Best Ella Purnell Movies & TV Shows

Key Takeaways

• Purnell excels in diverse roles, from troubled teens to strong-willed daughters, showcasing her versatility and acting range.
• Characters in film and TV enable Purnell’s growth and vivid performances.
• Standout projects like Wildlike, Army of the Dead, and Arcane attest to Purnell’s rising stardom and talent.

One of 2024’s emerging stars, Ella Purnell, has been on a hot streak of projects, with her latest contributions to season 2 of Arcane being widely praised. While capable of being a voice actor, the British actor has primarily portrayed characters in television and film to great popularity, particularly in the last couple of years, as Purnell’s stardom has remarkably risen.

So far in her budding career, Purnell has portrayed a variety of differing characters in existing franchises or fresh projects that have allowed the actor to fully flourish, with her catalog of roles being impressive and full of promise.

8 Mackenzie – Wildlike (2014)

A Troubled And Emotional Performance In An Under-The-Radar Movie

The troubling and emotional journey Purnell’s character Mackenzie endures throughout Wildlike is saddening for audiences, with the often overlooked movie being an excellent showcase for the actor in her youth. Wildlike follows the traumatic journey Mackenzie goes on after dealing with family problems and abuse, leading to the character fleeing her new home, where she encounters a backpacker with whom she finds comfort.

For a movie that deals with complex themes, a young Purnell excels in many facets throughout the film, displaying vulnerability and a wide range of emotions due to the troubling circumstances surrounding her character and her background.

7 Tess – Sweetbitter (2018)

An Uncultured Girl Thrust Into A World Of New Experiences

In one of Purnell’s first starring roles on television, the Brit played the role of Tess, a newcomer to New York who falls for the allure of the city and its people while working in a demanding restaurant.

While Sweetbitter came and went, Purnell delivered a varied performance as the young and impressionable lead, becoming sucked up by love, friendship, betrayal, and lofty demands in the social drama. The uncultured character and her gradual change over the course of the show is very much down to Purnell’s visceral performance that acts as the anchor for Sweetbitter‘s narrative.

6 Kate Ward – Army Of The Dead (2021)

Involved In A Father-Daughter Relationship In A Zombie Epic

One of Purnell’s most high-profile roles so far in her career has been her role in Zack Snyder’s Army of the Dead, the zombie bonanza movie on Netflix. Starring opposite Dave Bautista as his daughter, the character of Kate Ward is a strong-willed individual eager to rescue her friend Geeta, who happens to be in danger.

Along with a complicated relationship with her father, Purnell’s portrayal of Kate exudes confidence and a no-nonsense attitude. However, over the course of Army of the Dead, Purnell’s chemistry with Bautista shines, with their complex and emotional family bond being the emotional core of the high-octane zombie flick.

5 Rhiannon Lewis – Sweetpea (2024)

Thrives As A Murderer Hidden In Plain Sight In British Thriller

Unlike many of Purnell’s other roles, Sweetpea sees the actor portray a vindictive protagonist in a dark comedy. As a quiet admin assistant, the character of Rhiannon Lewis grows a fascination for murder derived from her trauma-ridden past and social neglect.

In the British show, Purnell is given plenty of license to play around, with her character’s devilish thoughts and actions being hidden in plain sight due to her being a wallflower in society. Rhiannon’s duality stands out as one of Sweetpea‘s strongest aspects, with the actor even dipping her toes into comedic elements, making for a highly entertaining but versatile character.

4 Emma Bloom – Miss Peregrine’s Home For Peculiar Children (2016)

A Charming But Powerful Teenager Who Can Harness Air

Under the guise of Tim Burton, Purnell has a remarkable presence in Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, a fantasy movie that sees her character of Emma Bloom stand out among many intriguing characters.

Belonging to a band of peculiar children, Emma acts as the romantic interest of the story’s protagonist, Jake Portman. However, Emma possesses immense talent when utilizing air, bending it to her will. Along with being charming and cordial with Jake, Purnell’s Emma comes off as a sophisticated badass when operating as Jake’s introduction to the world of peculiar children and time looping.

3 Jinx – Arcane (2021)

Voices An Iconic Video Game Character Known For Being Wild And Energetic

Out of all the video game adaptations that have arrived on television, Arcane has ranked among the best, with its thrilling action, captivating narrative, and rich world making for elite storytelling. Playing the role of the iconic League of Legends character, Jinx, Arcane examines the character’s turmoil as she and her sister Vi get separated as children, resulting in a reunion that sets events into motion in Piltover and Zaun.

As Jinx, Purnell’s voice acting perfectly encapsulates the chaotic energy the character thrives off while also displaying her emotional trauma that makes Jinx wholly unique in the League of Legends universe.

2 Jackie Taylor – Yellowjackets (2021)

A Popular Leader Of A Soccer Team Who Sees Her Role Change When In A Crisis

One of the 2020s most refreshing shows, Yellowjackets has been an excellent showcase for Purnell in her lead role as Jackie Taylor. Starring as the captain of a women’s soccer team that ends up lost in the wilderness after their plane crashes, Purnell’s Jackie initially starts out as outgoing and joyous, being a reliable leader of her group.

As tensions rise, and the ominous atmosphere inflicts itself on the group, Jackie loses her status in the wilderness, becoming disillusioned with her surroundings and her friend’s changing attitudes toward her, drastically altering the character throughout Season 1.

1 Lucy MacLean – Fallout (2024)

A Sheltered Protagonist Who Takes Risks In Order To Save Her Father

In Purnell’s most high profile role to date, the actor jumped into the famed video game franchise Fallout and its television adaptation, playing the main protagonist, Lucy MacLean. The Fallout world places Lucy as a vault dweller who lives her entire life underground, away from the nuclear wasteland on Earth’s surface. However, her father gets kidnapped, leading the character to head to the surface to save her father as she explores a downtrodden and fractured American society.

While initially pleasant and cheerful in her natural habitat of Vault 33, Purnell’s Lucy becomes filled with despair and confusion when coming to terms with the reality of the world. With much of her life being a lie, Purnell delivers a multilayered performance filled with varying degrees of joy and sadness due to her experiences of betrayal, love, and risk-taking, with her performance being one of Fallout‘s biggest strengths.