Florence Pugh Says Midsommar Depression Lasted Months: ‘I’d Abused Myself’
Florence Pugh Says Midsommar Depression Lasted Months: ‘I’d Abused Myself’
Florence Pugh opens up about the emotional toll of playing Dani in Midsommar, revealing six months of depression and the pressures of method acting.
Florence Pugh has spoken candidly about the heavy emotional toll of portraying Dani in Midsommar, detailing how the experience contributed to six months of depression. The film centers on Dani's grief as she navigates a catastrophic tragedy, with Pugh saying the role required her to delve into feelings she had never before explored.
She described the process as horribly real, sharing that she pushed herself to imagine the news of a sibling's death, the sight of coffins, and finally her family's funeral. In her words, she abused herself and manipulated her own emotions to achieve the performance, and she acknowledges she cannot exhaust herself in that way again due to the lasting impact.
After filming in Budapest, she moved straight to Boston to shoot Greta Gerwig's Little Women, with only three days separating projects. While on a plane departing Budapest, she began weeping, feeling as though she had left Dani to figure out life. She explained that her brain felt sympathy for herself because of the emotional manipulation involved, and the experience left a residual sadness that lasted about six months.
Pugh has been open in the past about not pursuing similar intense roles in the future, citing the mental health costs involved. Her honesty adds to ongoing conversations about the pressures actors face when delivering deeply demanding performances.
Cover image source: Florence Pugh Says Online 'Abuse' Toward Ex Zach Braff Is Why She Doesn't Talk About Relationships Anymore 🔗
