Florence Pugh, the acclaimed actress known for her diverse roles in both blockbusters and independent films, has revealed her regret over one particular project. In a recent interview on The Louis Theroux Podcast, she expressed her disappointment in the 2018 supernatural horror film Malevolent, stating that it is the one movie she wishes she had never taken on.
During the podcast, Theroux discussed his preparation by watching several of Pugh’s films, including Malevolent. He complimented her performance, saying, “You’re really good in it. It’s not bad.” Despite this praise, Pugh admitted that she has never actually seen the film and that she regrets her involvement. “It’s probably the one movie that I wish I never did,” she said. “I think everybody has one of those movies. I think it was just a movie that I did when I was younger, and I needed money. And I was like, ‘Well, obviously this is great.’ And then I got there, and it wasn’t great.”
In Malevolent, Pugh stars alongside Ben Lloyd-Hughes as siblings Angela and Jackson Sayers, who are con artists posing as a medium to exploit grieving clients. The film explores their unsettling encounters with paranormal forces at a haunted orphanage. Directed by Olaf de Fleur, the movie was based on a screenplay by Ben Ketai and Eva Konstantopoulos, and it draws inspiration from Konstantopoulos’s 2011 novel Hush.
Released on Netflix in October 2018, Malevolent received a mixed reception, holding a score of 54% on Rotten Tomatoes. This reflects the varying opinions from critics and audiences alike regarding the film’s execution and storyline.
Looking ahead, Pugh is set to appear in multiple high-profile projects in 2026. She will reprise her role as Yelena Belova in Avengers: Doomsday and portray Princess Irulan in Dune: Part Three, both of which are scheduled for release on December 18, 2026. Additionally, she stars in East of Eden, a limited series adaptation of John Steinbeck’s classic novel. Filming for this project wrapped in 2025, indicating a likely release within the same year.
Pugh’s candid expression of regret highlights the challenges actors face when choosing roles early in their careers, often driven by financial necessity. As she continues to build her impressive portfolio, her reflections serve as a reminder that even successful artists can have moments of doubt about their past choices.
