“Finding out what we really are”

Florence Pugh begins a new romance, but this time she takes it slow.

The We live in time Actress revealed to British fashion in a cover interview in October 2024 that she was currently dating someone, but did not reveal the partner's name.

“Yes. We're finding out who we really are. And I think for the first time, I'm not allowing myself to go on a rollercoaster,” said Pugh, 28. “I'm taking my time to let something emerge and make it real to the core, rather than rushing toward it.”

Falling in love is “the most incredible feeling,” added the Midsummer Star. But: “If that's the only thing you know in a relationship, then unfortunately that's what you're striving for. It's not going to last.”

Pugh, who stars alongside Andrew Garfield in the upcoming romantic drama We live in timetold the British fashion “I think if there is magic, it is falling in love. And I am someone who loves falling in love.”

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

“I love taking care of people. I love caring for people. I love the feeling of knowing that someone is there. I love knowing that someone is thinking of me and someone cares about me as much as I think about taking care of them,” she said.

“I think at this stage of my life, I'm trying to make sure I'm making all the right choices so I can have what I want… which is safety, family, home and security,” the Oscar nominee added.

Elsewhere in the interview, Pugh said she would like to have children one day (“I love the idea of ​​a big family,” she said) and explained that relationships in the public eye are difficult.

The normally reserved star also spoke about why she decided to speak out about her past romance with ex Zach Braff after their relationship came under intense scrutiny and attention.

“I've had to go public in the past because people were bullying me and my partner,” Pugh said, adding, “My relationship with Zach was actually pretty private until it got ugly and I saw the toll it was taking on him, us and our families. And that's when I spoke about it.”

“I think I want to protect everyone I'm with. It's not nice to know that people are saying the worst things about someone I've ever read,” she continued. “So this was necessary. I needed to talk about it.”

“I think any relationship in this spotlight is strained,” said the Black widow said the actress.

The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword puzzle is here! How fast can you solve it? Play now!

Pugh was romantically linked to Braff in 2019, and in Harper's BAZAARIn the September 2022 issue, the actress announced that they had quietly separated.

She explained at the time that they were “trying to go through this separation without the world knowing because it was a relationship that everyone has an opinion about.”

Braff, 49, directed Pugh in the 2023 film A good personIn March of this year, they walked the premiere red carpet together, six months after she announced the news of their split.

We live in time will be in cinemas on October 11th.