Florence Pugh on 'East of Eden': Playing Cathy Ames made her a better artist
Synopsis
Florence Pugh says the role of Cathy Ames in Netflix's 'East of Eden' wasn't just another job — it was the creative invitation she had been waiting for since 2020. With writer Zoe Kazan bringing her in as a collaborator, not just an actor, Pugh says the project pushed her to be 'bigger and better', marking a deliberate pivot toward more author-driven, complex work.
Key Takeaways
Florence Pugh plays Cathy Ames in Netflix's limited series adaptation of John Steinbeck's 'East of Eden' .
Pugh, 30 , said she first read the script in 2020 and was drawn to roles that would push her to 'grow up' and 'better her craft'.
The series is written and executive produced by Zoe Kazan , who personally invited Pugh to join as a creative collaborator.
Pugh described the role as a 'huge confidence boost' and said it allowed her to contribute creatively both on screen and behind the scenes.
The project represents a deliberate shift for Pugh toward more complex, literary, and author-driven work.
Hollywood actress Florence Pugh has opened up about the profound creative impact her role in the limited series 'East of Eden' has had on her career, saying the part pushed her to grow both as a performer and as a creative collaborator.
The Role That Changed Her
The 30-year-old actress plays Cathy Ames in the limited series adaptation of John Steinbeck's celebrated novel 'East of Eden'. Speaking to Netflix's Tudum, Pugh described the character as one she had been quietly preparing herself for well before cameras rolled. 'When I read the script in 2020, I was already thinking about roles that I would want to play in the future and roles that would require for me to grow up, to better my craft, to allow me to expand,' she said.
An Invitation to Create
The series is written and executive produced by Zoe Kazan, and Pugh said it was Kazan's personal invitation that made the project irresistible. 'During that time, this fell in my lap, via an email with an invite from Zoe saying, ‘Can you make this with me? Not only can you act for me, but can you be on this creative journey with me?’ That was such an invitation, just to allow myself to be bigger and better and invited into a conversation to create something from the ground up — a huge confidence boost,' Pugh recalled.
Unpacking Cathy Ames
Pugh described the experience of exploring the character's psychology as both thrilling and intimidating. 'It was all of these elements — it was playing a fantastic character and also showing up for myself as a performer and a creative behind the scenes. That's why I wanted to do it. Then you just start unpicking the layers of Cathy and who she becomes, and why does she become that way? Why does she make these decisions? It was all very, very exciting and daunting, obviously,' she said.
Why This Matters for Her Career
Pugh, known for acclaimed performances in films such as 'Little Women', 'Midsommar', and the Marvel Cinematic Universe, has increasingly sought roles that challenge her beyond mainstream blockbusters. Her involvement in 'East of Eden' — both in front of and behind the camera — signals a deliberate shift toward more complex, author-driven projects. The adaptation marks one of the more ambitious literary projects on streaming, bringing Steinbeck's morally layered narrative to a new generation of viewers.
Point of View
Not just cast, reflects a broader trend of A-list talent demanding producer credits and collaborative input as conditions of engagement. For Netflix, landing Pugh in a prestige literary adaptation signals its continued push to attract marquee names to limited series over feature films. The interesting question is whether Pugh's performance as Cathy Ames — one of American fiction's most unsettling antiheroes — will expand her range in the public's perception, or whether her Marvel-adjacent star power will overshadow the work itself.
NationPress
2 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who does Florence Pugh play in 'East of Eden'?
Florence Pugh plays Cathy Ames in Netflix's limited series adaptation of John Steinbeck's novel 'East of Eden'. The character is widely regarded as one of American literature's most complex and morally ambiguous figures.
Who wrote the 'East of Eden' Netflix series?
The limited series is written and executive produced by Zoe Kazan. Pugh has spoken about how Kazan personally invited her to be a creative collaborator on the project, not just an actor.
Why did Florence Pugh want to play Cathy Ames?
Pugh said she first encountered the script in 2020 and was drawn to roles that would challenge her to grow as a performer. She described the project as a 'huge confidence boost' because it gave her a seat at the creative table from the ground up.
How does 'East of Eden' fit into Florence Pugh's career?
The role marks a deliberate shift for Pugh toward more complex, author-driven projects. Known for mainstream hits across Hollywood and the Marvel Cinematic Universe, she has said 'East of Eden' allowed her to expand her craft beyond conventional genre work.
What is 'East of Eden' about?
'East of Eden' is a limited series adaptation of John Steinbeck's landmark novel, which explores themes of good versus evil, family rivalry, and free will across generations. The Netflix version brings this classic American story to a new streaming audience.
