It was difficult to imagine the charming Ella Purnell as a psychotic killer until her role in the Starz series Sweetpea. In this series, she plays Rhiannon Lewis, a girl often overlooked by others. Rhiannon manifests her suppressed rage by going on a killing spree against those who have wronged her. During an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Purnell discussed his approach to the role of a serial killer.

“I know that actors are never supposed to judge their characters, and I try very hard not to judge my character,” she said. The Yellowjackets star explained that she couldn’t justify murder or understand how people could take someone’s life, but she could understand her character’s need to be seen and heard.

“The feeling of being seen and having an impact. And what’s more permanent and more impactful than ending someone’s life? was something she used to play her character. Her character arc goes from wallflower to murderer to sexually and professionally responsible woman.

The actress opened up about playing different phases of her character and describing the gradual transition she went through. “It was very important to me to be able to make very, very subtle changes,” she said. “Each scene should represent one percent change or one percent growth. It’s growing so quickly in real time.

When asked if she would define Lewis based on her heinous activities or if there was something more to her, Purnell said she “struggled” to identify it. “I am a very, very empathetic person. I can get into anyone’s head and I can justify anything. And it’s difficult in a situation like this to do that,” she added. The actress focuses on her character’s emotional motivations to understand her actions.

Whatever happened to Lewis as a child, she carried through into adulthood and created a victim mentality, which Purnell found flawed. “Just because these horrible things happened to her doesn’t justify what she does – it makes you understand why she’s doing it,” she explained.