With her huge doll-like eyes, Ella Purnell doesnt exactly have the face of a killer.
I want to do things that scare me, and I want to take risks.
For her latest project, she knew she wanted to up the ante.
Photo: Getty Images
Sweetpeapremieres on Starz on Friday, October 10.
Not only does Purnell take the leading role inSweetpea,but she also serves as an executive producer.
For all her big breaks, Purnell is in no rush to ascend to the upper echelons of Hollywood.
Sweetpeapremieres on Starz on Friday, October 10.
Theres no end goal for me that revolves around success.
It revolves around my personal growth and personal challenges.
Vogue: What drew you to the project?
Purnell inSweetpea
Naturally thats harder to sell with a woman.Dexterwould be a different show if Dexter was a woman.
Ella Purnell inSweetpea
How did you shed that inhibition?
As humans, were not supposed to let that animal out.
Purnell in Rabanne at the 2024 Emmys
Were supposed to beespecially as womenvery constricted, very polished, very together.
We always have to be very careful of our emotionsmore so, I think, than men.
The other side of it is the presentation.
Rhiannon is a complete wallflower at the start of the series.
Nobody sees her; shes invisible.
I wanted to show that, physically, she wants to hide.
She wears darker clothes.
Her hair is very long.
She doesnt have any friends.
She doesnt have any maternal figure in her life.
She doesnt know how to use makeup.
She looks a bit shit!
[Rihannon] is different from somebody who chooses not to wear makeup.
Its somebody whos afraid to wear makeupsomebody whos afraid to be looked at, to be perceived.
There is a certain fear about deliberately trying to look unattractive.
It goes against what we all want to do.
We all want to look good, but it really just helps for the character.
It changes the way you stand.
It changes the way you talk when youre a bit embarrassed.
Being an EP is something that Ive always wanted to do.
Its like a weird cosmic feeling.
I really felt like I knew this character; I was excited to collaborate and contribute those ideas.
I really felt like I could do that, and somehow it all worked out.
I was able to do auditions and chemistry tests with all of our cast and play with that.
Its just incredible to see what goes into it and actually be a part of those decisions.
What else do you see for yourself?
I have been [acting] for such a long time, and I love what I do.
It has very much been a marathon, not a sprint.
Im not interested in any sort of fast track.
Theres no end goal for me that revolves around success.
It revolves around my personal growth and personal challenges.
Ive been incredibly lucky that the projects Ive been a part of have done well.
Im just really attracted to roles that feel new and feel different.
I dont want to do anything that Ive done before.
I want to do things that scare me, and I want to take risks.
Im going to do shit films.
My first thing that I write is probably not going to be very good, and thats fine.
My philosophy is to work with people [and] scripts that you like.
Purnell in Rabanne at the 2024 Emmys
I loved your Emmys look.
How did you wind up committing to the whole 70s bit?
I have just such a wonderful team of people around me.
I have been starting to have more fun with fashion.
As you get older, you get a bit more confident, and you just stop caring as much.
With that dress, we tried it on, and we all knew it was the right dress.
It was obviously a gorgeous dress, but relatively simple.
I knew there was a bit more freedom to get creative.
Hair, I really wasnt sold on.
One of the inspirations wasKaia Gerber at The Met, when she had this long, beautiful hair.
That was one of the hair inspirations, or I was going to go with 40s finger curls.
I wanted to feel free.
It all just came together.
I would love to pretend that we knew it was going to work, but we didnt.
You just put it together and then youre like, Oh shit, that looks kind of good.
Sometimes you win, sometimes you miss.
This conversation has been edited and condensed.
