Only Florence Pugh could have portrayed Cathy in East of Eden, according to the screenwriter, and she would not have accepted anyone else for the part. The fuller account comes from Zoe Kazan, who in the Netflix miniseries is also involved as a co-showrunner and executive producer. The story is adapted from the eponymous novel by John Steinbeck, but it was conceived for the screen with a single intention: to cast Florence Pugh as Cathy Ames.
East of Eden, the showrunner was determined to have Florence Pugh as Cathy
Speaking to People, Zoe Kazan said that Florence Pugh was “the one person” she pictured as perfect for the complex female character in East of Eden. With a deep admiration for the actress, she wanted her on board from the start: “You know, Florence joined this project very early and stayed with us year after year as we worked to bring it to life. I’m really grateful to her. She’s the only person I wanted for this role; I care for her so deeply.”
Kazan, after all, has a personal connection to the story since she is the niece of Elia Kazan, the director who adapted the same tale for the cinema in 1955. And regarding the film, the screenwriter pointed out the most significant difference: “You know, the 1955 film took only a small portion of the book, and I think it’s a fairly liberal adaptation. In truth… the things I loved most about the book were its intergenerational scope and all these rich, multifaceted characters. And I think I tried to write a very faithful adaptation, but there’s so much in this book that I couldn’t fit in; I had to sacrifice some elements I was fond of.”
However, she noted that Florence Pugh’s commitment to the miniseries went far beyond playing Cathy on screen, as she is also involved as executive producer: “She is incredibly intelligent, highly professional, and has real leadership. And the way she shows up on set is exactly what I would want every actor to have. She’s so kind, thoughtful, always present, professional, punctual, and knows all her lines. But beyond that, she possesses so many other qualities… She feels responsible toward the other actor on set, even when that person has only one line, and I couldn’t have more respect for her.”
When it comes to the character she plays, Florence Pugh revealed that what drew her was the complex and varied nature of Cathy: “I think, more than portraying dark characters, I’m interested in portraying complex human beings. I find that the most challenging thing for me because… I’m not a single entity; I’m not evil, I’m not malevolent, I’m not treacherous, I’m a complete human being, and it’s up to me to try to show compassion for them, to empathize with them, and if I can make the audience do the same, then that’s fantastic.” Available to stream on Netflix from October 1, 2026, East of Eden is set in late 19th- and early 20th-century America and tells the story of Cathy alongside her half-siblings Adam and Charles Trask.
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