Ariana Grande and Florence Pugh
In April 2020, Florence Pugh posted a video defending her relationship with actor Zach Braff after a wave of online criticism. Among the thousands of comments, one stood out. “Oh I love and appreciate you so much,” Ariana Grande wrote. She even joked about tattooing one of Florence’s quotes on her chest.
A few weeks later, when the studio A24 auctioned off Florence’s famous flower dress from Midsommar for charity, Ariana jumped in again. “I’m crying,” she wrote. “Also I’m bidding as soon as possible.”
Ariana Grande and Florence Pugh come from different worlds, pop music and indie film, but their playful, supportive friendship has won over fans of both. This article covers their best moments together, their backgrounds, career highlights, and where they are in 2026.
Quick Facts
| Ariana Grande | Florence Pugh | |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Ariana Grande-Butera | Florence Rose Pugh |
| Born | June 26, 1993 | January 3, 1996 |
| Birthplace | Boca Raton, Florida, USA | Oxford, England |
| Known for | “thank u, next,” Wicked | Midsommar, Little Women, Black Widow, Oppenheimer |
| Big role | Glinda in Wicked | Yelena Belova in the Marvel universe |
| Oscar recognition | Nominated for Wicked | Nominated for Little Women |
How Ariana Grande and Florence Pugh Became Friends
Defending Florence Online (2020)
In April 2020, Florence posted an Instagram video responding to people who criticized her relationship with Zach Braff. Ariana commented with strong support. In a now-deleted Instagram story, she also described sharing personal life details online as “truly traumatic” for her, and praised Florence for speaking up.
The Midsommar Dress (2020)
Later that month, A24 announced an auction of famous movie costumes to raise money for the FDNY Foundation. The lineup included Florence’s May Queen dress from Midsommar, made of thousands of silk flowers.
Ariana posted that she would bid. Florence replied with encouragement, suggesting it would make a great Halloween costume and pointing out that the dress had “hand holes” for holding a glass of wine. Ariana said she had already planned to have a version made for Halloween. Fans loved the exchange, and it became a highlight of their online friendship.
Ariana Grande: Early Life and Education
Ariana Grande was born on June 26, 1993, in Boca Raton, Florida. She performed in children’s theater as a kid and made her Broadway debut at 15 in the musical 13.
Career Timeline
- 2008: Made her Broadway debut in 13.
- 2010 to 2013: Played Cat Valentine on Nickelodeon’s Victorious.
- 2013: Released her debut album, Yours Truly, which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200.
- 2014: Broke out globally with “Problem” and “Bang Bang.”
- 2018: Released Sweetener, which won her first Grammy.
- 2019: Released thank u, next. The title track became one of her biggest hits.
- 2020: Released Positions.
- 2024: Released Eternal Sunshine and starred as Glinda in Wicked, earning an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress.
- 2025: Returned as Glinda in Wicked: For Good.
- 2026: Launched the Eternal Sunshine Tour, which she has called a “last hurrah” before focusing more on acting.
Florence Pugh: Early Life and Education
Florence Pugh was born on January 3, 1996, in Oxford, England. She spent part of her early childhood in Spain. She attended St. Edward’s School and Cokethorpe School in Oxfordshire. She didn’t attend drama school. Instead, she landed her first film role, in The Falling, while still a teenager.
Career Timeline
- 2014: Made her film debut in The Falling.
- 2016: Earned critical praise for Lady Macbeth.
- 2019: Starred in Midsommar and Fighting with My Family.
- 2019: Played Amy March in Little Women, earning her first Oscar nomination.
- 2021: Joined the Marvel universe as Yelena Belova in Black Widow.
- 2022: Starred in Don’t Worry Darling and The Wonder.
- 2023: Appeared in Oppenheimer.
- 2024: Played Princess Irulan in Dune: Part Two and starred in We Live in Time with Andrew Garfield.
- 2025: Led Marvel’s Thunderbolts*.
- December 2026: Returns as Princess Irulan in Dune: Part Three.
How Their Careers Compare
| Category | Ariana Grande | Florence Pugh |
|---|---|---|
| Main field | Pop music, then film | Film |
| Breakout | Victorious and Yours Truly | Lady Macbeth |
| Signature work | thank u, next, Wicked | Midsommar, Little Women |
| Franchise | Wicked | Marvel, Dune |
| Oscar nomination | Wicked (Best Supporting Actress) | Little Women (Best Supporting Actress) |
| Style | Glamorous, theatrical | Bold, raw, natural |
What Ariana Grande and Florence Pugh Have in Common
- Supporting each other: Their public friendship is built on encouragement.
- Oscar recognition: Both have earned Best Supporting Actress nominations.
- Big franchises: Ariana with Wicked, Florence with Marvel and Dune.
- Honesty about fame: Both have spoken openly about online criticism and privacy.
- A love of theater: Ariana started on Broadway, and Florence has a background in singing and has shared song covers online.
Why Fans Love This Friendship
Fans of Ariana Grande and Florence Pugh appreciate how their friendship feels genuine and low-key. It plays out mostly through sweet comments, funny replies, and public support instead of staged photo shoots. The Midsommar dress moment is still shared online as an example of celebrities being funny and kind to each other.
Where Are They Now?
Ariana Grande spent 2026 on her Eternal Sunshine Tour after wrapping up the Wicked films. She has said she wants to spend more time on acting in the years ahead.
Florence Pugh is preparing for the December 2026 release of Dune: Part Three, where she returns as Princess Irulan. She remains one of the most in-demand actors of her generation.
Where to Start
For Ariana Grande, listen to thank u, next and Eternal Sunshine, then watch Wicked and Wicked: For Good. For Florence Pugh, start with Lady Macbeth, Midsommar, and Little Women to see her range.
Lessons From Their Careers
- Support your friends. Ariana’s public defense of Florence shows the value of standing up for others.
- Take bold roles. Florence chose intense, challenging parts early on.
- Reinvent yourself. Ariana moved from kids’ TV to pop superstardom to an Oscar-nominated film role.
- Protect your peace. Both have spoken about setting limits with fame.
Their Paths to Oscar Nominations
Both stars earned their first Oscar nominations in the Best Supporting Actress category, five years apart.
Florence Pugh was nominated at the 2020 Academy Awards for playing Amy March in Greta Gerwig’s Little Women. Laura Dern won that year for Marriage Story.
Ariana Grande was nominated at the 2025 Academy Awards for playing Glinda in Wicked. Zoe Saldaña won that year for Emilia Pérez. Ariana returned as Glinda in Wicked: For Good, and many fans hoped she would earn a second nomination in 2026.
The shared category is another fun link between Ariana Grande and Florence Pugh. Both proved they could hold their own among Hollywood’s top performers, and both are still early in their film careers.
In Short
In short, Ariana Grande built a pop empire and then proved herself as an actor, while Florence Pugh built a film career on bold, emotional roles. Their friendship shows how stars from different fields can support each other in public. It also shows that a few kind words online can mean a lot, even between two very famous people who rarely appear side by side.
Final Thoughts
Ariana Grande and Florence Pugh may work in different corners of entertainment, but their friendship proves that support and humor can cross any line. From a heartfelt Instagram comment to a playful bid for a flower dress, they’ve given fans plenty to smile about. Both have built remarkable careers, with Oscar nominations, major franchises, and devoted fans. For anyone curious about Ariana Grande and Florence Pugh, their story is a reminder that kindness goes a long way.
Key Takeaways
- Ariana Grande was born June 26, 1993, in Boca Raton, Florida. Florence Pugh was born January 3, 1996, in Oxford, England.
- In April 2020, Ariana publicly supported Florence after online criticism of her relationship with Zach Braff.
- When A24 auctioned Florence’s Midsommar flower dress for the FDNY Foundation in 2020, Ariana said she would bid, and Florence playfully encouraged her.
- Ariana starred on Victorious, topped the charts with albums like Yours Truly and thank u, next, and earned an Oscar nomination as Glinda in Wicked.
- Florence broke out in Lady Macbeth, earned an Oscar nomination for Little Women, and plays Yelena Belova in Marvel films.
- In 2026, Ariana is on her Eternal Sunshine Tour, and Florence returns as Princess Irulan in Dune: Part Three in December.
- Ariana Grande and Florence Pugh share Oscar recognition, big franchises, and an openness about the pressures of fame.
