Florence Pugh is undoubtedly one of the most exciting young actresses working today. In a few short years, she has risen from small independent British dramas to mainstream blockbusters, and she snagged an academy award nomination along the way. According to Rotten Tomatoes, she's got a good eye at picking projects with the majority of her film and television programs coming out as fresh.
Her hotly anticipated turn as Yelena Belova in Marvel's Black Widow could be the start of a new turn in her career. For the time being, however, let's look back at her top ten highest rated roles s far.
10. Malevolent (2018) - 38%
Admittedly not the strongest start. However, nearly every actor has a low budget and fairly rotten horror movie buried deep in their credit list. In fact, it's almost a rite of passage. Florence Pugh plays Angela who, along with her brother, con people into thinking they can cure a haunted house. Inevitably the con team comes across a house that is actually haunted and soon find themselves well out of their depth.
It may ultimately be slightly forgettable, but it did give Pugh a chance to flex her horror muscles which would come in useful for a certain other picture she made just a year later.
9. The Commuter (2018) - 56%
2018 was clearly a break out year for Pugh, trying her hand at different roles in different genres. First, we had horror and now thriller performing alongside action superstar, Liam Neeson. It's another thriller in the vein of Die Hard but this time on a train. Neeson plays an ordinary commuter who gets caught up in a criminal conspiracy involving his fellow passengers.
While it's perfectly serviceable, unfortunately, films like this often get forgotten amidst all the other similar thrillers. However, it is still a very different role for Pugh compared to her others and it's interesting seeing her as part of an ensemble (as a passenger who may or may not be involved) when she's usually a lead.
8. Outlaw King (2018) - 61%
Yet another film from 2018, undoubtedly her busiest year, and another genre: historical drama. Outlaw King tells the story of King Robert the Bruce of Scotland who led a rebellion against the occupying English forces.
Think of it almost as a sequel to Braveheart. Pugh plays King Robert's wife and while the film may not have achieved Braveheart levels of success it still packs a punch with its battle scenes. It was also a good choice as Scottish director David Mackenzie has turned in consistently good work and it would be interesting to see if they ever worked together again.
7. Marcella (2016) - 65%
A fairly small role but her first television appearance. Marcella is a police drama that follows Marcella Thomas who works for the Metropolitan's Murder Squad, on the case of a serial killer who has returned after ten years. Pugh plays Cara Thomas, a tough but vulnerable young woman who gets tangled up with the killer.
With only three episodes Pugh didn't last long on the show, but it was a role that, in the UK, at least garnered a lot of attention and marked her down as a performer to watch.
6. Midsommar (2019) - 83%
Interestingly, this role is lower down than we expected. However, all of her roles are certified fresh from here on which clearly proves that she is a good judge for picking projects. Midosmmar was the film that launched Florence Pugh to international stardom (if she wasn't there already).
Following the tragic death of her family Dani (Pugh) travels to a festival in Sweeden with her, fairly pathetic boyfriend where things start to get a little strange. A truly staggering performance from Pugh, who completely carries the film, as Dani moves from total grief to panic to acceptance and then back around again.
A criminally under-watched film and an absolute must for any fan of Florence. More than any other this film was a real break out for Pugh, launching her into all the projects she made in 2018.
She plays Katherine, a young woman who has been married into a rich family in 19th century England. Katherine has to balance her boredom with her own independent spirit and the results are almost catastrophic. Pugh is brilliant in this film showcasing depth and a darkness rarely seen in any of her other roles as Katherine refuses to be confined by her husband and breaks all traditional conformity.
4. King Lear (2018) - 91%
Another role from her bumper 2018 year. This time Pugh tries her hand at Shakespeare in an adaptation of the Bard's tragedy of King Lear.
Performing Shakespeare is no mean feat and the fact that she pulls it off this well is indicative of her sheer range of talent. She plays Cordelia, one of Lear's daughters who compete for his kingdom. She stars alongside acting royalty, including Emma Thompson and Sir Anthony Hopkins and more than holds her own.
3. Fighting With My Family (2019) - 93%
Another leading role for the young star but this time in a comedy based on a real-life British wrestling family. Paige (Pugh) and her brother have dreamed about joining the WWE since they were kids, but when Paige gets selected and her brother doesn't tensions begin to spring up.
From writer/director Stephen Merchant, this is a great feel-good film about following your dream, but also finding yourself on an unexpected journey. Pugh is again excellent as Paige and will have you rooting from your seats as she takes on some of the best wrestlers in the biz.
2. Little Women (2019) - 94%
It's not surprising that her most recent role would be her highest-rated. After all, in her short career, she has gone from strength to strength capping it off with an academy award-nominated performance as Amy March in Greta Gerwig's adaptation of Little Women.
Not only did she receive awards nominations she's also been credited with breathing new life into a role that has often been thought of as dull or annoying. Pugh once again holds her own amongst Hollywood superstars as she shows Amy's development from a teenager to a young adult.
1. Little Drummer Girl (2018) - 95%
It's her highest rated role and another TV project, once again from her incredible 2018. This 6-part mini-series, adapted from John Le Carre's novel, is an old-school spy thriller with a modern twist. Pugh plays a young English actress who is hired by Israeli agents to infiltrate an assassin.
The show was a success and may now be seen as an early test run for a similar spy role coming up in Black Widow. Directed by Korean legend Park Chan-Wook it is another interesting choice for Pugh, proving she has a keen interest in working with as many different types of filmmaker as possible.