WWE legend Paige has revealed that Florence Pugh texted her for advice while filming the 2019 biopic Fighting With My Family, in which the Oscar-nominated actress played her.
The 34-year-old Norwich-born star, who returns to the UK for WWE's Road to Royal Rumble tour in January, told Metro that Pugh reached out during production of the film.
Advice for a first scene
Paige recalled that Pugh's first scene involved recreating her match with AJ Lee, alongside Zelina Vega, in front of tens of thousands at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.
'She was texting me, being like, "How do I do this? This is crazy,"' Paige said. She advised Pugh to imagine that none of the fans were there.
'I was like, "I don't know how else to explain it to you",' Paige admitted. 'This is just a completely different world for her. And she killed it.'
Pugh, who has since appeared in blockbusters such as Black Widow and Oppenheimer, still gets in touch with Paige 'maybe once a year now'.
'She's still so humble and so sweet,' Paige said. 'It'll be a while, but she will always get back to me.'
Acting, hosting and reality TV plans
Paige, who returned to WWE at WrestleMania 42 earlier this year, said she would be keen to join Pugh in a Marvel film.
'You're going the right direction,' she said. 'Because I really want to get into acting more. I really do. It's something that I've always loved.'
She has already had auditions for some projects and is interested in a presenting role, though she 'can't really talk too much' about what is in the works.
'I do want to host some stuff, and there is something in the works, and hopefully it does come to be,' she teased. 'I'm really excited about that.'
Paige is also open to reality TV, naming I'm A Celebrity and The Traitors as shows she would like to do.
'I wanna do The Traitors so bad,' she said. 'That is my thing. I would be all about it.'
West End musical and personal comeback
Fighting With My Family is being turned into a West End musical by Baby Reindeer director Jon Brittain and songwriting duo Miranda Cooper and Nick Coler. Paige has already heard a song from the creative team.
'The song is really good,' she said. 'I can't talk about it, and I wish I could, but oh my God, I sobbed! I was like, "I cannot believe this is my life", dude.'
Paige has been open about her struggles with addiction and career-threatening neck injuries, and how meeting a young fan who saw her as a role model was a turning point.
'Right now in my life, I am the happiest I have ever been, even with everything that I've gone through,' she said. 'Those bad times don't last forever, and you can find happiness.'
She returned to the ring for AEW in 2023 before making the jump back to WWE, and said wrestling 'saved my life'.
Paige also recalled how she initially 'rebelled' against joining the family business, having been 'scared' of the physical side after seeing her mother, whose ring name is Sweet Saraya Knight, get hurt.
'My mum got blinded for six months. It was mostly my mum who got hurt, to be honest with you,' she said. 'She had a broken bone, broken nose, or whatever the case may be. So, it always scared me.'
Now, she said she appreciates every second she gets to be on TV and in the ring, and is grateful she managed to return after eight years. She is also willing to speak up about TV time.
'The more, the merrier with them on TV. They work their ass off. The men work their ass off too, but you know how it is,' she added. 'I am vocal, and this time around I'm always gonna be that person. I think WWE knows that already. And I feel like they love me for it. At the same time, it might be a pain in the ass to deal with me sometimes!'
WWE returns to the UK for the Road to Royal Rumble tour in January 2026, including SmackDown at Manchester's AO Arena.
