Florence Pugh, the 29-year-old actress known for her roles in Don't Worry Darling and Oppenheimer, recently spoke out about the challenges she’s faced while filming sex scenes. She expressed frustration with directors who have been inappropriate in their guidance, as well as concerns about the role intimacy coordinators can play on set.

In an interview on the Louis Theroux podcast, Florence opened up about her experiences in the film industry. She explained that while she is confident in her own body and has always been able to voice her boundaries, there were moments when directors crossed lines.

“There are plenty of things that I remember where it was just completely inappropriate to have asked me to do that,” she said. Despite these experiences, she acknowledged that her perspective on intimacy coordinators has evolved. “I’m now having fantastic experiences with intimacy coordinators,” she added.

Changing industry standards and the role of intimacy coordinators

Intimacy coordinators, introduced to the industry around 2018, became more prominent following the #MeToo movement. These professionals help ensure actors' safety and comfort during intimate scenes. Florence has had varied experiences with them.

While she praised skilled coordinators who enhance the portrayal of intimacy, she also recounted working with one who made her feel uncomfortable and awkward. “I’ve also had a s*** example where someone just made it so weird and so awkward and really wasn’t helpful and kind of was just like wanting to be a part of the set in a way that wasn't helpful, and I think it's a job that's still figuring itself out,” she said.

However, Florence’s view on intimacy coordinators has shifted for the better. She emphasized that the role of a good coordinator is to help actors understand the emotional and narrative context of a scene. “I was like, oh this is what I’ve been missing, understanding the dance of intimacy as opposed to just shooting a sex scene,” she explained. This process, according to Pugh, has led to a deeper understanding of the characters and the scene itself, making the experience more collaborative and respectful.

Pre-filming discussions and actor comfort on set

Florence also highlighted the positive changes that have occurred in how sex scenes are handled on film sets. Communication now takes place well in advance, with actors discussing their boundaries, including safe words and specific areas they don’t want to be touched. These conversations help remove the awkwardness and ensure actors feel more comfortable before stepping onto set. “Now what happens, conversation about the sex scenes happen weeks before and it becomes not embarrassing anymore,” she said.

In addition, Florence described how contracts and agreements about what nudity and camera angles will be shown are arranged beforehand. “What is allowed on camera and not, that is arranged with your law as that is put in your contract,” she explained. According to Pugh, this level of transparency and preparation ensures that the set remains respectful and that actors’ boundaries are protected.

Florence’s comments reflect broader industry changes that prioritize safety, respect, and communication on set, particularly in scenes of intimacy.

Featured image credit: Samir Hussein / Getty

Cillian Murphy has praised Florence Pugh for "powerful" sex scenes in their latest film together.

Oppenheimer, which is set to hit major theatres on Friday (July 21), tells the story of the notorious American scientist J. Robert Oppenheimer and his role in the development of the atomic bomb used in World War II.

While Murphy, 47, brings Oppenheimer to life in the story, Pugh, 27, acts as his ex-fianceé Jean Tatlock.

The pair have been commended on their electric chemistry behind the scenes while promoting the movie, but things are seemingly even better in the film as the pair play former lovers in an on-and-off romance.

Speaking to The Sydney Morning Herald, the Peaky Blinders actor described the sex scenes between their characters as "powerful."

"Those scenes were written deliberately," Murphy said. "[Christopher Nolan, the director] knew that those scenes would get the movie the rating that it got.

"And I think when you see it, it’s so f**king powerful. And they’re not gratuitous. They’re perfect.

The star went on to describe Pugh as "amazing" saying: "I have loved Florence’s work since Lady Macbeth [William Oldroyd’s 2016 period drama about a woman embittered by a loveless marriage] and I think she’s f**king phenomenal."

He continued: "She has this presence as a person and on-screen that is staggering. The impact she has [in Oppenheimer] for the size of the role, it’s quite devastating."

In a separate interview with The Guardian, the 47-year-old opened up about the "chemistry tests" he and Pugh had to undergo in order to prepare for their intimate scenes together.

"They put two actors in a room to see if there’s any spark, and have all the producers and director at a table watching. I don’t know what metric they use, and it seems so outrageously silly, but sometimes you get a chemistry and nobody knows why," he told the outlet.

Over the past few weeks, the cast have embarked on a hectic press tour but have been doing their best to not give away the finer details of the three-hour-long film.

Though Nolan himself told Wired that some of the people who have seen it were left "absolutely devastated" and unable to speak.

"Some people leave the movie absolutely devastated. They can't speak. I mean, there's an element of fear that's there in the history and there in the underpinnings. But the love of the characters, the love of the relationships, is as strong as I've ever done," he said.

"Oppenheimer's story is all impossible questions. Impossible ethical dilemmas, paradox," Nolan continued. "There are no easy answers in his story. There are just difficult questions, and that's what makes the story so compelling.

"I think we were able to find a lot of things to be optimistic about in the film, genuinely, but there's this sort of overriding bigger question that hangs over it. It felt essential that there be questions at the end that you leave rattling in people's brains, and prompting discussion," he added.

Oppenheimer is set to be released this Friday.

Featured Image Credit: Gareth Cattermole/Getty

Florence Pugh was left stunned after a flying object hit her in the face during a Comic Con event.

On Sunday (December 3), the 27-year-old British actress attended a Dune: Part Two Panel at Comic Con in São Paolo, Brazil alongside her co-stars Timothée Chalamet, Austin Butler, and Zendaya.

According to a video shared on social media, the Midsommar star was posing for photos alongside her co-stars and director Denis Villeneuve when she was struck in the face by an item thrown from the audience.

Pugh was caught by surprise and appeared to say: "Oh wow", before reaching for the object on the ground. Her cast members also checked to see if she was OK.

Many people took to social media to condemn the act of throwing items at people on stage, which seems to be happening ever more often.

One person said: "Forget kicking these people out of the rooms, are they being arrested and sued? This phenomenon of throwing things at people really needs to stop and it won't until someone who does it gets absolutely decimated personally and financially."

Another said: "NOW Y’ALL THROWING THINGS AT FLORENCE?? OH DONT P**S ME OFF."

A third commented: "At this point, venues should enact policies where throwing objects at people on stage gets you fined. And If it already exists, it needs to be enforced way harder."

A fourth shared: "I don’t care what or where you come from you never throw things at another person like this. It’s not fan behaviour it’s pathetic."

Prior to all that, the Don’t Worry Darling actress shared her thoughts about working on the film, and said: "I had an amazing time coming in and just hanging around with these people, let alone actually getting to work with them," as cited by Rolling Stone.

"Coming in here — the power in this room — is because of that first movie, and we felt that when we went on set every single day. So it feels really, really special being here with the second one," she added.

While the Oscar-winning star appeared to be relatively unscathed following the incident, that hasn’t been the case for other celebrities who have been hit by something thrown by a person in the audience.

Back in June, Bebe Rexha was struck in the face by a flying cell phone, an incident that required stitches, and last year Harry Styles was smacked in the eye after a misguided fan tossed Skittles candy at the stage.

Even Adele addressed the dangerous behavior during her Las Vegas residency, telling her audience: "Have you noticed how people are like, forgetting f***ing show etiquette at the moment? People just throwing s*** on stage, have you seen them? These people have lost it, could you imagine?"

Just last week, singer Ari Lennox was performing her opening slot for Rod Wave’s Nostalgia tour at the Kia Forum in Los Angeles when someone threw a water bottle onstage and hit her in the arm.

Lennox immediately stopped the show, as seen in a video shared by TMZ, demanding to know who the perpetrator was. "I’ll f*** you up," she told the crowd. "Who did it? Who the f*** did it? I don’t play that s***. I’m a real a** b**** and I will f*** your s*** all the way the f*** up.

"Don’t you ever disrespect a beautiful Black woman on the f***ing stage like that," she said. "I’m going to f*** you up." Before a fight could break out, the 32-year-old singer's security guard escorted her off the stage.

Featured image credit: Mike Marsland / Getty

Florence Pugh has opened up about the negative reaction she got to her see-through dress and how it impacted how she views her body.

In an interview with Vogue, the 28-year-old actress told the outlet that the reaction from audiences was a stark contrast to what she had been taught about loving herself growing up.

She opened up about her mom teaching her to live that way made her comfortable and to not mind the little things like when she might "smell after a workout," or notice "spots" when she's stressed.

She was even told to wear sheer dresses whenever she pleased if that made her happy.

And so she did.

In July 2022, during a Valentino event in Rome, the star headed to the red carpet in a sheer, pink dress with her breasts proudly on display.

At the time, she took to Instagram to share snapshots of the daring look, alongside a light-hearted caption saying: "Technically they're covered?" obviously referring to her nipples, which were visible through the tulle fabric.

However, what she did not expect was an onslaught of vile comments from a group of keyboard warriors who thought it was somehow acceptable to rip Pugh's appearance to shreds while some also went as far as threatening to rape her.

"I've never been scared of what's underneath the fabric," Pugh said. "If I'm happy in it, then I'm gonna wear it. Of course, I don't want to offend people, but I think my point is: How can my nipples offend you that much?"

She also told the outlet how concerning this type of reaction truly is.

"It's very important that we do this," she continued. "I know that some people might scoff at me saying that, but if a dress with my breasts peeking through is encouraging people to say, 'Well, if you were to get raped, you would deserve it,' it just shows me that there's so much more work to do."

She doubled down on her stance during an interview with Elle too in which she stated that people were just "terrified of the human body."

"It’s the freedom that people are scared of; the fact I’m comfortable and happy. Keeping women down by commenting on their bodies has worked for a very long time."

"Unfortunately, we’ve become so terrified of the human body that we can’t even look at my two little cute nipples behind fabric in a way that isn’t sexual," Pugh added. "We need to keep reminding everybody that there is more than one reason for women’s bodies [to exist]."

At the time of the incident, the Don't Worry Darling star took to Instagram to address the issue in a separate post, telling the trolls that their hate does not make her nervous, or insecure.

"I was excited to wear it, not a wink of me was nervous. I wasn't before, during or even now after," she wrote. "What's been interesting to watch and witness is just how easy it is for men to totally destroy a woman's body, publicly, proudly, for everyone to see. You even do it with your job titles and work emails in your bio..?

"It isn't the first time and certainly won't be the last time a woman will hear what's wrong with her body by a crowd of strangers, what's worrying is just how vulgar some of you men can be," she continued. "Thankfully, I've come to terms with the intricacies of my body that make me, me. I'm happy with all of the 'flaws' that I couldn't bear to look at when I was 14."

The actress also wondered why people would comment on her breast size, let alone tell her that they were "disappointed" by them as if she should care.

" I've lived in my body for a long time. I'm fully aware of my breast size and am not scared of it," she said, before adding: "What's more concerning is... Why are you so scared of breasts?"

Pugh explained that she was "grateful" to have grown up with "very strong, powerful, curvy women," and noted that it "has always been my mission in this industry to say 'f*** it and f*** that' whenever anyone expects my body to morph into an opinion of what's hot or sexually attractive."

"Grow up. Respect people. Respect bodies. Respect all women. Respect humans. Life will get a whole lot easier, I promise. And all because of two cute little nipples..." she concluded her bold post.

A year later, and Pugh once again donned a sheer gown when she attended the Valentino Haute Couture show as part of Paris Fashion Week at Chateau de Chantilly.

It's 2024 and this is what we're still doing? What a joke. We're glad Pugh stood her ground for herself and other women who have been shamed for their bodies.

Featured Image Credit: Kevin Mazur/Getty

British actress Florence Pugh has revealed that she was topless when she received the news that she'd been nominated for an Oscar for Little Women.

Pugh, who was critically-acclaimed for her work in the Ari-Aster-directed folk horror movie Midsommar, is now in the running for the title of Best Supporting Actress for starring as the character of Amy March in Little Women.

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Sharing a picture of herself lying bare-chested on her front on Instagram, Florence wrote: " Before the moment ... the exact moment. #nominated #foraf**kingoscar!!!!!! [sic]"

This isn't the first time that Pugh has publicly talked about her feelings on her award nominations. Back in November, when nominated for a Scottish BAFTA award, Pugh took to Twitter to write: "Oh my goodness I can’t believe I’m not there for this but I am so truly stoked to be nominated ESPECIALLY next to these fucking legendary women. Have a nervous champagne for me to those who are there! [sic]"

Take a look at the trailer for Little Women right here: 

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In a recent interview with iNews, Pugh opened up about the heavy scrutiny her body had fallen under while working in Hollywood. Pugh stated: "I’d heard all the rumors of that side of Hollywood. I didn’t think it was going to happen. I was in a scenario where I was 18 and had to do all of these things. I knew it wasn’t something I wanted to be a part of."

Recently, Charlize Theron flashed her friends while celebrating her SAGA award nomination:

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She added: "I knew I didn’t really want to go back until I knew what it was, what I was. It’s very easy when you’re out there to be swayed and to look the way they want you to look. Until you have the confidence to say no, it’s tricky."

However, Florence will be competing against some strong talent in her bed to win Best Supporting Actress. Take a peek at the rest of the nominations here if you'd like to know who else is in the running.