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

Fallout series version is finally available on Amazon Prime Video! During season 7 of CANNESERIES 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 (the actress plays 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 “Fallout” before participating in the series?

Ella Purnell: I played it a bit and it made me realize how difficult it is to adapt a video game into a series! They are completely different formats… What fans love about this game is the fact that they can choose. We are the master of our destiny: we can be the good guy, we can be the bad guy… This completely affects the trajectory of the game. And I think the series succeeded in conveying this aspect thanks to our main characters. Take my character, we discover her fresh, like at level 1. Then, there is the ghoul… with a few hours of flight behind him (laughs) I hope that we give the fans of the game what they want like.

Do you fear their reactions?

Today no, it was more during filming. But as our director and his teams were fans themselves, it 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 the details. It’s very important so as not to disappoint, I think. Thanks to them, I could concentrate on my character in a way that was more creative.

Did you do any training before filming started?

I had a personal trainer and I started working out. And I’m so glad I did! I suspected it was going to be heavy and I was not wrong. I needed to have confidence, not just for the stunts but also on a simple physical level, to get through this shoot. The days are long, we work in settings with extreme natural conditions, we wear all this equipment while running again and again… The days are long! We toured for a long time, traveling to different locations, it’s hard on the body. So, I’m glad I became sporty before it started! (laughs)

You share the poster for “Fallout” with recognized and popular actors such as Kyle MacLachlan or Walton Goggins. Was it pressure for you to give them the answer?

Instead, I felt excitement and inspiration. I also had confidence in the success of this collaboration. Who wouldn’t want to learn from these men we have the chance to meet so closely? It’s every actor’s dream! Seeing Walton fully become his character is incredible. He is so committed, generous… and terrifying in the role of the ghoul! Being able to learn from someone who gives of themselves every time is so good!

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

This took place over about eight months. We shot in the studio 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 only eight of us, and my makeup artist was taking care of me during the flight! Then, we landed near a beached boat that no one had yet filmed, seen or touched… We see it when Lucy goes outside at the beginning. We shot there for two or three hours for ten seconds on screen. But it was worth it! (laughs)

Did any scene in the series represent a particular challenge for you?

The moment when Lucie and the ghoul 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 filming 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 totally submerged in water. I had to have a lot of confidence in our stunt team. My hands were tied, it was dangerous. I dreaded having to experience this and play at the same time. But I ultimately loved it and had a great time.

There is a lot of violence in “Fallout”, as in the game, but also a fairly explicit intimate scene almost at the opening of the series. Were you comfortable with the idea of ​​shooting this kind of graphic sequences?

I would say that Jonathan Nolan [le réalisateur et producteur délégué, ndlr] push your limits from the start of filming! I had the craziest and longest second day you could imagine! I was shooting Lucy’s scene with her… “husband”, let’s put it that way (laughs) After their love scene, a scene of violence breaks out and this moment is gory… I did everything that in one day, that only represented 15 minutes of screen time! My biggest regret is not having warmed up because I was very tired the next day (laughs)