Florence Pugh Opens Up About Shaving Her Head for ‘We Live in Time’
British actress Florence Pugh has shared her experience of shaving her head for her latest film role, describing it as a “really bizarre” moment that sent her body “into a bit of trauma.”
The 28-year-old actress underwent the dramatic hair transformation for her role in “We Live in Time,” a poignant romance where she stars alongside fellow British actor Andrew Garfield. The storyline tracks the couple over a decade of their relationship, which is forever altered by a medical diagnosis.
In an interview with British Vogue published on Wednesday, Pugh discussed the profound physical and emotional impact the haircut had on her. “In many religions, hair is the most precious thing on the body – it’s where you store your memories and your dreams and your history. (Shaving) it was really bizarre,” said Pugh, known for her performances in “Oppenheimer,” “Dune: Part Two,” and “Little Women.”
The actress elaborated on her sensitivities post-haircut, stating, “My head was so sensitive and so many people were trying to touch it and it was so alive. My body went into a bit of trauma from it. I was cold all the time.” Pugh portrays the character Almut, a figure skater-turned-chef in the film.
Andrew Garfield, Pugh’s co-star, was tasked with shaving her head for the role. He expressed that “it was a privilege to be given that job,” despite feeling nervous about the responsibility. “What if I somehow destroyed the head of one of the best actors of her generation? It was terrifying, but ultimately it was a very beautiful, intimate scene to shoot and thank God she has such a nicely shaped melon,” he remarked.
Pugh feels that the role came at a pivotal moment in her career. “I was going through so many (aesthetic) iterations when I was also going through life decisions,” she explained. “I was like, ‘Cool, well I don’t look like me. I’m changed. I’m changing.’ Looking back on that summer, I was growing into a new thing.”
Additionally, Pugh mentioned that she is currently in a new relationship but refrained from revealing her partner’s identity. “We are figuring what we actually are. And I think for the first time, I’m not allowing myself to go on a roller-coaster. I’m allowing myself to take time to let something evolve and let it be completely real to its core, as opposed to racing into that,” she said.
Pugh previously dated actor Zach Braff, with their 21-year age difference attracting media attention. She defended the relationship in a 2021 interview with the Sunday Times, stating, “It’s my life and I’m not doing anything to please people or to make it a better headline or story.”
Reflecting on her relationship with Braff, Pugh commented, “Mine and Zach’s relationship was actually quite private until it was nasty, and I could see the toll that it was taking on him and us and our families. And that’s when I spoke out. I think for anyone I’m with, I want to protect them.”
She added, “It’s not nice knowing that people are saying the worst things I’ve ever read about someone that I love. So that was necessary. I needed to talk about it. I think any relationship in this limelight is going to be stressed.”