The Little Drummer Girl’s Florence Pugh
As The Little Drummer Girl reaches its explosive finale, we talk to star Florence Pugh about her rise to fame…
I was worried they’d want a big name to play Charlie
It’s fair to say there were a few raised eyebrows over the surprise casting of Florence Pugh as the leading lady in BBC1’S adaptation of John le Carré’s novel The Little Drummer Girl.
Although she had won rave reviews and awards for her title performance in 2017 film Lady Macbeth and had a recurring role in series one of ITV’S Marcella, Florence was somewhat of a stranger to TV viewers.
However, all that has changed with her portrayal of English actor turned spy Charlie in the six-part 1970s-set thriller, which reaches its big climax this week.
‘I was worried they’d want a big name to play Charlie,’ Florence, 22, tells TV Times. ‘But director Park Chan-wook saw Lady Macbeth and called me for a meeting the next day. We promised we’d work together, then a year later he called with The Little Drummer Girl!’
Florence may be a household name now but she’s determined to keep her feet firmly on the ground.
Born and raised in Oxfordshire, she has three siblings, including Game of Thrones actor Toby Sebastian. Her mum is a dancer and her dad owns restaurants.
‘When I was younger, I spent most Fridays eating a pizza and flirting with the barman!’ she laughs.
Having been cast, aged six, as Mary in her school nativity, she got her break in 2014 film The Falling after seeing a leaflet advertising auditions, and she hasn’t looked back since.
Her career highlight so far was starring opposite Sir Anthony Hopkins in BBC2 film King Lear this year. ‘I still get goosebumps when I think about sharing the screen with Tony,’ she says. Florence’s star looks set to rise, but for now she’s concentrating on the finale of The Little Drummer Girl, which sees Charlie at the centre of a plot to plant a bomb at a London university. But is it the final act of her performance, or has she really joined the Palestinian cause?
‘It’s incredible that an amazing woman is at the heart of this story,’ adds Florence. ‘We’re used to seeing people on screen as superheroes, but Charlie’s superpower is her ability to connect with people. She’s normal and that’s what I love about her.’