Ella Purnell, the talented 28-year-old actress, has shared her enthusiasm for stunt work, a passion that sets her apart from many of her peers who often dread the demanding action sequences typical in film production. In a recent interview with SFX magazine, Purnell revealed that she thrives in the chaotic environment that comes with performing stunts, stating, “Stunts are probably my favourite part of acting. They are the days everyone dreads but they are the days I really look forward to because I love chaos.”
Purnell is currently captivating audiences as Lucy MacLean in the second season of the popular series Fallout. She hinted at an exciting turn in her character’s journey, expressing her thrill over a particularly fun sequence where Lucy encounters The Kings for the first time. “Gosh, it’s so exciting. There are so many creatures from the games that you are going to see,” she said. Teasing viewers, she mentioned, “There’s also a very fun moment, which I’ll tease. I want to say it’s in episode four and five, where we see a side of Lucy that we have not seen before. It’s very, very, very fun.”
In addition to her role in Fallout, Purnell is recognized for her performance as Jackie Taylor in the series Yellowjackets. However, she revealed that she has not been able to watch the pivotal episode where her character’s friends resort to cannibalism. “I’m gonna tell you a secret: I actually haven’t watched that episode because I don’t know what it’s gonna do to my mental health. I don’t really want to risk it, so I haven’t seen it,” she admitted at a fan expo.
Adding a humorous yet candid insight, Purnell described the unusual experience of receiving photos from her Yellowjackets castmates posing with her character’s corpse during filming for Season Two. “It was weird. I knew it was gonna happen, but I was filming Fallout, and the schedule was very, very demanding. I was exhausted,” she explained. The surprise of seeing herself in such a disconcerting situation made for a surreal moment, highlighting the unique nature of her dual roles and the emotional complexity of the experiences that come with them.
Purnell’s enthusiasm for her craft and her willingness to embrace the challenges of acting and storytelling reveal her dedication to her roles and her ability to navigate the sometimes bizarre world of television and film. Audiences can look forward to not only her thrilling stunts but also the intriguing developments in her characters’ arcs that promise to captivate viewers in the upcoming episodes of both Fallout and Yellowjackets.