Ella Purnell on Lucy’s Gritty Transformation in Fallout Season 2

Ella Purnell found it much easier to step back into Lucy ’s shoes for the second season of Fallout. The character, once defined by her wide-eyed innocence, has grown into someone far more grounded and relatable.

“It sort of felt like a more neutral starting point for me,”

Purnell shares.

“Season 1, I had to sort of really tap into an innocence, and a childishness, and a vulnerability that comes from inexperience, and being literally sheltered. She’s a newborn baby or an alien that’s just landed on Earth, and she’s never experienced anything. And there’s some big reaches to be had for that. It’s much harder to relate to that.”

From Naive Vault Dweller to Hardened Survivor

When viewers first met Lucy, she was a hopeful vault resident who had never set foot outside. Her world was turned upside down when her new husband revealed himself as a surface raider, forcing her to fight back in her wedding dress and leave the only home she’d ever known to rescue her father, Hank. The harsh reality of the Wasteland hit her fast—post-apocalyptic America was nothing like the safe haven she’d grown up in.

By the time the second season rolls around, Lucy has become adept at surviving in this dangerous environment. She’s lost much of her patience for those who cross her, but she hasn’t lost her core optimism.

“This time around, I was going into, yes, she’s still optimistic, believes in the golden rule, believes in people’s inherent goodness, but she has been battered and bruised by this world and still chooses to believe in good. That feels much more similar to the human experience: just like being an adult who has to wake up every day and survive. So that was somewhat slightly easier.”

Facing New Threats and Old Wounds

Season 2 sees Lucy willingly teaming up with the Ghoul to track down her father and bring him to justice. Instead of being crushed by the revelation that Hank is a villain, she pushes forward, journeying into New Vegas where fresh dangers and unexpected challenges await. Fans can expect to see deathclaws, legions, flea soup, and some wildly misunderstood history. From the very first episode, it’s clear just how much Lucy has changed—and how much stronger she’s become.

Purnell notes that this new version of Lucy is more complex, with layers of emotion simmering beneath the surface.

“But with that, because it’s more, I suppose, relatable, it then becomes more complex, because there’s all of these emotions underneath,”

she explains.

“There’s so much to unpack underneath and so many choices that you have to make every single day. The choice to continue to believe in goodness when you’ve been shown again and again how evil people can be, that’s real strength. And that doesn’t come from nothing, you know? That has to be really sought and found.”

Lucy’s Enduring Hope in a Broken World

Fallout’s second season premieres on Prime Video December 17. As Lucy’s journey continues, her resilience and hope stand out against the bleakness of the Wasteland, making her story all the more compelling for fans old and new.