Sweetpea's Ella Purnell Takes a Lie Detector Test

Vanity Fair

"Sweetpea" star Ella Purnell takes Vanity Fair's infamous lie detector test. Has Ella stalked someone on social media? Has she posted a picture just to get someone's attention? Would she really do anything for Margot Robbie? Would Ella ever isolate herself in the wilderness for a role?  Director: Funmi Sunmonu Director of Photography: Matt Kreuger Editor: Louis Lalire Talent: Ella Purnell Expert: Stephanie Jackson (lie detector operator) Producer: Emebeit Beyene Talent Booker: Lauren Mendoza Camera Operator: Osiris Nascimento  Audio Engineer: Justin Fox Production Assistant: Lauren Boucher Set Designer: Leah Water-Katz Post Production Supervisor: Christian Olguin Post Production Coordinator: Ian Bryant Supervising Editor: Doug Larsen Assistant Editor: Billy Ward

Transcript

00:00Is it stalking? Is it just research?

00:02They're never gonna let me live this down.

00:05The machine is detecting some deception.

00:08I don't think they should be murdered, but like, suffer at the hands of karma.

00:13The lie detector said so.

00:17It's so quiet in here.

00:18Ella, we've brought you here today to take a lie detector test.

00:22You will be hooked up to the machine and asked questions.

00:25Are you ready?

00:26Yes.

00:31Can I put the tie on top?

00:35Okay.

00:37I'm so hot. I'm sweating.

00:41I'm gonna start by asking you a few questions to get a baseline for the machine.

00:45Okay.

00:46Please answer honestly.

00:47Sorry.

00:49I'm ready.

00:50Is your name Ella Summer Reed Purnell?

00:53Yes.

00:54Are you from Whitechapel, London, England?

00:56Yes.

00:58Are you ready to take this lie detector test?

01:00Yes.

01:01Are you nervous?

01:02Yes.

01:04The machine has been calibrated.

01:05Okie dokie. Let's start with your life.

01:09Okay.

01:09Is it true you once gifted a friend a personalized video from this person?

01:14Ah, yes, I did. Yes.

01:17Do you feel like you now owe Kyle McLaughlin a favor?

01:21Yes, probably.

01:23Have you solicited other things from your famous connections?

01:27Probably.

01:29Uh, more videos.

01:32Birthday videos.

01:34Shoutouts on Instagram.

01:35Money.

01:37For, like, funding for a short film.

01:39Not just, like, money in my pocket.

01:41Though I've probably done that too.

01:43Have you ever had an assistant buy gifts on your behalf?

01:47Yes.

01:48Did you feel bad about that?

01:51No, because I picked the gift.

01:54I pick all the gifts. I love giving presents.

01:56I just had her, like, actually do the buying of the gift.

02:01With my money. I didn't ask her to buy the gift.

02:05This is why, this is... I get nervous now.

02:10You must get a lot of swag at events.

02:12Have you ever re-gifted one of the freebies?

02:15Absolutely.

02:17Yeah.

02:18I can't have it all.

02:21Did you pretend you had bought it yourself?

02:24Yes.

02:26I just let them think.

02:28I didn't ever specify that I didn't buy it.

02:32So I guess that is lying, yeah.

02:35She's being truthful.

02:37You've said that only one out of your three brothers was actually impressed that you booked Fallout.

02:42Do you think your other two brothers were just trying to play it cool?

02:46No.

02:47I don't think they really knew what it was.

02:50Do you often do things to impress them?

02:54No.

02:57The machine is detecting some deception.

03:00They're never going to let me live this down.

03:03Fine. Sometimes I try to impress my brothers.

03:05Because they bully me!

03:07So sometimes I try to earn back some respect.

03:09But it never works.

03:11Okay.

03:12You're the oldest. Would you say you're the favourite?

03:16No.

03:17Leon's the favourite.

03:19Everyone knows that.

03:20He's the youngest and he's really cute, so...

03:23It's fine.

03:25She's being truthful.

03:27He is the favourite.

03:28You said your brothers bully you.

03:30But as the oldest, do you torture them?

03:32No.

03:34I would never.

03:37Inconclusive.

03:43I don't.

03:45It's subjective.

03:47What is torture? You know?

03:54Phew!

03:56The next category is pop culture.

03:58Okay.

03:59You have over 20 tattoos.

04:01Is it fair to say you are obsessed with them?

04:04Yeah.

04:05Are you an obsessive person?

04:07Yes.

04:08Have you ever stalked someone?

04:11No.

04:12Not even on social media?

04:16Yeah, on social media.

04:17I mean, everyone has!

04:19Who hasn't?

04:20Is it stalking? Is it just research?

04:22You know, it's all about how you frame it.

04:26Have you ever known something about someone

04:28and pretended you didn't know it when they told you about it?

04:31Yes.

04:33Do you check your phone frequently

04:34to see if someone finally texts you back?

04:37Yes.

04:38Have you ever posted a picture

04:40just to get someone's attention?

04:42Yes.

04:43Did it work?

04:44Oh yeah, it did!

04:49Good for you.

04:52That was a proud moment.

04:56Ella, you've once said that you would do anything for this person.

05:00Aww.

05:02Do you still stand by that statement?

05:04Yes.

05:05Look at her.

05:07Of course.

05:08Would you commit identity theft if she asked you to?

05:11Identity theft?

05:14No.

05:15What if you wouldn't get caught?

05:18But identity theft is bad.

05:19I don't like breaking rules.

05:21I don't like getting in trouble.

05:23No, I think I'd be too scared.

05:25How about eating fish if she made it for you?

05:28No, sorry, Margot.

05:29I hate fish.

05:34Since you're a huge fan,

05:35I'm sure you're aware that she's working on a series

05:37that's going to be a big hit.

05:39Yes.

05:40Since you're a huge fan,

05:41I'm sure you're aware that she's working on a Sims movie.

05:44You've already done several series based on video games.

05:48Does that make you a perfect fit for this movie?

05:54Yes.

05:58Truthful.

06:00Now they have to hire me.

06:02The lie detector said so.

06:05You said you were starstruck when you met this person.

06:09Yeah.

06:10On the set of Miss Peregrine.

06:12Was she as great in person as you hoped she'd be?

06:15Yes.

06:17Has someone ever not been great in person?

06:20Yes.

06:22Want to tell us who?

06:23No.

06:26Have you ever been mistaken for someone else?

06:29Yes, I have.

06:31So many times.

06:32Did you go along with it?

06:33No.

06:34I don't like getting in trouble.

06:36What if they caught me?

06:37I couldn't.

06:39Next category is your career.

06:42You got a tattoo based on the one your Sweet Bitter character has.

06:46Does that make you a method actor?

06:48No.

06:50Do you think method actors take themselves too seriously?

06:54No.

06:56Did you waitress at a real restaurant to prepare for the role?

07:00No.

07:02Do you think that's doing too much?

07:04No.

07:06Would you ever stop showering for a role?

07:09Um...

07:13Yeah.

07:14If I had to.

07:15Do it for like a week.

07:17For the people around me, I probably wouldn't want to cap it at two weeks.

07:22She's being truthful.

07:24Would you ever isolate yourself in the wilderness for a role?

07:27No.

07:29What about get body piercings?

07:31Yeah.

07:33You starred in the show Sweet Bitter.

07:35And now you're in the show Sweet P.

07:37Do you have an obsession with being considered sweet?

07:42Uh...

07:44No.

07:47Do I?

07:48The machine is picking up some deception.

07:50Oh no.

07:51Um, yes.

07:53Looks like you're being a little more truthful now.

07:57Would you say all actors are obsessed with being liked?

08:00Um, probably.

08:02I feel like most people...

08:03Not obsessed.

08:04Hang on, I'm making it too complicated.

08:06I'm an over-thinker. This is a terrible...

08:07This is a terrible game for me.

08:09I'm gonna say no.

08:11No. No.

08:12I don't think actors are obsessed with being sweet.

08:14Or liked.

08:15Do you want to be liked?

08:16Yeah, I think everybody wants to be liked.

08:18But equally I'm okay with not being liked.

08:21You're being truthful.

08:22Okay, good.

08:24In your new sweet series, Sweet P,

08:27you play a serial killer who murders people that annoy you.

08:30Do you relate to this character trait?

08:33No.

08:34I don't murder people.

08:40Imagine that's how everyone found out I actually just kill people.

08:42No.

08:45So you think annoying people should die?

08:49I don't think they should be murdered, but like...

08:53Suffer at the hands of karma.

08:55Sure.

08:56Do you think people who ask a lot of questions are annoying?

09:00Yes.

09:02Should I be worried?

09:03No.

09:05Are loud eaters annoying?

09:08Yeah.

09:09What about people who talk during movies?

09:11Yes, definitely.

09:13Those are the worst people.

09:14They should stop talking.

09:18Your character is committing crimes she'd obviously like to keep hidden.

09:22Do you think your character could be stopped by this person?

09:28No.

09:30No.

09:31He's not very good.

09:33What about this person?

09:38No.

09:40He's a man.

09:41How about this person?

09:44No, because he's a cartoon.

09:47You play Jinx, Powder and Arcane,

09:50which is based on the video game League of Legends.

09:53You said in the past you never played the game.

09:55Have you now?

09:56No.

09:57Do you feel like you didn't need to play because it's a voiceover role?

10:01No, I would have liked to have played, but they told me not to.

10:05But did I feel like I don't need to play?

10:09No.

10:10I feel like I probably should have played.

10:13I didn't.

10:15She's being truthful.

10:17Okay.

10:18Final question.

10:20Did you lie at any point during this lie detector test and we didn't catch you?

10:24No.

10:26No, I didn't. I promise.

10:29That is the truth.

10:30Too scared of getting caught?

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