Ella Purnell is currently basking in the positive reception of her newly released post-apocalyptic drama series, Fallout. Directed by Jonathan Nolan, the Amazon Prime Video series is based on the role-playing video game franchise of the same name. Ella Purnell plays the role of Lucy, a Vault Dweller.
In an exclusive interview with Mashable India, the English actress opened up about playing the new character in the series, working with Jonathan Nolan, exploring the world of Fallout and witnessing it being built in the series. Considering the huge fandom of the popular video game, the actress was aware of the responsibility she was taking on while playing the role. In this interview, she revealed her ‘pinch-me moments’ on sets, being pulled into the wondrous world of the post-apocalyptic world and giving her character her own twist.
Ella also talked about visiting India once again but this time, to simply explore and soak in the culture of the country. She also revealed that she was interested in visiting Goa after many people recommended her to do so.
How has India treated you so far? Has the Indian heat gotten to you yet?
Ella: I love the heat. I really do. Unfortunately, it’s been so busy since we got here that I haven’t had much chance to get out and explore the way I’d like to. I’ve mostly sort of seen like the inside of the hotel rooms. But from driving, I’ve seen a few things. I really just wanna come back and spend a few weeks exploring. I’ve been told I need to go to Goa.
How did you prepare to play Lucy?
Ella: I first became attached to the project. I met Jonah, the director, Geneva and Graham, the writers, and they described the world of fallout. This was before I had really properly researched the games. Even read the script and they pitched it to me. They explained the tone. ’cause I think they really wanted to explain what they were going for. ’cause it’s very unique. It’s hard to describe unless you’ve seen it. They described Lucy as being a cross between Ned Flanders and Leslie Knope. Lovely. Which I thought was hilarious. And I’d never played anyone like that. Cut to, I’m doing prep for the show and I really did just fall in love with the world. That had already been built. I love doing adaptions ’cause there’s so much to research. I love doing prep.
It’s kind of the best of both worlds because you have an entire world that you get to throw yourself into and research and really take from and get inspired by. But my character is new in the show. She doesn’t exist in the game. So I still have creative autonomy, so it’s kind of the best thing for an actor.
What was the most challenging and rewarding part of playing Lucy in Fallout?
Ella: It’s so rewarding. I think the challenging part was the anticipation. I was nervous about doing stunts ’cause I’d never really done anything action or physical before. And I was not an athletic person, shall we say. I was nervous about adapting something that was so well loved, you know. Fans are very passionate and you really just wanna do justice to something that is so loved. And at the same time, do your best and not be influenced by what you think, trust your instincts. ’cause they cast me to do the thing that I did in the auditions, so I have to keep doing that. It’s a lot of nerves really, but honestly, the moment I tried on the vault suit for the first time, it was humbling. It was a really, really big pinch-me moment.
Fallout is dystopian and violent but there’s a dark humour element to it. Are you a fan of it or did it come naturally to you while playing Lucy?
Ella: That’s the thing that I love the most in the script. I’ve watched, I’ve consumed a lot of content. I’ve been in stuff about the apocalypse. And this was a new spin on it. You know, of course. It’s incredibly depressing and scary. But it’s also, it’s fallout. It’s funny. It’s ridiculous. There’s these mutated radiation nuclear roaches and all of this stuff that it’s kind of ludicrous and fun. You’ve definitely not seen this show before I think I hope. With Lucy, I think she is a Vault Dweller and she’s born and raised and lived her entire life underground. Raised with the belief that there is nothing on the surface. One day she’s going to have children who will go to the surface and rebuild America. There’s a lot of innocence and naivety and privilege that comes with those beliefs. You don’t have to try with the comedy, you don’t have to try to make it funny.
Number one, the writers are brilliant, it’s all in the right. And number two, there is comedy in innocence. People love to laugh at what people don’t know. And all you have to do is just strip everything back and just be a newborn baby that has no real-life experience and put them in the wasteland, which is ridiculous. I think it’s a great balance of action and comedy and that comes from Geneva and Graham. I think they did a really fantastic job nailing the tone.
Did you play Fallout, the video game?
Ella: I have definitely tried. I’ve definitely tried. I’m not that great at it but I’ve tried. It’s embarrassing, honestly. I can’t quite the opposable thumbs. I can’t remember which does what. I also have quite strong ADHD, so I think I just, forget all the time what the different buttons do. So I spent a lot of time watching other people play the game. And I got a lot further. I sort of can’t really get past level three. I played Fallout Four actually which was the one that I played in preparation for the show. But also it’s hard ’cause when I play the game I wanna play it to relax. I wanna enjoy it. I also did not have that much time to prep. Maybe I’ll try again and actually take my time and enjoy.
How was it working with Jonathan Nolan as a director?
Ella: Jonah is a force to be reckoned with. He knows exactly what he wants. He’s got it all figured out in his head. He’s so smart. It’s intimidating. He moves at a pace that I love. It’s fast. It’s fast. It’s direct. It’s like everyone comes together and we just, you know, we bang it out and you gotta keep up. But it’s hard to find a director who could do both the technical aspects of directing and also work with actors and have that emotional intelligence, that emotional understanding. And I do really feel like he can do both. And we also get along. He’s a really nice guy. I would work with him in a heartbeat.
Director Jonathan said that the series is not here for fan service. Do you agree with that?
Ella: You wanna do justice for something that is so well loved without letting that pressure get to you and dictate the way you do it. I know there are people that are super mega fans of Fallout and I really don’t know that much compared to them. But even the little that I did know and research, getting to walk on set and seeing the vault built…exactly taken from the game. It’s so faithful. It’s so authentic. The props, the weapons, the vault suit, everything being so faithful to the game. It was incredible. Everyone did such a fantastic.
Cover Image: Patrick Gawande/Mashable India
