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| Florence Pugh |
Marvel’s ‘Thunderbolts’ Cast Set with Florence Pugh, Sebastian Stan Leading
David Harbour (Red Guardian), Wyatt Russell (US Agent), Hannah John-Kamen (Ghost), Olga Kurylenko (Taskmaster) and Julia Louis-Dreyfus round out the cast.
Marvel’s bad guys and anti-heroes are getting the closeup in Thunderbolts, which revealed its cast at D23 on Saturday.
The super-team movie will star Florence Pugh (Yelena Belova), Sebastian Stan (The Winter Soldier), David Harbour (Red Guardian), Wyatt Russell (US Agent), Hannah John-Kamen (Ghost), Olga Kurylenko (Taskmaster) and Julia Louis-Dreyfus (Valentina Allegra de Fontaine). TV vet Jake Schreier is directing the film.
Stan and Harbour in particular got a huge reaction in the auditorium, while Pugh — who is filming the Dune sequel overseas — sent a video to greet the audience.
“It tells you a lot about the team when beloved Winder Soldier is the most stable among them,” Marvel boss Kevin Feige quipped to the crowd.
The Thunderbolts debuted in The Incredible Hulk No. 449, created by artist Mark Bagley and writer Kurt Busiek. The team of villains are akin to DC’s Suicide Squad, with some version of the team working for the government.
Thunderbolts is due out July 26, 2024.
Florence Pugh: A Masterclass in Modern Acting
Florence Pugh has emerged as one of the most captivating and emotionally resonant actors of her generation. With a career that spans indie dramas, period pieces, psychological horror, and blockbuster franchises, Pugh’s acting skills are marked by a rare combination of technical precision, raw vulnerability, and fearless physicality. Whether she’s portraying grief-stricken characters or fierce heroines, her performances consistently command attention and leave lasting impressions.
🎭 Emotional Authenticity: The Heart of Her Craft
One of Pugh’s most defining traits as an actor is her ability to convey complex emotions with startling authenticity. In Ari Aster’s Midsommar, she plays Dani, a woman grappling with overwhelming grief and psychological trauma. Pugh’s portrayal is hauntingly real—her sobs, facial expressions, and body language feel almost too intimate to watch. She famously said that to access Dani’s pain, she imagined losing every member of her family, a method that left her emotionally drained but delivered a performance that critics called “devastatingly powerful”.
Her openness on screen is rooted in her expressive face, which critic David Edelstein described as “so wide and open that she seems to have nowhere to hide her emotions”. This transparency allows audiences to connect deeply with her characters, making her performances feel less like acting and more like lived experience.
🧠 Intelligence and Subtlety in Character Choices
Pugh’s acting is never one-note. She brings nuance and intelligence to every role, often choosing characters who are emotionally layered and morally complex. In Little Women, she plays Amy March—a character often dismissed as vain or petty—but Pugh redefines her with empathy and depth. Her Amy is ambitious, self-aware, and heartbreakingly human. She balances youthful impulsiveness with mature introspection, earning an Oscar nomination for the role.
Her ability to shift tone and perspective within a single scene is remarkable. She can deliver biting sarcasm one moment and quiet vulnerability the next, often without changing her posture or voice. This subtlety makes her performances feel grounded and multidimensional.
💪 Physical Commitment and Fearlessness
Pugh is known for embracing the physical demands of her roles. In Little Women, she willingly submerged herself in freezing water for a skating scene, stating, “I love getting dirty and I love getting cold. It only helps your performance. I can’t stand faking things”. Her commitment to realism extends to fight choreography and stunt work, as seen in Black Widow, where she trained extensively to portray Yelena Belova with convincing athleticism and grit.
This physicality isn’t just about action—it’s about embodiment. Pugh uses her body to communicate emotion, tension, and transformation. Whether she’s collapsing in grief or striding with confidence, her physical choices are deliberate and impactful.
🎬 Versatility Across Genres
Florence Pugh’s range is staggering. She’s equally at home in Shakespearean drama (Lady Macbeth), horror (Midsommar), biographical sports films (Fighting with My Family), and Marvel blockbusters (Black Widow, Thunderbolts). Each role showcases a different facet of her talent, yet she never loses her distinct voice as an actor.
In Lady Macbeth, she plays Katherine, a young woman trapped in a loveless marriage who gradually reveals a chilling capacity for manipulation and violence. Pugh’s performance is icy and controlled, a stark contrast to the emotional openness of Dani in Midsommar. This ability to inhabit vastly different emotional landscapes is a testament to her versatility.
🌟 Professionalism and Artistic Integrity
Pugh’s professionalism is often attributed to her upbringing. Her mother, a professional dancer, instilled in her a strong work ethic and respect for the craft. From her early days in The Falling to her recent work with directors like Greta Gerwig and Christopher Nolan, Pugh has earned a reputation for being collaborative, prepared, and deeply committed to her roles.
She’s also unafraid to challenge industry norms. Pugh has spoken out against Hollywood’s beauty standards and the pressure to conform, choosing instead to embrace roles that reflect real women with real emotions. Her authenticity off-screen enhances her credibility on-screen, making her a role model for aspiring actors.
🎤 Voice and Dialogue Delivery
Another standout aspect of Pugh’s acting is her vocal control. She modulates her voice to suit each character’s emotional state, social background, and psychological depth. In Fighting with My Family, her British accent is rough and grounded, reflecting her working-class roots. In Little Women, her voice shifts from girlish enthusiasm to mature reflection, mirroring Amy’s growth.
Her dialogue delivery is natural and rhythmic, often punctuated by pauses, sighs, or subtle inflections that add texture to the scene. She listens as intently as she speaks, creating dynamic exchanges that feel spontaneous and real.
🏆 A Rising Icon
Florence Pugh’s acting skills have earned her critical acclaim, award nominations, and a devoted fan base. But more importantly, she’s redefining what it means to be a leading woman in Hollywood. She’s not afraid to be messy, vulnerable, or unconventional. She doesn’t chase perfection—she chases truth.
As she continues to take on challenging roles and collaborate with visionary directors, Pugh is poised to become one of the defining actors of her generation. Her performances are not just impressive—they’re transformative. Watching her act is like watching someone live, feel, and evolve in real time.
Source: hollywood