English actress Florence Pugh recently made her big screen debut in the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Yelena Belova in “Black Widow,” opposite Scarlett Johansson as the titular Avenger; and judging by the fans’ reception of Pugh’s character (and the implications of the post-credits scene), it seems there’s more of her story to tell.
But prior to her stint for Marvel Studios, she already got quite an impressive body of work that showcases her range and versatility as an actor. If you’re done with “Black Widow,” here are some other stellar films of Florence Pugh to watch:
“Malevolent” (2018) | Director: Olaf de Fleur Johannesson
Set in 1986 Scotland, Pugh plays Angela, who runs a medium scam with her brother, taking advantage of people who claim to experience paranormal activity. When their latest client’s case reveals a dark and terrifying secret, the siblings and their team find themselves fighting for their lives. The film is based on the 2011 novel “Hush” by Eva Konstantopoulos.
“Midsommar” (2019) | Director: Ari Aster
After losing her sister and parents in a homicide-suicide, Dani Ardor (Pugh), along with her boyfriend and some friends, travel to the Swedish countryside for a festival that occurs once every 90 years, only to find out that they have become sacrifices for a pagan cult’s ritual. Led by a brilliant performance from Pugh, the folk horror flick is a refreshing take on the genre.
“Lady Macbeth” (2016) | Director: William Oldroyd
Katherine Lester (played by Pugh) lives a dull life married to a wealthy, significantly older man in a private estate in England. Things take a violent turn when her father-in-law and soon after, her husband, find out she’s been having an affair. Pugh won a British Independent Film Award for Best Actress as Lester. This further cemented her status as an up-and-coming actor to watch at the time of release.
“Little Women” (2019) | Director: Greta Gerwig
In this adaptation of the 1868 novel, Pugh plays Amy, one-fourth and youngest of the March sisters, also a talented budding artist. The coming-of-age period drama chronicles the lives of these young women in 19th century New York as they navigate family, career, love and life.
Pugh earned her first Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress as Amy March.
“Fighting with My Family” (2019) | Director: Stephen Merchant
Based on the 2012 documentary “The Wrestlers: Fighting with My Family” by Max Fisher, this biographical sports-comedy drama stars Pugh as professional wrestler Saraya Knight, who goes by “Paige” in the ring, during her earlier years pre-WWE. The film also features Vince Vaughn as her coach and recruiter and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson as himself (and producer).