Celebrities Open Up About Mental Health Struggles

Florence Pugh's portrayal of Dani in Midsommar has been described as one of the most extraordinary depictions of grief ever captured on film. However, the emotional toll it took on her was significant, leading to a period of six months of depression.

In a recent appearance on The Louis Theroux Podcast, Pugh opened up about the intense emotions she had to embody while making the film. She revealed that the character experiences tragic family trauma, including murder and suicide, which she had to imagine authentically.

Pugh explained that at first, she imagined hearing about a sibling's death, but as filming progressed, she found herself visualizing coffins and ultimately attending her character's funeral in her mind.

This method acting approach had a profound effect on her mental state, stating, 'I just can't exhaust myself like that because it has a knock-on effect.' After filming Midsommar, Pugh immediately transitioned to her next project, Greta Gerwig's Little Women, with only three days in between, which compounded her emotional exhaustion.

On the plane leaving Budapest, she began to weep, feeling as though she had left Dani behind to navigate life on her own. Pugh acknowledged that her mental manipulation for the role led to her feeling sad for months afterward, highlighting the mental health challenges actors can face.

She praised director Ari Aster for his unique approach, which included therapy-style sessions to delve into their characters' psyches. The mental health implications of such intense roles are crucial, and Pugh's candidness sheds light on the importance of mental health awareness in the entertainment industry.

According to sources, her experience illustrates the need for greater support systems for actors dealing with the psychological demands of their craft.