Florence Pugh stars as Cathy Ames in Zoe Kazan’s seven-episode adaptation of John Steinbeck’s East of Eden, streaming now on Netflix.
Viewers expressed immediate trepidation when Netflix released its initial preview for the adaptation of John Steinbeck’s East of Eden. The platform’s promotional description called Cathy Ames an antihero,
causing concern across social media and fan forums that a classic literary villain would be softened into a misunderstood figure.
Those fears proved unfounded. Pugh portrays Cathy as an unyielding and terrifying force of nature in the blistering seven-episode drama now streaming on Netflix. While the series explores the character’s early traumas, including implied sexual abuse at age five that spurred a habit of dissociating, it refuses to excuse her cruel actions.
Zoe Kazan Rewrites the Classic Salinas Valley Epic
Created, written, and executive produced by Zoe Kazan—granddaughter of Elia Kazan, who directed the 1955 film adaptation starring James Dean—the Netflix series takes a structural departure from Steinbeck’s 1952 novel. The book opens with an evocative description of the Salinas Valley before introducing the Trask family, keeping Cathy in the background until much later.
Kazan’s adaptation plunges viewers directly into Cathy’s harrowing past. The story opens as she crawls toward the farmhouse of Adam and Charles Trask after being beaten nearly to death by brothel owner and former lover Mr. Edwards.
When John Steinbeck published the literary classic in 1952, midcentury critics widely judged the primary female character to be pure evil and a veritable Satan in stockings. Reviewers at the time famously described her as a vicious slut or the most vicious female in literature for driving a man to suicide, killing her parents while still a teen, and poisoning a lonely brothel madame who named her sole heir. In the television adaptation, Kazan oversees the project in partnership with co-showrunner Jeb Stuart, who wrote Die Hard and The Fugitive. Originally intended to run for eight episodes, the production was ultimately compressed into seven episodes, with a cost-cutting measure moving the filming location to New Zealand.
Florence Pugh and Christopher Abbott Anchor the Trask Family Drama
The sprawling cast features Tracy Letts as Civil War veteran Cyrus Trask, whose stern parenting fuels deep resentment in his younger son, Charles. Mike Faist portrays Charles, the aggressive and discerning half-brother who immediately distrusts Cathy. Christopher Abbott stars as the mild-mannered Adam Trask, a soldier who falls in love with Cathy and takes her west to California.
Additional characters rounding out the complex narrative include the twin boys Cal and Aron. Cal, whose given name is Caleb, is played by Joseph Zada, while Joe Anders portrays Aron. The household also features the family’s Chinese-American servant Lee, played by Hoon Lee, and the Irish immigrant Samuel Hamilton, portrayed by Ciarán Hinds. Martha Plimpton appears in the series as a brothel madame, and Vaughan Reilly portrays a younger version of Cathy.
Critics have singled out Pugh’s performance for high praise.
“I didn’t have a backup. I didn’t have another person that I thought would be just as good. She is the exact right person to play Cathy.”
Zoe Kazan, creator and executive producer, via The Hollywood Reporter
Kazan stated at the New York premiere that she perceived a distinct mix of feminine presentation and raw emotional agency in Pugh, qualities she felt matched Steinbeck’s original descriptions of a doll-like figure with something icy underneath.
Pugh Reflects on Her Career Milestone
For Pugh, who also served as an executive producer on the project after joining it in 2020, the role represents a significant personal achievement. During an appearance alongside her castmates on daytime television, the actress discussed the emotional weight of the production.
She told hosts that stepping into Cathy Ames became the part she is most proud of in her career. Reflecting on her ongoing collaboration with Kazan, Pugh shared on social media how vital the showrunner’s support was throughout production.
Partnering on the series and helping shape the adaptation through her producing role ultimately provided a major boost to her confidence.
Prior to taking on the role in the 2026 Netflix limited series, Pugh built an extensive acting resume with acclaimed performances in Greta Gerwig’s Little Women, Don’t Worry Darling, and Midsommar. She also starred in Park Chan-Wook’s 2018 television adaptation of John Le Carré’s The Little Drummer Girl before joining the Marvel cinematic universe.