Ella Purnell Interview: Fallout's Lucy MacLean & Yellowjackets Theories

If you’re a frequent Collider Ladies Night viewer/reader/listener, you’re likely well aware of my Yellowjackets obsession. I’ve been lucky enough to welcome many Yellowjackets cast members to the show, including Christina Ricci and Jasmin Savoy Brown, but there’s a certain someone who I was extremely disappointed to have missed out on while she was on the show — Ella Purnell. However, the time has finally come. Not only did I get the opportunity to talk a little Yellowjackets with Purnell, but we also got to celebrate yet another exceptional show of hers, Prime Video’s Fallout.

Purnell plays Lucy in the series adaptation of the hugely popular Bethesda game. She’s a vault dweller living safe and sound in Vault 33. They’ve got food, water, and a kind community with a neighborly vibe. Above ground, however, it’s the exact opposite. 219 years since nuclear bombs decimated the surface, everyone else is just trying to survive in an apocalyptic wasteland with little to no rules or morals. In an effort to find her father (Kyle MacLachlan), Lucy opts to do the unthinkable, leave the comfort of sheltered vault life behind to venture out into the ruthless outside world.

In celebration of Fallout’s big debut on Prime Video, Purnell joined me for a Ladies Night conversation to recap her journey in film and television thus far, and discuss how her career priorities have changed over the years.

00:00 Dicey Questions
06:28 Introduction
07:07 Discovering She Wanted to Become an Actor
08:19 Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children
09:39 Her Favorite Tim Burton Movie
10:07 Playing Kiera Knightley, Angelina Jolie & Margot Robbie
11:37 Sweetbitter
12:55 Moving to New York
14:31 Finding the Power of Her Voice
17:41 Yellowjackets
23:22 Letting Go of the Need to Be Liked
26:53 Fallout

#fallout #yellowjackets #ellapurnell #interview #actor

FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL

[ColliderLadiesNight]

Thanks for watching this edition of Collider Ladies Night!

[aaronmoyano]

It's impossible for every actor to not feel comfortable with Perri, she just makes the best, interesting and well thought questions ever, always about the project and what the actor/actress acomplished with it, best female interviewer EVER (and also she loves cinema as much as we do)

[larissa]

you know the interviewer is good when the actor keeps complimenting every question!! good job

[grafffuller]

ANOTHER great interview. Perri has this ability to allow the actor to be comfortable and answer the questions asked, sincerely.

Also, Ella is incredibly brilliant. She is smart and confident in her answers AND was able to answer them without punching up her answers to be cool. She was truly present for the interview, and my wife and I hope to see her soon in another movie/TV show.

PS - Yellowjackets killed me. My wife loved it, but I watched it for her (so we could experience it, together), and her performance at Jackie was incredible.

Thank you, Perri...for Ladies Night is a great venue to celebrate the actors/roles of women in cinema.

[BrandoBaggins]

Perri is definitely up there with the best of the best interviewers, asking thoughtful, creative questions in such an effortlessly conversational way! And I agree with others that already commented on how Ella kept on mentioning "that's a really good question"-- that's a sign of a talented and thoughtful interviewer!

Ella seems such a sweet, sincere person, too! And she crushed her role as Lucy in Fallout. Bravo to both you ladies! 😊

[JJ]

This interview is one of the best I have ever seen. Please pay your host more money she is amazing.

[steffie]

Ella definitely is those people who can light up a room. What a great actress she is! 😊 Amazing interview, loved it 🩵
PS: I will forever miss Jackie 🥲

[charitychapman]

This is a fabulous interview! Ella looked so good and seemed so engaged, and that's thanks to the stellar questions she was asked! Great job, Perri!

[bingbong]

She’s gonna be the next big Hollywood star.

[arcane]

I never comment on these kinds of videos, but there is something about her eyes that is just magical

[mione]

Perri, you've done it again! The best interviewer out there. No question about it. The ease at which you make your guests feel, and the questions are always in depth and not the same. As a viewer, and fan its AWESOME to see. Thank you again for ALL that you do. You are so good at your job, and your energy and excitement makes your guests feel it.

[honeylavender]

@28:00 her talking about her approach to the comedic moments for her character is really fascinating- it’s this level of awareness and skill that makes the difference between a good and great actor, and it’s a key ingredient in the success of the show. Congratulations Ella 😊

[biancavendramini]

Greeeeat interview! I really miss Ella as Jackie Taylor and Im loving Ella as Lucy! She's amazing!

[ana]

Love this! Perri you always nail it! Ella is amazing! Great interview altogether 🫶🏼

[KatarinaPetrova]

Amazing interview! Congrats, the only thing that was missing for me was Arcane! I thought she was going to talk about Arcane a little, but I will wait for another interview like this when Season 2 comes. Happy to see Ella.

[pothw]

i love this format of interviewing. lots of time for detail, questions that feel craft specific

[brianng]

Very thoughtful and insightful responses. Hope to see her work for many years to come.

[JP-ufsh]

Such a nice and thought through interview! I loved all of the questions.

[freddyfeliciano]

Great interview, l. I loved Ella Purnell performance in Fallout, so.much so that in think that the show would not have worked as well with out it. She's the heart and soul of that show

[connorkavanaugh]

Best interviewer I've seen following the Fallout zeitgeist of late. Truly insightful and passionate off-the-cuff questions, great improvisation and full respect paid. Ella is a smart lady, and definitely flourished throughout this process.