‘I didn’t know if I was going to live or die at the end of the day’: Ella Purnell (Lucy) recounts the physical filming of Fallout

The Fallout series version is finally available on Amazon Prime Video! During CANNESERIES Season 7, which took place from April 5 to 10, 2024, AlloCiné had the opportunity to speak with Ella Purnell (seen in Yellowjackets), who plays one of the main roles in this fiction (played by the actress Lucy) adapted from the cult. Video game of the same name.

At our microphone, the young woman who received the Rising Star Award from Madame Figaro during the festival spoke about this extraordinary and very physical experience as an actress…

AlloCiné: Did you play the game before you were in the “Fallout” series?

Ella Purnell: I played a bit and realized how difficult it is to adapt a video game into a TV series! They are completely different formats… What fans love about this game is that they can choose. We are the master of our own destiny: we can be the good guy, we can be the bad guy… it completely affects the trajectory of the game. And I think the series was able to convey that aspect thanks to our main characters. Take my character, we will find it new, as in level 1. Then there’s the pig… with a flight of several hours behind him (laughs) I hope to give the fans of the game what they want to love.

Are you afraid of their reactions?

Not today, it was more during filming. But since our director and his teams were fans themselves, that pushed me to join this project. Otherwise, I don’t know if I would have done it. I knew I could trust them. They really wanted to do justice to the source material, be authentic and pay attention to detail. It’s very important not to lose hope, I think. Thanks to them, I could focus on my character in a more creative way.

Did you train before the shooting?

I had a personal trainer and started working out. And I’m so glad I did! I suspected it would be heavy and I was not wrong. I needed confidence, not only on a stunt level, but also on a simple physical level to pull off this shoot. The days are long, working in extreme natural conditions, carrying all this gear over and over while running… the days are long! We traveled for a long time, we traveled to different locations, it is hard on the body. So glad I got fit before it started! (laughs)

You are sharing “Fallout” poster with famous and popular actors such as Kyle McLachlan or Walton Goggins. Was there pressure to answer them?

Instead, I felt exhilarated and inspired. I was also confident in the success of this cooperation. Who wouldn’t want to learn from these men that we have the chance to meet so closely? This is every actor’s dream! Seeing Walton perfect his character is incredible. He’s so loyal, generous…and terrifying as a pig! Learning from someone who gives of themselves every time is great!

How long did the shooting last and where did it take place?

This happened for about eight months. We shot in studios in New York and Utah. Some went to Los Angeles. We also went to Namibia… it was incredible, the desert was the most spectacular. I remember one day we took a helicopter, there were eight of us in total, and my make-up artist took care of us during the flight! Then, we land on a beach near a boat that no one has ever photographed, seen, or touched… we see it when Lucy walks out at the beginning. There we were shooting for two or three hours with ten seconds on the screen. But it was worth it! (laughs)

Was any scene in the series particularly challenging for you?

The moment when Lucy and the grunt meet for the second time and he uses her as bait. It was really a challenge for me during rehearsals and preparation, but I felt so alive shooting it, even though I didn’t know if I was going to live or die at the end of the day (laughs) J I was really completely submerged. I had to have a lot of faith in our stunt team. My hands were tied, it was dangerous. I was afraid to experience it and play at the same time. But in the end I liked it and had a great time.

In “Fallout” there is a lot of violence, as in the game, but also a very prominent intimate scene almost in the opening of the series. Were you comfortable with the idea of ​​shooting this type of graphic sequence?

I would say that Jonathan Nolan has been pushing your limits since the start of filming! I had the craziest and longest second day imaginable! I was shooting Lucy’s scene with him… “husband” so to speak (laughs) after their love scene, a scene of violence breaks out and the moment is disgusting… I did everything in one day with only 15 minutes of screen time! My biggest regret is that I didn’t warm up because I was so tired the next day (laughs)