Ella Purnell on Not Watching Her Character’s Death in Yellowjackets and the Shock of Seeing Her Burnt Corpse

Ella Purnell, the actress known for her roles in the hit series Yellowjackets and the streaming adaptation of Fallout, has revealed why she has not yet watched the episode of Yellowjackets where her character, Jackie, meets a dramatic end. In an interview, Purnell explained that she is cautious about the potential impact on her mental health, stating, “I’m gonna tell you a secret: I actually haven’t watched that episode because I don’t know what it’s gonna do to my mental health. I don’t really want to risk it, so I haven’t seen it.”[5]

The overlap in filming schedules between Yellowjackets and Fallout also contributed to her surprise when she saw photos of her character’s burnt corpse. Purnell was deeply involved in the demanding schedule of Fallout and did not have the time to keep up with the scripts for Yellowjackets Season 2. This led to a surreal moment when she woke up to find pictures from her castmates taking selfies with a prop of her charred corpse. She described the experience as “weird” and “disconcerting,” comparing it to waking up in a state of confusion and uncertainty.

Purnell’s character, Jackie, became a pivotal part of the storyline in Yellowjackets when the surviving soccer team resorted to cannibalism. Despite knowing the plot twist was coming, the visual representation of her character’s death was still shocking for her. The actress also mentioned that even if she had been keeping up with the scripts, seeing her character’s dead body would have been quite off-putting.

As fans await the next seasons of both Fallout and Yellowjackets, Purnell’s experiences highlight the intense and sometimes unsettling nature of her roles in these series. Her performance in Fallout and the dramatic turn of events in Yellowjackets continue to captivate audiences and leave a lasting impression on the shows[5]).