In the premiere episode of No Taste Like Home with Antoni Porowski, Florence Pugh opened up about her childhood health challenges, and it was an incredibly emotional moment for the actress.
The 29-year-old star revealed that she struggled with serious breathing issues as a child, even sharing that doctors didn’t expect her to survive.
A Heartfelt Discovery About Her Ancestors
As Florence took a journey into her ancestry alongside host Antoni Porowski, she was struck by a powerful discovery.
The pair uncovered a 19th-century namesake who shared her exact name, born in 1882.
“I feel quite emotional,” Florence said, clearly moved by the connection.
“My parents had no idea. I was named after the city, my mum is going to scream!” But what made it even more poignant was the fact that her namesake’s life had eerie parallels with Florence’s own.
The 1882 Florence Pugh tragically passed away just before her fifth birthday, likely from tuberculosis.
This struck a deep chord with Florence, who had experienced many of her own health struggles during her early years.
Health Struggles That Shaped Her Life
As she reflected on her childhood, Florence shared that she, too, had breathing difficulties that kept her in and out of hospitals. “I wasn’t supposed to live,” she confessed.
“When I was born, they told my parents that it wasn’t going to happen, and to just enjoy the time while they had it.”
She has been open in the past about her diagnosis of tracheomalacia, a condition that causes the windpipe to collapse, making it hard to breathe.
It’s a rare issue, particularly in babies and young children, and Florence’s family even moved to Spain when she was three to help with her breathing issues, as doctors recommended the warmer climate.
A Journey of Discovery Through Food
The episode marked the start of a new season of No Taste Like Home, where Antoni Porowski leads guests through an exploration of food and its connection to their heritage.
Each dish shared is tied to personal family stories, bringing a new layer of depth and meaning to the meals we eat.
Antoni described the show as a “beautiful adventure” that helps uncover the ways food connects us to our past and our cultures.
“I’m honored to go on this journey of self-discovery with new and old friends,” he said.
Watch the Emotional Journey on Disney+ and National Geographic
Florence’s episode is now available to stream on Disney+ and airs on National Geographic starting February 26.
It’s an episode that’s bound to tug at the heartstrings, not only for the personal revelations but for the way it captures the power of food to connect us to our roots and our resilience.