Ella Purnell, born Ella Summer Purnell on September 17, 1996, is a talented English actress celebrated for her diverse performances in both film and television. She gained prominence with roles in movies like Never Let Me Go (2010) and Maleficent (2014), as well as starring in the critically acclaimed TV series Yellowjackets (2021–present). Additionally, she has lent her voice to popular animated shows such as Arcane and Star Trek: Prodigy.
Profile Summary
| Full Name | Ella Summer Purnell |
| Date of Birth | 17 September 1996 |
| Place of Birth | Whitechapel, London, England |
| Nationality | British |
| Partner | Max Bennett Kelly (musician) |
| Occupations | Actress, Voice Actress, Executive Producer |
| Net Worth | Approximately $3 million |
Early Life and Education
Ella was born in Whitechapel, London, and raised in Bethnal Green. She attended several schools, including Bethnal Green Montessori, Forest School, and the City of London School for Girls. She also trained weekly at the Sylvia Young Theatre School, where she honed her skills in acting, singing, and dance.
After completing her A-Levels in Philosophy, English, Drama, and Music, Ella initially planned to attend university but chose to postpone her studies to focus on her acting career, particularly after being cast in Tim Burton’s Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children.
Career
Ella’s acting journey began on the West End stage as a child, with a notable role in Oliver! at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane in 2009. She made her film debut portraying the younger version of Keira Knightley’s character in Never Let Me Go (2010).
Over the years, she appeared in films such as Ways to Live Forever (2010), Intruders (2011), Kick-Ass 2 (2013), and Maleficent (2014). After a brief break, she returned to the screen with roles in Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children (2016) and Churchill (2017).
On television, she has starred in series including Ordeal by Innocence (2018), Sweetbitter (2018–2019), Belgravia (2020), and Yellowjackets (2021–present). She is also known for voicing Jinx in Arcane and Gwyn in Star Trek: Prodigy.
Recently, she expanded her career by taking on executive producer responsibilities for the series Sweetpea (2024).
Personal Life
Ella currently lives in Los Angeles and has three younger half-siblings. She was in a relationship with actor Asa Butterfield from 2015 to 2016. There have been rumors linking her romantically to Rob Raco and Brad Pitt, though these were not officially confirmed.
Presently, Ella Purnell is in a relationship with Max Bennett Kelly, who is a singer, songwriter, and actor. Their partnership became public in June 2022, and they have shown strong support for one another’s careers.
They even collaborated creatively on the short film Junk Male, which Kelly co-wrote, co-directed, and co-produced.
Ella has shared heartfelt sentiments about Max on social media, describing him as her anchor and highlighting his kindness and generosity. The couple often posts about their relationship online and splits their time between London and Los Angeles.
Net Worth
Ella Purnell’s estimated net worth is around $3 million, accumulated through her work in film, television, and voice acting.
Filmography
Elka Purnell has been on many projects, these are the selected few;
Films
- Never Let Me Go (2010)
- Ways to Live Forever (2010)
- Intruders (2011)
- Kick-Ass 2 (2013)
- Maleficent (2014)
- Wildlike (2014)
- Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children (2016)
- Churchill (2017)
- Army of the Dead (2021)
TV Series
- Ordeal by Innocence (2018)
- Sweetbitter (2018–2019)
- Belgravia (2020)
- Yellowjackets (2021–present)
- Arcane (voice, 2021–2024)
- Star Trek: Prodigy (voice, 2021–2024)
- Fallout (2024–present)
- Sweetpea (2024–present, also executive producer)
Awards and Nominations
- Winner of Best Actress at the Los Angeles Independent Film Festival, Gasparilla International Film Festival, Myrtle Beach International Film Festival, and Richmond International Film Festival for her performance in Wildlike (2014).
- Awarded Outstanding Achievement for Voice Acting in an Animated Television/Broadcast Production at the Annie Awards (2021) for her role as Jinx in Arcane.
- Honored with the Madame Figaro Rising Star Award at the 2024 Canneseries Festival.
