As she prepares to tackle her latest role in Sweetpea, Purnell reflects on the unexpected turns her career has taken. “I never would have imagined myself in this position a few years ago,” she admits. “But I’m grateful for the opportunities I’ve had to explore such complex and challenging characters.”
Despite her initial reservations about pursuing acting, Purnell has found a sense of fulfillment in immersing herself in these dark and twisted worlds. “It’s been a wild ride, and I’m still figuring it all out,” she says. “But I wouldn’t trade it for anything.”
And as for those children’s books she always dreamed of writing? Purnell smiles, “Maybe one day I’ll get around to it. But for now, I’m content with where I am and the stories I get to tell.”
Despite the intense and dark nature of the role, Purnell found ways to cope with the toll it took on her mental health. She prioritized self-care and made sure to take breaks and connect with friends to prevent herself from going down dark paths. She believes that no job is worth sacrificing your mental well-being for, and she took her mental health seriously throughout the filming process.
While the character of Rhiannon in Sweetpea is a complex and morally ambiguous figure, Purnell approached the role with empathy and a desire to understand her character’s motivations. She found it challenging to relate to Rhiannon’s actions, but through mental gymnastics, she was able to empathize with the character and bring her to life on screen.
Overall, Purnell’s experience working on Sweetpea was a rewarding and transformative one. Despite the darker themes of the show, she embraced the challenge of portraying a complex character and took pride in her role as an executive producer. The show may not have the same reach as her previous projects, but it allowed her to delve into a new level of creative involvement and explore different aspects of her craft. Al principio, ella no quería – “Es un poco embarazoso” – pero “después del primer minuto, cerré los ojos para no ver a nadie, y simplemente me lancé. Me quedé en blanco”. Al verlo de nuevo, “tuve que apartar la mirada porque era tan incómodo verme en ese estado”. Por primera vez en su carrera, había “perdido el 100% de mis inhibiciones, volviendo a esta versión muy cruda y animalística que probablemente reside en todos nosotros”.
Al final de Sweetpea, Rhiannon está en modo de vuelo completo o lucha ensangrentada: el espectáculo concluye con una escena tan perturbadora que no puedo soportar volver a verla (y es una que tengo estrictas instrucciones de no revelar). “Oh, no, es terrible. Me persigue”, llora Purnell, cubriéndose la cara con las manos cuando lo menciono (un gesto que repite cuando menciono un momento de Fallout que también está grabado en mis retinas). Puede que todavía esté afectada por todas las cosas que ha hecho en la pantalla, pero es un precio que vale la pena pagar: cuando se trata de mujeres difíciles y perturbadas, nadie supera a Ella Purnell.
Sweetpea está en Sky Atlantic, 10 de octubre, 9pm.