Florence Pugh reveals she was told to not pursue a career in acting over fears she'd 'fail'

Florence Pugh has revealed how her school teachers urged her not to pursue a career in acting out of fear she’d “fail”.

The British star recalled their comments as she prepared for an open audition for the 2014 film The Falling, which she ultimately landed opposite Maisie Williams.

Gracing the cover of Vogue Australia's November issue, the Oscar nominee told the outlet: “I had two teachers that heavily suggested I shouldn't, 'cos I was definitely going to fail to be an actor.

“And at this point, I'd been in every play, every school competition, every talent show. The only thing that I was good at this school was the thing I'd just been given this opportunity for.”

Elsewhere in the interview, the 27-year-old also reflected on fame and how it caused her to develop “crippling anxiety”.

She told the outlet: “I don't really think I'm famous famous. I think it changed for me after and then we went straight into the pandemic and I had crippling anxiety, and I've never had any anxiety before...

“I actually didn't really know what it was. I was like, 'Isn't that just nerves?' That was when I acknowledged a difference in myself. I was like, ‘Oh, this has changed. I know that people now know that I’m here'.”

The Little Women star admitted she has tried to combat it by remembering she’s a “normal person”, and "go to normal places and move on with your life, then it’s not going to feel doomed.”

Her interview comes weeks after it was reported that she had split from photographer Charlie Gooch due to her busy Hollywood career.

A source said: “Florence and Charlie had known each other for years and things turned romantic at the end of last year.

“But it hasn’t lasted. Florence’s schedule is so busy and there were other factors at play. She eventually ended it over the summer.

“She isn’t wallowing though and is doing just fine on her own,” they told The Sun.

The insider insisted there are “no hard feelings” between the former couple and they wouldn’t be surprised if they reunited in the future.

The Dune 2 star confirmed her romance with Gooch in February when they were pictured together on Valentine’s Day holding hands in London.