Florence Pugh says she called the shots on her diet and exercise for Black Widow

Florence Pugh will be starring with Scarlett Johansson in Black Widow next year.

And in the November issue of Elle Canada the 24-year-old actress, who is best known for Little Women and dating Zac Braff, said it was tough deciding whether to play Yelena Belova, a Russian spy who has been trained in the Black Widow program. 

‘When you think of Marvel, it’s big and daunting,’ said the beauty. ‘Especially [for] a relatively small actor [like me], to look at it and go, “Oh! I’m going to be a part of this”—that’s a big decision.’ 

Already she has been overwhelmed. At San Diego’s Comic-Con the fans were loud. ‘It was like a warehouse full of people,’ she says. ‘We went out, and I’d never heard a roar like that.’ 

When Florence was asked if she had to get into top shape to play her character, she laughed. ‘Essentially, you need to look good moving,’ said the star who was photographed by Liz Collins.

‘For me, I loved all of that because I grew up with a lot of dance and a lot of movement. I was always fighting my brother [actor and musician Toby Sebastian], so I find all of that combat stuff so exciting. 

‘Once you put it on camera, you’ve got to know how to make it look right, and that’s a whole different beast.’

And she would not let the job of looking lean be a chore.

‘When I got the job, I wanted to know what the regimen was,’ she said.

‘I wanted to know whether it would be them or me calling the shots. 

‘That was a big deal for me. I didn’t want to be part of something where I was constantly checked on and people were making sure I was in the “right” shape. That’s not me at all.” 

And she makes her own meals.

‘Scarlett had this amazing guy who cooked beautiful things for her and her team,’ said the siren.

‘I thought that was clever because you’re doing fitness all the time and you need to have someone who’s on top of what you’re eating and the nutrients you’re getting. I remember her asking: “Why are you cooking for yourself? Just let us feed you!:

‘And I was like, Nope. My brain is so pew, pew, pew. Genuinely, my therapeutic thing is chopping and cooking and stirring and tasting.’ 

Johansson also talked to Elle and she said they became close. ‘I don’t have a little sister,’ Scarlett told writer Hannah Nathanson. ‘But with Florence, it feels to me like there are some elements of big sister, little sister.’ 

And she admires Florence’s confidence. ‘I wish I’d been as confident as she is when I was her age,’ said Johansson. ‘She’s body-confident and has a lot of self-respect. I was reminded—just by listening to her talk about relationships with friends, family or her partner—of how important it is to have confidence in your beliefs and desires.’  

Black Widow will be released May 7, 2021.

The November 2020 issue of ELLE Canada is available on newsstands across Canada and on Apple News+.