Florence Pugh shares her thoughts on body image. (Photo: Getty Images)
Months after being shamed for showing off her bare breasts in a sheer Valentino dress, Florence Pugh says she grew up with the kind of radical self-acceptance she still displays today.
“We were always naked as kids,” she told Vogue of growing up near an ocean in Spain with her three siblings, with parents teaching them to have an unbiased view of their bodies. “We are humans, we are bodies.”
Even though she’s become famous and people expect her to live up to a certain standard, she maintains the same attitude.
“I can put makeup on and look good for a premiere. But at the end of the day I still have hair on my lip and I still smell like I work out and I still break out when I’m stressed.” She explained. “I think that attitude has definitely taken hold since I was a kid.”
She experiments with what’s natural about her in her clothing, whether it’s the beautiful Bottega Veneta gown she wears on the cover of Vogue Winter 2023 or the various sheer ensembles she wears to public appearances .
“I’ve never been scared of what’s under the fabric,” she said as she unhid her naked body further. “If I’m happy in it, then I’ll wear it. Of course, I don’t want to offend people, but I guess my point is: how can my nipples offend you so much?”
While it’s not the first time Pugh has defended herself against the negativity she receives in response to the stares, the actress insists it’s an important discussion.
“If a dress that has my breasts showing through encourages people to say, ‘Well, if you were raped, you deserved it,’ it just shows me there’s still so much work to be done,” she said .
She also takes the opportunity to share how she has put her beliefs about body acceptance into practice in her work.
“How would this character have lived? What would she eat?” are two questions she ponders when preparing for a job. “I never lose weight to look amazing for a role.”
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