Sweetpea's Ella Purnell Takes a Lie Detector Test

Is it stalking, is it just research? [laughs]

They're never gonna let me live this down.

The machine is detecting some deception.

[laughing] Oh no.

Don't think they should be murdered,

but like suffer at the hands of karma.

The lie detector said so, so.

It's so quiet in here.

[Interviewer] Ella, we've brought you here today

to take a lie detector test.

You'll be hooked up to the machine and asked questions.

Are you ready?

Yes.

[machine clicking and buzzing]

Can I put the tie on top?

[exhaling] I'm so hot.

I'm sweating.

[Interviewer] I'm gonna start

by asking you a few questions

to get a baseline for the machine.

Okay. Please answer honestly.

[laughing] Sorry.

I'm ready.

[Interviewer] Is your name Ella Summer Reed Purnell?

Yes.

[Interviewer] Are you from Whitechapel, London, England?

Yes.

[Interviewer] Are you ready to take

this lie detector test?

Yes.

[Interviewer] Are you nervous?

Yes.

The machine has been calibrated.

[Interviewer] Okie dokie.

Let's start with your life. Okay.

[Interviewer] Is it true you once gifted a friend

a personalized video from this person?

Oh, yes I did.

Yes.

[Interviewer] Do you feel like

you now owe Kyle MacLachlan a favor?

Yes, probably.

[Interviewer] Have you solicited other things

from your famous connections?

Probably.

More videos, birthday videos.

Shout-outs on Instagram.

Money for like funding for a short film.

Not just like money in my pocket.

Though I've probably done that too.

[Interviewer] Have you ever had an assistant

buy gifts on your behalf?

Yes.

[Interviewer] Did you feel bad about that?

No, 'cause I picked the gift.

I pick all the gifts.

I love giving presents.

I just had her like actually do the buying of the gift.

With my money, I didn't ask her to buy the gift.

This is why, this is, I'm getting nervous now.

[Interviewer] You must get a lot of swag at events.

Have you ever re-gifted one of the freebies?

Absolutely.

Yeah.

I can't have it all.

[Interviewer] Did you pretend you had bought it yourself?

Yes.

I just let them think.

I didn't ever specify that I didn't buy it,

so I guess that is lying, yeah.

She's being truthful.

[Interviewer] You've said that only one

out of your three brothers

was actually impressed that you booked Fallout.

Do you think your other two brothers

were just trying to play it cool?

No, I don't think they really knew what it was.

[Interviewer] Do you often do things to impress them?

No.

The machine is detecting some deception.

[laughing] Oh no.

They're never gonna let me live this down.

Fine, sometimes I try to impress my brothers,

'cause they bully me.

So sometimes I try to earn back some respect.

But it never works.

[Interviewer] Okay.

You're the oldest.

Would you say you're the favorite?

No.

Leon's the favorite.

Everyone knows that.

He's the youngest and he's really cute, so, it's fine.

She's being truthful.

He is the favorite.

[Interviewer] You said your brothers bully you,

but as the oldest, do you torture them?

No.

I would never.

Inconclusive.

[Ella laughing]

I don't.

It's subjective.

What is torture, you know?

[Ella exhales]

[Interviewer] The next category is pop culture.

[Ella] Okay.

[Interviewer] You have over 20 tattoos.

Is it fair to say you are obsessed with them?

Yeah.

[Interviewer] Are you an obsessive person?

Yes.

[Interviewer] Have you ever stalked someone?

No.

[Interviewer] Not even on social media?

Yeah, on social media.

I mean, everyone has.

Who hasn't?

Is it stalking, is it just research?

You know, it's all about how you frame it.

[Interviewer] Have you ever known something about someone

and pretended you didn't know it

when they told you about it?

Yes.

[Interviewer] Do you check your phone frequently

to see if someone finally texts you back?

Yes.

[Interviewer] Have you ever posted a picture

just to get someone's attention?

Yes. [laughs]

[Interviewer] Did it work?

Hell yeah, it did. [laughs]

[Interviewer] Good for you.

Thank you.

It's a proud moment.

[Interviewer] Ella, you've once said

that you would do anything for this person.

Aw.

[Interviewer] Do you still stand by that statement?

Yes.

Look at her.

Of course.

[Interviewer] Would you commit identity theft

if she asked you to?

Identity theft? [exhales]

No.

[Interviewer] What if you wouldn't get caught?

But identity theft is bad, I don't like breaking rules.

I don't like getting in trouble.

No, I don't, I think I'd be too scared.

[Interviewer] How about eating fish

if she made it for you?

No, sorry, Margot.

I hate fish. [laughs]

Since you're a huge fan, I'm sure you're aware

that she's working on a Sims movie.

You've already done several series based on video games.

Does that make you a perfect fit for this movie?

Yes?

Truthful.

Now they have to hire me.

The lie detector said so, so.

[Interviewer] You said you were starstruck

when you met this person.

Oh yeah.

[Interviewer] On the set of Miss Peregrine.

Was she as great in person as you hoped she'd be?

Yes.

[Interviewer] Has someone ever not been great in person?

Yes.

[Interviewer] Wanna tell us who?

No. [laughs]

[Interviewer] Have you ever been

mistaken for someone else?

Mm hm, yes, I have.

So many times.

[Interviewer] Did you go along with it?

No, I don't like getting into trouble.

What if they caught me?

I couldn't.

[Interviewer] Next category is your career.

You got a tattoo based on the one

your Sweetbitter character has.

Does that make you a method actor?

No.

[Interviewer] Do you think method actors

take themselves too seriously?

No.

[Interviewer] Did you waitress at a real restaurant

to prepare for the role?

No.

[Interviewer] Do you think that's doing too much?

No.

[Interviewer] Would you ever stop showering for a role?

Um [sighs].

Yeah?

If I had to.

I'd do it for like a week.

For the people around me, I wouldn't wanna,

I'd probably wanna cap it at two weeks. [laughs]

She's being truthful.

[Interviewer] Would you ever isolate yourself

in the wilderness for a role?

No.

[Interviewer] What about get body piercings?

Yeah.

[Interviewer] You starred in the show Sweetbitter,

and now you're in the show Sweetpea.

Do you have an obsession with being considered sweet?

Um, no?

Do I?

The machine is picking up some deception.

Oh no.

Yes?

Looks like you're being a little more truthful now.

[Interviewer] Would you say all actors

are obsessed with being liked?

Probably.

I feel like most people, not obsessed.

Hang on, I'm making it too complicated.

I'm an overthinker.

This is a terrible, this is a terrible game for me.

I'm gonna say no.

No.

No, I don't think actors are obsessed with

being sweet, or liked.

[Interviewer] Do you wanna be liked?

Yeah, I think everybody wants to be liked.

But equally I'm okay with not being liked.

You're being truthful.

Okay, good.

[Interviewer] In your new sweet series, Sweetpea,

you play a serial killer

who murders people that annoy you.

Do you relate to this character trait?

No, I don't murder people.

[laughing] Imagine that's how everyone found out

I actually just kill people.

No.

[Interviewer] So you think annoying people should die?

I don't think they should be murdered,

but like suffer at the hands of karma.

Sure.

[Interviewer] Do you think people who ask

a lot of questions are annoying?

Yes.

[Interviewer] Should I be worried?

No.

[Interviewer] Are loud eaters annoying?

Yeah.

[Interviewer] What about people who talk during movies?

Yes, definitely.

Those are the worst people.

They should stop talking. [laughs]

[Interviewer] Your character is committing crimes

she'd obviously like to keep hidden.

Do you think your character could be stopped by this person?

[Ella laughs]

No.

No, he's not very good.

[Interviewer] What about this person?

Oh.

No, he's a man.

[Interviewer] How about this person?

No, 'cause he's a cartoon. [laughs]

[Interviewer] You play Jinx Powder in Arcane,

which is based on the video game League of Legends.

You said in the past you never played the game.

Have you now? No.

[Interviewer] Do you feel like you didn't need to play

because it's a voiceover role?

No, I would've liked to have played,

but they told me not to.

But did I feel like I didn't need to play?

No.

I feel like I probably should have played.

But I didn't.

She's being truthful.

[Interviewer] Okay, final question.

Did you lie at any point during this lie detector test

and we didn't catch you?

No.

No, I didn't, I promise.

That is the truth.

Too scared of getting caught. [laughing]

[dynamic music]