Florence Pugh Reveals Her Funny Nickname for Timothée Chalamet

Florence Pugh has quickly risen from a breakout star in the folk horror world of Midsommar to one of the most recognizable faces in the film industry. Her career has seen her take on massive roles in everything from the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Yelena Belova to the intense historical drama of Oppenheimer.

Throughout this journey, she has maintained a reputation for being one of the most supportive and vocal admirers of her peers, particularly those she has worked with multiple times.

One of her most notable professional relationships is with Timothée Chalamet, a bond that began on the set of Greta Gerwig’s Little Women. The two stars recently brought their chemistry back to the screen in the sci-fi epic Dune: Part Two, where they were joined by other young powerhouses like Zendaya and Austin Butler.

Pugh has never been shy about her admiration for Chalamet, even going so far as to describe him as our Leo [DiCaprio] because of his massive talent and rapid ascent to fame.

Pugh feels particularly fortunate to be part of what she considers a special era in Hollywood. She has praised her Dune co-stars as remarkable people and unbelievable actors, noting that they are stars in a way that feels fresh rather than the usual industry cliches. For her, it is a wonderful feeling to be working alongside the best of young Hollywood and to be able to call them her genuine friends.

The friendship between Pugh and Chalamet is also filled with a good deal of humor. She recently admitted to having a rather long and silly nickname for him that originated with her grandmother: Timothée Chalamala-bing-bong.

She accidentally let the name slip to his face during the 2017 British Academy Film Awards, which led to a slightly awkward but funny moment when he asked What? And she quickly tried to brush it off by saying Nothing!

This playful spirit is something Pugh has carried with her since she was a child. She recalls reading Little Women as a young girl and feeling a strong connection to the character of Amy March, even when others viewed her as a villain.

She remembers her grandmother reading the scene where Amy burns her sister’s book and calling her a wicked, wicked girl, but Pugh always felt that Amy was the character worth supporting.

As of this year, Pugh’s schedule remains incredibly packed with major projects across several genres. She is slated for a massive year with a lead role in the limited series adaptation of East of Eden, where she plays the complex character Cathy Ames.

She will also return to the big screen for the highly anticipated Avengers: Doomsday and the conclusion of the sci-fi trilogy in Dune: Part Three. She continues to be one of the most influential actors of her generation.

Which of Florence Pugh’s upcoming roles in 2026 are you most excited to see? Share your thoughts in the comments.