Stepping into the multi-billion-dollar Marvel Cinematic Universe can be a dizzying trial by fire for any newcomer, but Florence Pugh credits Scarlett Johansson with helping her survive the terrifying physical demands of the franchise.
Scarlett Johansson Continues to Mentor Florence Pugh
Looking back on her breakout turn as Yelena Belova in 2021’s Black Widow, Pugh admitted that joining such a massive production left her feeling intimidated and desperate to prove herself. Like many actors tackling their first superhero blockbuster, she threw herself into three months of grueling combat prep with the stunt department, determined to execute as much choreography as possible.
However, during their very first week of filming, a punishing, week-long shoot for the sisters’ brutal Budapest kitchen brawl, Pugh found herself wrestling with an utterly unnatural stunt sequence.
“There’s a roll in this that actually made it in the trailer but got cut in this scene,” Pugh recounted. “I essentially have to like dive into the air and throw my arm that way ’cause there’s a blade in this hand. And as I’m mid-dive, a bit like a swallow dive, I then at the last moment when I’m about to hit the floor, I do a roll. It’s the most bonkers thing to ask your brain to be okay with because you literally like leap into the air and immediately your arms are like, ‘Ah!’ But you have to get rid of that fear.”
Noticing the younger actress spiraling over the danger, Johansson, who had already spent a decade playing Natasha Romanoff, stepped in with a grounding reality check.
“I remember she was just like, ‘Hey, first of all, if it doesn’t feel right, this is what stunt doubles are for. They’re trained professionals who know how to do this. And second of all, this is all supposed to be fun. Like, you can really, really enjoy this world and enjoy what they ask you to do,'” Pugh shared. “And I think that was just such a relief to hear, to be a part of the experience as opposed to only be working towards the experience.”
That reassurance permanently shifted Pugh’s mindset, allowing her to lean into the fun and loosen up enough to improvise Yelena’s dry, sarcastic persona. Years later, Pugh revealed the two remain tight-knit, noting she still regularly texts Johansson video messages whenever she needs career advice from a seasoned pro.
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