Zach Braff calls Florence Pugh a ‘gift to the world’

If you needed more proof that Zach Braff and Florence Pugh are head over heels in love, look no further than Braff’s recent tribute to his girlfriend (but maybe wife; more on that later) on her birthday—one that also happens to include an actual photo of Pugh head over heels. 

The former Scrubs star didn’t hold back when it came to expressing his love for Pugh on January 3 as she turned 25 years old. “Happy Birthday to the most fun person I’ve ever met,” he wrote on an Instagram post that included several shots of his gal. “I would have felt blessed to have smiled with you for one night. I can’t believe I get to giggle with you everyday. What a pleasure it is to know you. What a gift to the world it was that you were born.” 

Pugh seemed to be a fan of the tribute too, since she reposted it in her Instagram stories along with several other well-wishes from friends. One repost in particular caught fans’ attention though, as the inclusion of three little letters sparked wedding rumours. 

“Happy birthday to this shining shaker! Your spirit is infectious, your laugh hilarious,” wrote Trevor Tuttle, a visual effects artist. “You’ve made this awkward year kinda delightful with your pizzas and antics. Much love FPB!” Note the FPB part of that post, aka Florence Pugh-Braff? Some fans seemed to think so, although you be the judge. 

Braff and Pugh have reportedly been dating since April 2019, after they met on the set of his short film, In the Time it Takes to Get There. In October of that year Braff shared a photo of Pugh on Instagram for the first time, with the caption, “People I love.” The flirty comments and group photos only continued from there. 

Last April when Braff turned 45 years old, Pugh shared her own birthday tribute to her beau. “Today we shall smile wider than the clouds are grey,” she wrote. “April 6th and we’re celebrating hard! Happy Birthday wishes, boogies and cheers for this special person. Raise those bubbles and jiggle!”

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Since opening up about their relationship, the couple has faced criticism from fans who don't support their 21-year age gap. Conversation on the matter has reached the point on several occasions where Pugh felt the need to publicly defend her relationship. “I've always found it funny, how I can be good enough for people to watch my work, and support my work, and pay for tickets, and I'm old enough to be an adult and pay taxes, but I'm not old enough to know who I should and should not have sex with,” Pugh said on the Sue Perkins: An Hour or So With… podcast in July. “Once again, [it's] making a young woman feel like s--t for no reason.”

Part of the scrutiny could be due to the fact that Pugh is steadily gaining popularity and considered one of Hollywood’s biggest rising stars to watch. After getting ID’d at the Oscars last year (despite her nomination for her role in Little Women) she went on to nab the coveted role of Yelena Belova in the Black Widow movie. She’s also set to star as the character in the upcoming Hawkeye TV series, she has been cast in Olivia Wilde’s star-studded Don’t Worry Darling, and she has also landed the lead in the upcoming Universal Pictures movie The Maid, based on Nita Prose's upcoming debut novel of the same name.

Sounds like 2021 is looking good for Pugh. A string of projects in the works, a loving boyfriend (or husband?)—things are coming up Pugh indeed.

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