“And then finally, something cracks”— When Florence Pugh spoke about the complex emotions she experienced while filming Don’t Worry Darling

The psychological thriller starring Florence Pugh, Don’t Worry Darling, was directed by Olivia Wilde and was released in theaters on September 23, 2022, by Warner Bros. Pictures. The film also stars Harry Styles, Olivia Wilde, Gemma Chan, KiKi Layne, Nick Kroll, and Chris Pine.

Florence Pugh spoke about her character in the movie during an interview with Harper’s Bazaar in August 2022. In the conversation, Florence Pugh opened up about the emotional depth she brought to the role, and the challenges she faced on set.

Pugh was candid about her connection to Alice Chambers, a woman trapped in a utopian simulation, and how playing the character reflected many of the complicated emotions she has dealt with in her own life and career.

“I guess all of my movies have that element of women being forced into a corner, forced into an opinion, forced into a way of life. And then finally, something cracks,” she said.

The observation is tied directly to her performance in Don’t Worry Darling, where Alice starts questioning her reality and unravels a dark truth about the world she lives in.

Pugh also talked about how she’s grown more aware of what she’s willing to tolerate as an actor.

“I feel like I am now getting into this groove in my career where I know what I can take, what I can give, and what I will not accept anymore.”

The statement came after Florence Pugh discussed the challenges of working in high-pressure environments, especially on a film surrounded by so much off-screen drama. The movie’s production had been marked by reported conflicts and rumors, but Pugh remained focused on her work.

In addition to discussing the role, Pugh reflected on the broader themes of Don’t Worry Darling and how it resonated with her own values.

“When it’s reduced to your s*x scenes, or to watch the most famous man in the world go down on someone, it’s not why we do it. It’s not why I’m in this industry.”

Her comments pushed back against the focus on sensational elements, steering the conversation toward the film’s deeper exploration of control, autonomy, and power dynamics.

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What was Florence Pugh's role in Don’t Worry Darling?

Don't Worry Darling (Image via Warner Bros. Pictures)

Florence Pugh played Alice Chambers, the main character in Don’t Worry Darling. Alice is a devoted housewife living in the seemingly perfect, 1950s-style company town of Victory, California. She spends her days cooking, cleaning, and socializing with the other wives, while her husband, Jack (Harry Styles), leaves every morning to work at the mysterious Victory Project.

The town’s founder, Frank (Chris Pine), is treated like a visionary leader, and the residents follow strict rules that forbid the women from questioning what their husbands do. At first, Alice appears content with her life, but cracks start to form when strange events make her question the reality of their world.

Alice’s suspicions intensify after witnessing her friend Margaret (KiKi Layne) suffer a breakdown and claim the Victory Project is hiding something sinister. Margaret’s sudden disappearance only raises more alarms. Alice experiences hallucinations and unsettling visions, including a plane crash that leads her to the desert headquarters of the Victory Project.

After touching a glass window there, Alice blacks out and wakes up at home, but the experience leaves her shaken. She begins pushing for answers, only to be dismissed by Jack and the town doctor, who label her delusional.

Don't Worry Darling (Image via Warner Bros. Pictures)

As Alice continues to dig, she uncovers shocking truths. Victory is not real— it’s a simulated world created by the men, including Jack, who use it to trap their wives in a fantasy where they have no autonomy.

Alice learns that in the real world, she was a hardworking surgical resident, while Jack was unemployed and unhappy. Without her consent, Jack forced her into the simulation to preserve their relationship and control her. Furious and desperate to escape, Alice kills Jack and races to the headquarters, fighting off Frank’s men to reclaim her freedom and return to reality.

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Florence Pugh's Don't Worry Darling is available on Netflix to stream.