.”

Related Topics