Florence Pugh Stuns in Dreamy New ‘East of Eden’ Portraits by Emilio Madrid
Florence Pugh’s promotional campaign for ‘East of Eden’ has delivered one memorable image after another. From red carpets in Los Angeles, London, and New York to a dramatic black-and-white cover shoot for Tudum Magazine, the actress has turned the press run into a visual event of its own. Now, a new set of Florence Pugh ‘East of Eden’ portraits is offering a softer, more dreamlike take on the campaign.
The timing is fitting. Netflix’s 7-episode adaptation of John Steinbeck’s novel arrived on October 1, with Pugh starring as Cathy Ames and serving as an executive producer. The series reframes the multigenerational Trask family saga from Cathy’s perspective, positioning her as the center of the story.
Film Updates shared new images of Pugh photographed by Emilio Madrid for ‘East of Eden’ press. In the first portrait, Pugh glances over her shoulder in a satin champagne-toned gown with a draped, scarf-like detail falling down her back.
Her styling leans romantic and old-Hollywood. Her blonde hair is swept into a curled updo, and she’s surrounded by warm, glowing lights that blur softly in the background, giving the frame an almost cinematic glow.
The second image is where things get especially striking. It shows Pugh repeated across a series of mirrored reflections, creating a kaleidoscopic effect that multiplies her figure across the frame.
Florence Pugh photographed by Emilio Madrid for ‘EAST OF EDEN’ press. https://t.co/LoEZulhfB9
— Film Updates (@FilmUpdates) October 1, 2026
That mirror effect has clearly struck a chord. One fan replying to the post said it made them feel like they were in the Garden of Eden, with Eve everywhere they looked. It’s a clever reading of the imagery. Steinbeck’s novel is a modern retelling of the stories of Adam and Eve and Cain and Abel, following the intertwined lives of the Trask and Hamilton families from the early 20th century through World War I.
Cathy’s role in that story makes the endlessly reflected images feel especially appropriate. The Madrid portraits add to an already varied lineup of press imagery. Pugh’s Tudum Magazine cover, photographed by Daniel Jackson, opted for moody black-and-white frames with sculptural, architectural drama.
On the red carpet, her looks have been just as diverse. She wore an embroidered yellow tulle Rodarte ensemble to a West Hollywood screening on September 17, then chose an archival Rodarte pleated look with Bulgari Tubogas earrings for a London photocall at the British Library. At the New York premiere at The Plaza Hotel on September 30, she wore a chartreuse corset top paired with a gray skirt.
Behind the imagery is an ambitious production. Garth Davis directed the first 4 episodes, while Laure de Clermont-Tonnerre directed the remaining 3, and the series was filmed in New Zealand, including locations in Ōamaru and Dunedin.
First trailer for ‘EAST OF EDEN’, starring Florence Pugh, Christopher Abbott, and Mike Faist.
— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) September 2, 2026
The series follows the intertwined destinies of the Trask and Hamilton families in California's Salinas Valley.
Releasing October 1 on Netflix. pic.twitter.com/QFThlLKvs2
The ensemble cast features Christopher Abbott as Adam Trask, Mike Faist as Charles Trask, Hoon Lee as Lee, Tracy Letts as Cyrus Trask, Martha Plimpton as Faye, and Ciarán Hinds as Samuel Hamilton. Joseph Zada and Joe Anders round out the cast as Cal and Aron Trask.
The project also carries a personal legacy. Showrunner Zoe Kazan is the granddaughter of Elia Kazan, who directed the 1955 ‘East of Eden’ film starring James Dean, and she wrote and executive produced all 7 episodes of the new series. With the series now streaming, these luminous portraits offer one last dreamy glimpse at Pugh’s Cathy before audiences meet her for themselves.
Which Florence Pugh East of Eden photoshoot do you prefer?
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