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Florence Pugh is no stranger to powerful performances, but her role in the 2019 horror film Midsommar left a mark that went far beyond the screen. The British actress recently revealed the emotional toll of playing Dani, a grieving woman caught in a whirlwind of pagan rituals and psychological terror, during an episode of the Reign with Josh Smith podcast.
"Protecting myself is something I've had to learn," Pugh shared, reflecting on the gruelling process of embodying the character. "Like when I did Midsommar... I definitely felt like I abused myself in the places that I got myself to go. I was broken for a long while afterward."
Directed by Ari Aster, Midsommar pushed boundaries with its portrayal of grief, trauma, and cult-like horror. To prepare for the role, Pugh disclosed in a prior interview with The Sunday Times that she had to imagine her family members in coffins and even staged a mental open-casket funeral for her siblings.
The emotional cost was steep. "I was hyperventilating," she said, adding that she has since learned to protect her mental health.
Despite the challenges, Pugh takes pride in her performance, which was widely praised by critics and audiences alike. "I'm really proud of what I did and what came out of me," she said.
Pugh's experience is a powerful testament to the emotional depth actors bring to their craft—and the importance of self-care in the face of such intense roles.
