Ella Purnell’s Chilling Encounter With Horror Films
Ella Purnell, star of sci-fi hits, opens up about her aversion to horror films after a childhood scare, and shares what’s next in her career.
With the second season of Fallout landing on Prime Video just in time for the festive season, fans of game-to-screen adaptations have plenty to celebrate. Ella Purnell, who’s been making waves in the world of streaming and science fiction, has quickly become a familiar face for Aussie viewers. In just five years, the London-born actor has managed to secure her spot as a standout in the genre, thanks to a string of much-talked-about roles.
Fallout isn’t just another adaptation—it’s now considered the most successful live-action take on a video game, even outshining the likes of The Last of Us, Twisted Metal, and Halo. Purnell’s talents aren’t limited to one platform either. She’s lent her voice to ‘Jinx’ in the acclaimed animated series Arcane, sharing the mic with Hailee Steinfeld, and has also starred in the popular teen-thriller Yellowjackets, which has kept punters hooked for three seasons. Between these projects, she’s pretty much cornered the market on must-watch telly for younger crowds.
From Sci-Fi Success to Dark Comedy
Next year, Purnell is set to return in the second season of Sweetpea, a dark comedy she not only stars in but also produces. The show, made for Sky, follows a young woman with a run-of-the-mill job who develops a rather unhealthy fascination with murder. It’s got its fair share of bloody moments, which might come as a surprise given Purnell’s well-known aversion to anything scary on screen.
Despite her knack for playing characters in intense and sometimes violent stories, Purnell has never been a fan of horror. She recently shared with Bafta that one film in particular left a lasting mark on her:
“One film that I definitely shouldn’t have watched at a young age was (1981 Stanley Kubrick shocker) The Shining. I remember I went to a girl’s sleepover and I was like, ‘Finally (I’m) invited to the cool kids sleepover,’ and then the really, really cool girl put on The Shining and all the other cool girls were watching and I was just like… (does terrified face).”
The Shining’s Lingering Impact
It’s hard to blame her. The Shining is notorious for its unsettling atmosphere, from the blood-soaked corridors to the eerie twins and the descent into madness at the heart of the story. Purnell admits the experience put her off the genre for good:
“To this day I cannot watch horror films, I hate horror films, I’m terrified of horror films. I’m scared of them, I can’t watch them. I don’t like having an unpleasant movie viewing experience and it’s not fun for me. I put that down to watching that film with the twins.”
For someone who’s built a career on edgy and suspenseful roles, her fear of horror is a bit unexpected. But it’s clear that early exposure to Kubrick’s classic left a deep impression, making her steer clear of anything too frightening ever since.
Facing Fears in Upcoming Projects
Ironically, Purnell’s next projects might force her to confront those old fears. She’s set to appear in The Scurry, a film about a group trapped in an eco café besieged by a swarm of bloodthirsty squirrels. It sounds a bit out there, but with Rhys Ifans on board, there’s hope it’ll lean more towards comedy than terror.
And if that’s not enough, she’ll also be starring alongside Pete Davidson in a film about saving humanity, titled That Time We Met. Whether these roles will help her get over her horror aversion remains to be seen, but for now, Purnell’s keeping her distance from anything too spooky on screen.