AceShowbiz - Florence Pugh, the acclaimed actress known for her roles in films such as "Little Women" and "Midsommar," has candidly shared her experiences of being a young woman in Hollywood, describing it as both "exhausting."

During an appearance on the "Reign With Josh Smith" podcast, the 29-year-old actress delved into the challenges she has faced since her acting debut at age 18 in the 2014 drama "The Falling."

Pugh entered the entertainment industry during the rise of the Me Too movement, a coincidence that she says highlighted the importance of advocating for herself. "It's very hard. It's exhausting as well. It's really, really tiring," she stated.

"Young women in this industry have so much to fight for and to protect and to defend and then to shout about. It's really, really hard. It's an experience and it does make you claim yourself. It makes you have to figure yourself out."

Reflecting on her career, Pugh emphasized how these experiences have shaped her understanding of self-care and mental health. "Now I get to just look after myself, I look after my heart and that's where I am right now. I wouldn't have changed anything. I'm really proud of the things that I stood up for," she shared.

She remains proud of her ability to defend herself, whether it's on social media or in interviews. "I've always been proud of the way that I'm not scared of speaking up for myself."

Pugh also opened up about the emotional toll of taking on intense roles, particularly in the horror film "Midsommar." She described how the demands of the role left her feeling strained.

"Protecting myself is something that I've had to learn how to do. There have been some roles that I've given too much to, and I've been broken for a long while afterward," she admitted.

Despite this, she finds pride in her performance in the film, stating, "I also then look at that performance, and I'm really proud of what I did, and I'm proud of what came out of me. So I don't regret it."

One of the most poignant decisions in her career was shaving her head for her role in the film "We Live In Time," where she played a woman battling ovarian cancer.

Pugh believed it was crucial to fully commit to the role. "If I couldn't have shaved my head I wouldn't have accepted this movie. I think it is so important to do it," she said. The scene was depicted as a touching moment within the film, where her character's family turns the act into a beautiful and memorable experience.

Pugh's journey highlights the ongoing struggle for equality and fairness in Hollywood, but also the progress that has been made. "Now we're in a time which is definitely getting better for women but it doesn't mean that you don't constantly have to keep on fighting for things that you believe are correct," she noted. Her resilience and determination continue to inspire many young women in the industry.