Lately, video game adaptations have been, as the kids say, slapping. What was once a trend of expensive, overhyped shows with diminishing returns has now become award-winners with shows like The Last of Us, Fallout, and Arcane. This shift can be attributed to solid scripts and direction that transcend mere reproductions of their predecessors and the star power behind these works, which has elevated the once-derogatory art form to unprecedented heights.
One such star, Ella Purnell, who has risen to prominence as Lucy MacLean in Prime Video’s Fallout and Jinx in Netflix’s Arcane TV shows, has stated that she does not want to be known simply as a “video game girl.” Speaking at a panel at London’s MCM x EGX (first reported by Popverse), Purnell candidly expressed that she doesn’t want to be limited to video game adaptations, even though she’s had great success with them.
“Here’s the truth, and I feel guilty saying this, but I’m not a gamer, and I don’t know how I’ve managed to land two video game adaptations that have both been good. I don’t know how that’s happened, but it has. I don’t know the answer,” Purnell said, regarding her status in gaming culture.
She continued: “I actually think I need to stay away from video game adaptations now, because I’m going to get typecast. I’m going to be the video game girl. There are worse things to be than that, I suppose.”
Purnell’s sentiment is entirely understandable, considering her acting career didn’t start when Arcane and Fallout premiered in 2021 and 2024, respectively. Her acting career dates back to 2010, and her non-video game in shows like Showtimes drama Yellowjackets and Starz’s thriller TV series Sweetpea showcase some of her best work. While Purnell seemed to see her status in gaming while not being a gamer as a demerit, she shouldn’t, considering Fallout co-star Walton Goggins famously didn’t play any of the games and still came out of the show as a fan-favorite character in the Ghoul.
“I never played the game. So when this kind of came my way, I didn’t want to play it ’cause I didn’t want to be influenced by whatever version of the Ghoul is in the games,” Goggins told GamesRadar+ in an April interview.
Ella Purnell, a double nominee for both @FalloutonPrime and @Arcaneshow, will join us live on Thursday night for #TheGameAwards
Don’t miss the free global livestream everywhere, starting at 7:30p ET / 4:30p PT / 12:30a GMT. pic.twitter.com/EjiMV9QmuT
— Geoff Keighley (@geoffkeighley) December 9, 2024
Regardless, Purnell’s soundbite couldn’t have come at a funnier moment in the grand scheme of things, considering Purnell is a shoo-in to win at the Game Awards tonight for best video game adaptation, with both Fallout and Arcane nominated. Moreover, Purnell is set to appear at the award show, too–hopefully, she won’t have anyone draw attention to her fair take as an actor in some drawn-out tight-five-esque comedy bit during the proceedings.
If all of this has you champing at the bit to know when Purnell’s following shows will be dropping, we’ve got you covered. Yellowjackets season 3 is slated to premiere on February 14. Likewise, Fallout season 2 is expected to release sometime in 2026 and, of course, Arcane is now streaming in its entirety on Netflix.
Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.
