Thunderbolts’ Florence Pugh on Pressure of Hollywood’s Beauty Standards: “It’s a Mental Battle”

Hollywood is obsessed with beauty. For years, movies, magazines, and social media have pushed the idea that actors, especially women, need to look a certain way. The pressure is intense, and many stars struggle to fit in. Florence Pugh, the young British actress known for her roles in ‘Little Women’, ‘Oppenheimer’, and the recently released ‘Thunderbolts’, is no stranger to this. She often talks about the mental battle of being a woman in Hollywood. Her new movie, 'Thunderbolts', a Marvel film about a group of antiheroes, puts her in the spotlight again. But, as she says, the real challenge is not the stunts or the script. It’s the pressure to look perfect.

Why Hollywood Expects Actors to Be Models

Florence Pugh is done pretending the red carpet is part of her job description. In a candid new interview, she called out the unrealistic beauty standards placed on actresses, especially at high-profile events like movie premieres and award shows. Pugh says it’s “mental” that actresses are expected to double as supermodels just to promote the work they’re actually paid to do, acting.

ALSO READ: What Is Mark Zuckerberg’s ‘Rawdog’ Morning Routine? Facebook Founder Shares His Secret

“It’s Not the Same Thing at All,” Says Thunderbolts’ Florence Pugh

Pugh made it clear, saying, “It’s so s***. It’s not the same thing. It’s not the same thing at all. Red carpets are even an expectation of someone who is not. That’s not even their job.” She points out that actors are paid to act, not to model. Their talent is in bringing characters to life, not in walking the runway. Florence Pugh shared how this pressure affected her in early photoshoots: “You feel so self-conscious in the clothes. You feel like you’re not doing them justice. You’re not doing what a model is going to be able to do.” Many actresses face this same anxiety, feeling judged for not fitting traditional beauty standards. 

Learning to Push Back and Build Confidence

Over time, Pugh has learned to speak up for herself. “Once you do shoot after shoot, you get better,” she said. “You see the pictures and you’re like, ‘Okay, that looks great.’ Then you’re able to argue when a certain piece of clothing isn’t working.” Confidence, she says, comes with experience and self-advocacy. Her response to online critics is simple and direct: “If someone’s saying something nasty about the dress I was wearing, or if I was a bit too heavy for the dress, or too this or too that or whatever sh*t someone wanted to say to me, I have to be like: ‘Babe, this is not even your job.’” She refuses to let others define her worth or her work.

The Mental Battle

Her words show how beauty standards are not just about looks. They are a mental battle. The pressure to look a certain way can lead to low self-esteem, anxiety, and even eating disorders. Many young women feel like they are never good enough. Pugh wants to change this. She hopes the industry will become more diverse and accepting. She wants women to feel seen and represented, no matter how they look.

ALSO READ: King Charles Calls Cancer Battle ‘Daunting’ but Finds Hope in Humanity: “Diagnosis Showed Me the Very Best of Humanity”

Conclusion

Hollywood’s unrealistic beauty standards affect everyone. They make people feel bad about themselves. They can cause mental health problems. But stars like Florence Pugh are pushing back. They are speaking up and showing that beauty comes in many forms. Pugh’s honesty is inspiring. She reminds us that it’s okay to be different. It’s okay to be yourself.