Fallout's Ella Purnell Deserves More Credit for Her Voice Acting (2024)

Ella Purnell has steadily emerged as one of Hollywood's most charismatic new sensations, having catapulted to prominence with her endearing role as Lucy MacLean in the knockout streaming hit Fallout. The post-apocalyptic drama is based on the popular video game franchise and has steadily taken viewers all across the world by storm, with fans appreciating the program's faithfulness to the source material and being dazzled by the stellar performances of Purnell and co-star Walton Goggins.

Though the 2024 juggernaut may have given Purnell the exposure she worked hard to achieve, the series is not her only noteworthy film and TV contributions, as the talented actress has appeared in a slew of acclaimed movies and shows. Purnell's exceptional voice work is another often overlooked and less discussed triumph for the star, who has lent her expertise to some seriously impressive animated projects. Let's take a look at Ella Purnell's colorful career and rise to stardom, and her stellar voice acting resume.

Who Is Ella Purnell?

English actress Ella Purnell began her buzzed-about Hollywood career as a child star, having nabbed the role of Young Ruth (with Kiera Knightley playing the adult version) in the 2010 dystopian drama Never Let Me Go. The up-and-coming performer was just 14-years-old when she made her silver screen debut, and the engrossing film went on to garner positive praise and helped introduce Purnell to the masses. She would follow up the impressive appearance with subsequent parts in Ways to Live Forever, Intruders, Kick-Ass 2, and Maleficent, steadily showcasing her stellar range and acting chops with each character.

Before she ventured into the world of cinema, Purnell has also attended the Young Actors Theatre Islington where she studied acting, dancing, and singing; her dramatic training helped the ambitious star headline the stage play Natives in 2017, portraying the lead character A. When Purnell was 18, she had debated quitting acting in favor of pursuing her other passions, but she ultimately took a year off to "find herself", which led to her being offered a role in Tim Burton's Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children.

Collaborating with the iconic director had always been a dream of Purnell's, and the actress retrospectively expressed her decision to continue pursuing acting, telling Vulture in 2024 it was "kind of bittersweet" and adding: "Looking back, it’s exactly what should have happened. I’m glad I stuck with acting. I had to fall in love with it on my own account and not because of my family or my friends. Now I love it. Now I choose to do it." Purnell didn't lose any steam, starring in Churchill, UFO, and Army of the Dead before landing arguably her most mainstream and celebrated role thus far: Lucy MacLean in Fallout.

Fallout Becomes a Certified Streaming Hit

Before Purcell was capitvating audiences all across the world with her spirited portrayal of the plucky Lucy MacLean, she had already crafted a stellar small screen resume that proved she could conquer both television and film. The actress appeared in the miniseries' Ordeal by Innocence and Belgravia, as well as in the drama Sweetbitter and as Jackie Taylor in the acclaimed thriller drama Yellowjackets; the latter program has gone on to garner numerous accolades, winning the Satellite Award and GLAAD Media Award.

When Purcell was cast as the determined heroine Lucy MacLean in the 2024 post-apocalyptic drama Fallout, an adaptation of the beloved video game franchise, the actress' star power grew spectacularly as she shared the screen with powerhouse performers like Walton Goggins, Kyle MacLachlan, and Aaron Moten. The exhilarating series takes place in the aftermath of an apocalyptic nuclear holocaust and follows Lucy as she leaves the safety of her fallout bunker and ventures into the dangerous wasteland of Los Angeles in search of her kidnapped father, meeting a courageous squire and legendary ghoul gunslinger and bounty hunter along the way.

The smash hit series was a knockout with both critics and fans alike, earning praise for its exceptional performances, stunning visuals and production, and brilliant writing. In its first 16 days of release, Fallout dominated the streaming charts and attracted 65 million viewers, becoming the second most-watched title in the history of Prime Video and clinching a quick second season renewal. The program has received a whopping 16 Primetime Emmy nominations including Outstanding Drama Series, and continues drawing in new and excited audiences since its epic premiere.

Purnell's Illusturious Voice Performances

While Purnell is finally getting the appreciation and praise she so rightfully deserves for her compelling performance in Fallout, the talented actress has actually dominated the world of television and showcased her skills long before the hit post-apocalyptic drama. Purnell's voice acting contributions deserve to be highlighted and commended, as she has been involved in some pretty noteworthy TV projects and demonstrated the power of her engaging voice. Purnell voiced the character of Gwyn in the sci-fi animated series Star Trek: Prodigy, superbly portraying the adventure-seeking character who is also a master linguist and speaks many alien languages.

The lauded program ran for two seasons and won a Children's and Family Emmy Award, and Purnell followed-up the appearance with the role of Jinx in the steampunk action-adventure show Arcane. In the adult animated series based on the League of Legends universe, Purnell's beloved character Jinx is a maniacal criminal who, following a devastating family tragedy, is brought in and raised by the nefarious crime lord Silco, leaving her clashing with her older sister Vi. Jinx is often cited as the franchise's most popular character, with Purnell's complex performance of the iconic champion attracting rave reviews from fans.

Purnell won the Annie Award for Outstanding Achievement for Voice Acting and the series also nabbed a Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Animated Program, and it currently holds a highly-coveted 100% Rotten Tomatoes critics score. IGN raved about the steampunk program, declaring that the first season was a "classic in the making, and the nail in the coffin of the so-called video game curse." In 2024, the actress voiced the character Jane in an episode of the animated superhero series Invincible, appearing as an archaeologist searching for her father in the season 2 episode "I Thought You Were Stronger."

What's Next For the Sensational Star?

After skyrocketing to superstardom with her winning role in Fallout and showing the world she could masterfully tackle the world of television and film, Purnell shows no signs of slowing down and has multiple projects currently in the works. The gifted actress is set to reprise her character Lucy MacLean in the highly-anticipated second season of the Prime Video hit, and is also set to headline the upcoming dark dramedy series Sweetpea, an adaptation of the Kirstie Swain book. She will portray Rhiannon Lewis, a disenchanted young woman who, after being pushed to her limits, discovers a shocking and delicious new power that changes her life.

Purnell is also set to return to her voice acting roots and will reprise her role as Kate Ward in the animated prequel series Army of the Dead: Lost Vegas, a spin-off of the zombie heist film that is in development at Netflix and will follow Kate and her fellow survivors at the start of the zombie outbreak. She will also be tackling the comedy horror genre and is set to star in The Scurry, a film by Craig Roberts that will chronicle the bloody rampage a gang of deranged squirrels go on as they wreak havoc on innocent pedestrians in a park. Fans of the charismatic actress have a lot to look forward to, as Purnell continues her fantastic takeover of the entertainment industry.