Last updated on: February 28th, 2025
Ella Purnell Biography – An English actress who started acting at the age of nine!
Family Background of Ella Purnell:
Ella Purnell is an English actress born on September 17, 1996, in Tower Hamlets, London. Her mother, Suzy Purnell, is a Yoga teacher. And her father, Simon Reid, is a businessman.
However, both her parents separated after she was born. Her mom then married Jon Squirrell, who owns a gym named The Vault Gym in London.
Also, her father started his new family with Isabelle. From her father’s second marriage, Purnell has three younger half brothers named Noa, Enzo, and Leon Reid.
Although she grew up with her mom and step-dad, she is still close to her father and his new family.
Education:
She did her schooling at Forest School and City of London School for Girls in London. Later, she also attended Young Actors Theatre Islington (YATI).
Apart from that, she has studied acting, dancing, and singing at Sylvia Young Theatre School.
Ella Purnell Boyfriend, Height, Age & Bio:
| Ella Purnell’s Profile | |
|---|---|
| Personal Life | |
| Full Name | Ella Summer Purnell |
| Nickname | Not known |
| Date of Birth | September 17, 1996 |
| Age | 28 years 7 months (in April, 2025) |
| Nationality | British |
| Religion | Christianity |
| Zodiac/Sun Sign | Virgo |
| Birth Place | Tower Hamlets, London |
| Education | Forest School, London. City of London School for Girls, London. |
| Physical Stats | |
| Height (approx) | 5ft.3″ (1.63 m) (163 cm) |
| Weight | Not known |
| Hair Color | Brown |
| Eye Color | Brown |
| Family & Relationships | |
| Father | Simon Reid Jon Squirrell (step-dad) |
| Mother | Suzy Purnell Isabelle (step-mom) |
| Siblings | 3 half-brothers (Enzo, Noa, and Leon Reid) |
| Marital Status | Unmarried |
| Boyfriend | Max Bennett Kelly |
| Career | |
| Profession | Actress |
| TV Debut | Cyberbully |
| Movie Debut | Never Let Me Go |
Ella Purnell Relationships:
In 2015, she began dating her “Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children” co-star, Asa Butterfield, and their relationship lasted until 2016.
Later, in 2019, she was linked to Canadian actor Rob Raco; however, they parted ways in 2020.
After that, since January 2022, Ella has been in a relationship with musician Max Bennett Kelly, whom she referred to as her life partner by June 2022.
However, in 2024, both of them archived or deleted their posts related to each other on Instagram, and they haven’t been seen together in public after a few incidents that year.
This has led to speculation about whether they have broken up or simply chosen to keep their relationship private.
Purnell’s Movies Career:
She started acting at the age of nine only. She did her first act in the music play titled “Oliver” after joining Sylvia Young Theatre.
After a great start in theatre, Purnell did her first movie, aged 14, as a young version of Keira Knightley in “Never Let Me Go” in the year 2010. The same year, she appeared in her second movie called” Ways to Live Forever”.
In 2011, she first appeared in the American horror drama “Intruders” as Mia; and later starred in an English short film named “Candy” with Luke Allen-Gale and Ben Chamberlain. She then appeared in a concise role in “Kick-Ass 2”.
Later, in 2014, Ella Purnell portrayed the young version of the main character Maleficent (played by Angelina Jolie) in the movie of the same name. The same year, she featured (as a lead role) in “Wildlike” with Bruce Greenwood and Brian Geraghty.
In 2016, she appeared in “The Journey Is the Destination” as Amy Eldon. Then, she starred in “Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children” as one of the main characters, including actors like Eva Green, Chris O’Dowd, and Asa Butterfield.
Subsequently, in 2017, Ella starred in a British drama titled “Churchill,” where she played the role of Helen Garrett. The same year, she appeared in “Access All Areas” as Mia.
In 2018, she was cast in “UFO” (a Hollywood sci-fi movie) as the main character with Alex Sharp, Gillian Anderson, and David Strathairn.
Three years later, in 2021, she starred in “Army of the Dead,” a Netflix movie based on the theme of zombie heist, with actor and former wrestler Dave Bautista.
Television Career:
Purnell made her TV debut in 2015 with the British show called “Cyberbully”. She portrayed the character of Megan Turner in the show with Maisie Williams, who played the lead role.
Later, in 2018, she appeared in BBC’s mini-series titled “Ordeal by Innocence”. Then, Ella played the lead role in “Sweetbitter” (seasons 1 and 2). She starred in the series with the likes of Tom Sturridge, Caitlin FitzGerald, and Evan Jonigkeit.
In 2020, she appeared in “Belgravia,” a historically themed show based on a novel of the same name. Then, in 2021, she appeared in the Netflix series called “Army of the Dead: Lost Vegas”.
In 2021, she took on the role of Jackie in the thrilling series “Yellowjackets,” which continues to captivate audiences. She is one of the main cast of the show, including Sophie Nélisse, Peter Gadiot, Sammi Hanratty, Keeya King, and Courtney Eaton.
Additionally, she lent her voice to the character Gwyn in the animated series “Star Trek: Prodigy” starting that same year. Her vocal talents further shone as Jinx in Netflix’s “Arcane” from 2021 to 2024.
In 2024, Purnell’s career reached new heights with her portrayal of Lucy MacLean in Amazon Prime Video’s “Fallout,” a post-apocalyptic drama series.
Moreover, Purnell took on a dual role as the lead actress and executive producer in the dark comedy series “Sweetpea,” which premiered in October 2024. The series received critical acclaim for its unique blend of dark humor and drama.
Facts about Ella Purnell:
- She’s associated with a charity called YoungMinds, which works for the mental health of young people.
- She has played the body-double of the young version of Jane Clayton in The Legend of Tarzan.
- She doesn’t like romantic movies.
- She has inked several tattoos on her body.
- Her style icon is a Barbadian singer and actress Rihanna.
- She had worked in a pub in England.
- In 2015, she won the Best Actress Award for “Wildlike” at various International Film Festivals.
Frequently asked questions on Google:
- What is the height of Ella Purnell?
5ft. 3″ (1.63 m or 163 cm)
- What is the age of Purnell?
28 years 7 months (in April, 2025)
- Who is the partner of Ella Purnell?
She is dating musician Max Bennett Kelly.
- What is the net worth of Purnell?
Not known
Social Media Accounts:
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