Ella Purnell Talks About Lucy’s Drug Journey and Embracing Her Fierce Side: “It Felt a Bit Scandalous”
SPOILERS: This report contains details about the Fallout, Season 2 episode ‘The Demon in the Snow’
As fans of the video game series tune into the second season of Fallout, they are greeted with a compelling transformation of the character Lucy MacLean, portrayed by Ella Purnell.
“I couldn’t believe it. I felt so scandalous. Coming from any other character, you’d be like, ‘Yeah, it’s just Fallout,’ but just something about it being Lucy, it feels scandalous,” Purnell remarked. “It’s like when your little sister goes out and gets a little wild—it’s crazy. Very fun to see that side of her, to play that side of her, and also, a new experience for me. I haven’t done that a lot in my career. I didn’t know how it was gonna turn out. It turned out good, thank God, I think.”
Lucy’s journey takes a dramatic turn in the latest episode when she embarks on a drug-induced killing spree. This change comes after a life-saving Buffout steroid drip, following a near-fatal incident in the previous episode. Under the influence, Lucy’s moral compass is skewed, leading to a blend of deadly and comedic moments.
Purnell further elaborated on the character’s newfound fearlessness. “It was very fun to play a side of Lucy that is fearless for once. She’s very tough, very brave—much braver than I would be, given the circumstances. To play a character who doesn’t conceive the notion of death for just five minutes changes all the tension in the scene, and I get to play with some comedy in there; it was really fun.”
In addition to her role in Fallout, Purnell is engaged in the upcoming sophomore season of her Sky Atlantic/Starz series Sweetpea, where she portrays the mousey serial killer Rhiannon Lewis. Reflecting on her dual roles, Purnell noted the contrasting nature of the characters.
“It’s a weird switch to make,” she said. “I was watching Fallout today, and when Lucy does even the slightest thing bad that’s so new for her, I’m like, ‘Rhiannon would do that in a heartbeat. Rhiannon can do that.’”
As Purnell navigates these diverse roles, her performance continues to capture the attention of Fallout fans and viewers alike.
