See Florence Pugh's Tattoos, From a Bee to a Matchstick

Updated on Nov 21, 2024 at 5:25 PM

Florence Pugh's tattoo collection is growing, and fast. The actor, who is a consistent source of inspiration for pretty much anything effortlessly cool — be it a bold new hair color or piercing placement idea — got her first tattoo back in 2019 and hasn't stopped since. In fact, in the course of the last few years, the "We Live in Time" star has amassed a total of four known tattoos.

As for her style of choice? Pugh doesn't have one (unlike many celebrities who tend to stick to one aesthetic). Pugh has played around with different tattoo styles from fine line work to more intricate designs and even script, with some of her ink being more hidden than others. From her very first tattoo — which was a snail design that ended up becoming a bee, as one does — to her most recent "match stick" ink, we tracked down each one's special meaning and story. In the process, we ended up uncovering some funny facts about the "Midsommar" star that only added to the list of reasons to love her.

Keep reading to get a closer look at Florence Pugh's four tattoos — we won't judge you if you zoom all the way in for a better look — and learn what each one means.

Florence Pugh's Bee Tattoo

In 2019, Pugh got her first tiny tattoo: a worker bee on her inner left wrist. "If I ever spoke about getting a tattoo, it was that I was gonna get a snail," Pugh said in an interview with Elle UK. However, when the time came for her to get the piece of ink, she went with a bee instead. While she didn't have a specific type of bee in mind, her modifications to the tattoo artist's design — rounding the bottom but leaving it slightly pointy — led to her getting a worker bee. Maybe a subconscious nod to her busy filming schedule?

Florence Pugh's Maypole Wrist Tattoo

While Pugh has been acting for quite a few years, one of the movies that catapulted her to superstardom was "Midsommar," the folk horror film about a violent cult. In the movie, the cult dances around what is called a maypole — a large pole that resembles a cross — and it became one of the defining images of the film. By 2020, fans noticed an etch of the same image tattooed on her right wrist.

Florence Pugh's Forearm Tattoo

Blink too fast and you just might miss this one. Pugh attended the Christian Dior show at Paris Fashion Week in July 2021 and simultaneously debuted some new ink. While the actor hasn't shared the meaning behind this particular design, zoom in close and you can see its fine-line tattoo that contains two arrows pointing toward a deer. In some cultures, a deer is a symbol of spirituality.

Florence Pugh's Matchstick Tattoo

Right above Pugh's bee tattoo is a drawing of a lit matchstick with the word spelled below it — and it happens to be her latest addition to her tattoo collection. While she hasn't alluded to a particular meaning behind the design quite yet, it's safe to say she is slowly but surely building up her arsenal of arm tattoos . . . and we can't wait to see what's next.

Ariel Baker is a former assistant editor for PS Beauty. Her areas of expertise include celebrity news, beauty trends, and product reviews. She has additional bylines with Essence and Forbes Vetted.