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It’s official: after a series of less-than-well-received entries in the Marvel film series, the 36th instalment of superhero adventures, Thunderbolts* (or should that be New Avengers?), is a critical and commercial hit.
Much of the credit for that is going to Florence Pugh who plays Natasha Romanov, the adoptive sister of Scarlett Johansson’s Black Widow who just happens to be a highly-trained assassin.
It’s the latest chapter in a dizzying rise to the top of the acting world for the English actress who only made her screen debut just over a decade ago in 2014’sThe Falling .
Since then she’s been nominated for an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress and two Baftas, as well as winning several gongs including a British Independent Film Award and the Trophée Chopard Award at the Cannes Film Festival.
Her upcoming projects include the new Avengers film, as well as a television adaptation of East of Eden.
Thusfar she’s starred in 18 feature films - here they all are, ranked from best to worst.
5. Dune: Part Two
Florence Pugh plays Princess Irulan in the second part of Denis Villenauve's head-spinnning sci-fi epic adaptation of Frank Herbert's 'Dune' novels. It follows Paul Atreides, played by Timothee Chalamet, as he wages war against House Harkonnen. Since its release in 2023 it has attracted 92 per cent positive reviews on Rotten Tomatoes. | Contributed
6. King Lear
You'll not get two much bigger Shakespearian leads than Anthony Hopkins and Emma Thompson - and that's who plays the titular King Lear and his oldest daughter in Richard Eyre's 2018 adaptation. Pugh plays the king's youngest - and favourite - daughter, Cordelia. It has a positive rating of 91 per cent on Rotten Tomatoes. | Contributed
7. Lady Macbeth
Florence Pugh's first leading role came in 2016 period drama 'Lady Macbeth', directed by William Oldroyd. Based on a 1865 novella, it tells the story of a young woman stuck in a loveless marriage to a man twice her age. It has a Tomatometer rating of 89 per cent. | Contributed
8. Thunderbolts*
The Marvel Cinematic Universe has had a tough time of it recently, with a string of commercial and critical duds. That's all changed with new superhero film 'Thunderbolts*', which has recieved near-unanimous acclaim, earning a healthy 88 per cent Rotten Tomatoes rating. Much of that praise has been reserved for Pugh's performance as Yelena Belova, the trained assassin who is the adoptive sister of the late Black Widow. | Contributed