The TV show starring Ella Purnell that sent her career into overdrive isFallout, Amazon Prime Video’s bold and bloody adaptation of the iconic video game franchise - though this is far from her first (or only) role. Set in a retro-futuristic post-apocalypse,Falloutfollows a cast of survivors navigating a world ravaged by nuclear war. Purnell leads the cast as Lucy MacLean, a sheltered Vault Dweller whose wide-eyed optimism is slowly shattered by the horrors of the Wasteland. It’s a complex, physically demanding role, and Purnell gives it everything she’s got. Her portrayal is charismatic, layered, and quietly heartbreaking, further cementing her as one of the most compelling young actors working in TV today.
However, whileleading theFalloutcasthas been many fans' introduction to Purnell’s talents, it’s far from the first time she’s turned in a performance that feels raw, relatable, and impossible to ignore. Back in 2018, Ella Purnell starred in a vastly overlooked Starz series that sadly flew under the radar. LikeFallout, it gave her a central role that leaned into her ability to capture vulnerability, ambition, and inner conflict, all wrapped up in a fish-out-of-water premise. The show didn’t make many waves when it premiered, but Ella Purnell’s performance inSweetbitterremains one of her absolute best.
Ella Purnell Shines In The Restaurant Drama, Sweetbitter
Before she was navigating radiation and raiders inFallout, the TV show starring Ella Purnell that reallyput her range on display wasSweetbitter, a stylish, sensual drama from Starz. Based on the bestselling novel by Stephanie Danler,Sweetbitterpremiered in 2018 and ran for two seasons. It followed the chaotic, intoxicating world of high-end dining through the eyes of a newcomer, making it the perfect stage for Purnell’s talent.
Purnell delivers a performance that’s both wide-eyed and quietly devastating.
InSweetbitter,Ella Purnell played Tess, a 22-year-old who spontaneously moves to New York Cityand lands a job as a backwaiter at one of the city’s most exclusive restaurants. As Tess learns the ropes, she’s swept into a whirlwind of late nights, complex relationships, and the cutthroat realities of fine dining. The show blends coming-of-age drama with food-centric sensuality, and Purnell delivers a performance that’s both wide-eyed and quietly devastating.
It’s a very different settingfrom the wasteland ofFallout, but the emotional stakes are just as high. Tess is trying to figure out who she is, what she wants, and how to survive in a world that chews people up and spits them out (all of which should sound familiar to fans of theFalloutTV show). Ella Purnell captures all of this with quiet intensity, makingSweetbittera must-watch for fans of her work inFallout.
Purnell Excels At Playing Fish-Out-Of-Water Characters
Her Characters In Fallout, Sweetbitter, And Yellowjackets All Share A Common Theme
One of the defining strengths of anyTV show starring Ella Purnell, whether it’sFallout,Yellowjackets, orSweetbitter, is how well she embodies the experience of being completely out of one’s depth. Purnell’s characters often start as outsiders - naïve, displaced, or simply unprepared - and the story becomes about how they adapt (or don’t) to their new surroundings. This recurring motif is a major part of why her performances feel so grounded and compelling.
InSweetbitter, Tess arrives in New York City with no job, no connections, and no clear plan. She’s immediately plunged into the high-stakes world of fine dining, where everything from the wine list to the unwritten rules of staff dynamics is alien to her. Watching her fumble through her first shifts, misread social cues, and slowly find her footing is equal parts frustrating and mesmerizing, andPurnell never once plays her as clueless.Instead, Tess feels authentic: a young woman trying to stay afloat in a city that doesn’t slow down for anyone.
Once again, Purnell taps into that emotional isolation and disorientation
This fish-out-of-water dynamicis echoed inFallout, where Purnell’s Lucy emerges from the safety of Vault 33 into a brutal, irradiated world she was never meant to survive in. Her hopeful, almost childlike demeanor clashes hard with the Wasteland’s cynical brutality.Like Tess, Lucy learns fast, and it’s that rapid, often painful growth that makes both characters resonate. Purnell plays them with a mix of innocence, grit, and desperation that feels utterly human.
The theme continues inYellowjackets, wherePurnell played Jackie Taylor, a high school queen bee stranded in the wilderness after a plane crash. While Jackie isn’t naïve in the same way Tess or Lucy are, she’s definitely out of her element, and her inability to adapt ultimately becomes her downfall. Once again, Purnell taps into that emotional isolation and disorientation with a performance that’s both commanding and tragic.
Across all three shows, it’s clear thatno one plays a displaced soul quite like Ella Purnell.Whether she’s wielding a shotgun, serving foie gras, or freezing in the Canadian woods, she brings an empathy and intensity that elevates every scene she’s in.
Why Sweetbitter Is Worth Watching Despite Its Low Rotten Tomatoes Score
The Audience Score Tells A Very Different Story Than The Critics Did
Despite Ella Purnell’s magnetic lead performance,Sweetbitternever really found its footing with critics. The 2018TV show starring Ella Purnellcurrently holds a middling 58% critical score onRotten Tomatoes, with reviewers often divided on its tone, pacing, and narrative focus. Some dismissed it as style over substance, while others felt it didn’t live up to the potential of its literary source material. Look a little closer, however, and the story isn’t quite so simple.
For many,Sweetbitterbecame a quiet gem: imperfect, but undeniably compelling.
The89% audience score on Rotten Tomatoespaints a far more positive picture. Fans praisedSweetbitterfor its immersive atmosphere, character-driven storytelling, and especially Purnell’s nuanced performance as Tess. Viewers connected with the emotional honesty of her journey - her confusion, loneliness, and slow self-discovery. For many,Sweetbitterbecame a quiet gem: imperfect, but undeniably compelling.
In hindsight,Sweetbittermay have arrived at an awkward time.Premiering in the middle of the explosion of prestige TV (especially in the world of streaming), it didn’t have the built-in franchise appeal or buzzworthy hooks of other series. Now though, withPurnell earning praise for her roles inFalloutandYellowjackets, there’s no better time to revisit (or discover) this overlooked entry in her filmography.
Like Lucy inFallout, Tess inSweetbitteris navigating a dangerous new world, and Purnell brings the same depth and subtlety to both roles. If you loved watching her transformation in the TV show starring Ella Purnell that’s still making waves on Prime Video, you owe it to yourself to watch her earlier - and equally mesmerizing - work inSweetbitter.
Fallout
Cast
Set 200 years after an apocalypse, Fallout follows residents of luxury shelters as they re-enter a post-nuclear world. Confronted with a bizarre and violent landscape, the series explores the stark contrasts between their sheltered existence and the harsh realities of the outside universe.
Sweetbitter
Sweetbitter is a drama series based on the novel by Stephanie Danler. The show follows Tess, a young woman who moves to New York City in 2006 and begins working at one of the city’s most prestigious restaurants. As she navigates the fast-paced and chaotic environment, she experiences a crash course in fine dining, toxic relationships, and self-discovery. The series stars Ella Purnell in the lead role.
