Florence Pugh Embodies Struggling Health Worker in Yungblud’s New Music Video ‘Zombie’
Oscar nominee Florence Pugh takes on an emotionally charged role in the latest music video from chart-topping singer Yungblud, offering fans a raw glimpse into the emotional toll faced by frontline health staff. The video, which debuts at 4pm on Friday, accompanies Yungblud’s new single ‘Zombie’—the third track to be unveiled from his anticipated fourth studio album, ‘Idols’, due out on 20 June.
Early promotional images released ahead of the video premiere capture Pugh in haunting scenes. She is seen portraying a care worker weighed down by grief and utter exhaustion, further symbolised by a pair of angel wings attached to her shoulders. The creative choice is evocative, offering a stark visual metaphor for the burdens and unseen struggles so many health professionals endure.
Yungblud, whose real name is Dominic Harrison, described the deeply personal inspiration behind the song. “Zombie was written at a time when my grandmother was going through trauma after a serious injury, and she became almost unrecognisable compared to the person I had always known,” the 27-year-old musician explained. He said the track wrestles with the discomfort, self-doubt, and fear of becoming a burden—emotions common both to those suffering and to those who care for them. “Shutting people out is so easy when you feel yourself deteriorating. But we all desperately wish for comfort, even though letting someone in can be terrifying.”
In a candid admission, Yungblud added, “It’s a song about ugliness, but also hope—the hope that someone will sit with us in our darkest forms.” This universal struggle, according to the singer, finds unique resonance through Pugh’s visceral performance, lending the video a poignant authenticity that many viewers may relate to, especially in the wake of the pressures faced by healthcare workers during recent times.
Pugh, 29, brings considerable gravitas to the project. She has accumulated critical acclaim through leading roles in films such as ‘Little Women’, ‘Don’t Worry Darling’, and this year’s ‘Dune: Part Two’. Her appearance in the ‘Zombie’ video marks her second music video acting credit, having previously starred in Rachel Chinouriri’s ‘Never Need Me’. Pugh’s reputation for nuanced, heartfelt portrayals makes her casting a significant addition, bound to draw attention from both music and film fans alike.
Meanwhile, Yungblud continues to cement his reputation as one of the UK’s most distinctive modern musicians. Best known for energetic anthems like ‘I Think I’m Okay’—a collaboration with Machine Gun Kelly—and ‘Fleabag’, he has twice topped the UK album charts, first with 2020’s ‘Weird!’ and more recently with a self-titled album in 2022. Beyond his musical releases, he has also been recognised for his contributions to live music, curating his own festival, BludFest, which offers fans affordable ticket prices in a landscape often criticised for expensive entry fees.
In a testament to his growing influence and willingness to challenge industry norms, Yungblud was awarded ‘Disruptor of the Year’ at the 2025 Nordoff and Robbins Northern Music Awards in Liverpool—a nod to his impact not just as an artist, but as an advocate for accessibility and inclusivity in music.
The collaboration between Pugh and Yungblud on the emotive ‘Zombie’ video highlights a broader trend of cross-disciplinary artistic partnerships, with top film actors increasingly lending their talents to the music industry. Their joint effort shines a spotlight on the complexities of vulnerability and care—subjects that have, perhaps, never felt more timely or urgent.
With ‘Zombie’ and its evocative visual narrative, both Pugh and Yungblud aim to go beyond mere entertainment. Instead, they offer a commentary on the emotional weight borne by carers everywhere, inviting audiences to reflect, connect, and perhaps find solace in shared experience. The video’s release is poised to spark crucial conversations about mental health, compassion, and the healing power of empathy through art.