Honestly, if you've been watching Fallout on Amazon Prime, you've probably spent at least ten minutes wondering how Lucy MacLean—played by the brilliant Ella Purnell—manages to look both tiny and absolutely towering at the same time. It’s a weird visual trick of the camera. One minute she’s staring up at a massive Power Armor suit, looking like she’s about five feet flat, and the next, she’s dominating a scene with such high-energy screen presence that you’d swear she’s a long-limbed runway model.
So, let’s just get the numbers out of the way before we dive into the "why" of it all. Ella Purnell stands at 5 feet 4 inches tall, which is roughly 163 centimeters.
In the world of Hollywood, where leading men are often pressured to be 6-foot-plus and leading ladies are frequently cast to look "willowy," Purnell sits right in the middle. She is basically the definition of "average height" for a woman in the UK or the US. Yet, there is a persistent internet debate about whether she’s actually shorter—or much taller—than that 5'4" mark.
Why her height is such a hot topic in 2026
You might think height is just a boring stat, but for fans of Yellowjackets or Arcane, it’s actually become a bit of a meme. Purnell has what people online call "tall girl energy." It’s that vibe where someone’s proportions or their posture makes them seem like they have much more verticality than they actually do.
On Reddit forums like r/Kibbe, fans obsessively analyze her "vertical line." Because she has relatively long limbs and a very slim frame, she often gives the illusion of being 5'7" or 5'8" in solo shots. Then, she stands next to someone like her Yellowjackets co-star Courtney Eaton, who is a solid 5'10", and the reality check hits.
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The Fallout effect
The height discourse peaked with the release of Fallout. In the show, the physical contrast is a huge part of the storytelling. You have Ella (5'4") interacting with Aaron Moten (Maximus), who is about 5'11", and of course, the various actors and stunt performers in the T-60 Power Armor, which stands well over 7 feet tall.
When you see her Lucy MacLean character—this optimistic, slightly sheltered Vault Dweller—scrambling through the Wasteland, her height makes her look like an underdog. It’s a classic cinematic technique. If she were 6 feet tall, she’d look like a conqueror. At 5'4", she looks like a survivor. It’s that "scrappy" quality that makes her so likable.
Putting the 5'4" frame in perspective
To really get a sense of how tall is Ella Purnell, you have to look at her next to the people she actually works with. Most "official" heights in Hollywood are, let's be real, slightly inflated. However, Purnell’s 5'4" seems to be one of the most honest numbers in the industry.
- Sophie Nélisse (Shauna in Yellowjackets): Sophie is roughly 5'3". When you see Jackie and Shauna together, Ella has a very slight edge, or they look nearly identical in height.
- Walton Goggins (The Ghoul): He’s about 5'10". In their scenes together in Fallout, the 6-inch difference is exactly what you’d expect—she reaches just about to his shoulder or chin depending on the boots she’s wearing.
- Angelina Jolie: Ella played the young version of Jolie in Maleficent. Jolie is about 5'7". The casting worked because they share those incredibly striking facial features (the eyes, the lips), but Ella’s compact frame helped sell the idea of a younger, developing version of the character.
The "Big Eyes" and body proportions
It’s impossible to talk about Ella’s height and presence without mentioning her eyes. She’s joked about it herself in interviews, acknowledging that her "Disney-fied" features often distract people from her actual physical stature.
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Because her eyes are so large and expressive, the camera tends to stay tight on her face. When a director uses a lot of close-ups, you lose the sense of scale. You aren't thinking about how many inches she is from the ground; you're just focused on the performance. This is why many people are shocked when they see her in person at conventions like MegaCon or on a red carpet—they expect a "larger" person because her performance is so big.
Style and footwear
If you follow her red carpet style, Ella is a master of the "height hack." She often goes for:
- High-waisted silhouettes: This elongates the legs and makes a 5'4" frame look much longer.
- Monochromatic looks: Wearing one color from head to toe prevents the "chopping" effect that can make shorter people look smaller.
- Platform boots: Especially lately, leaning into the "post-apocalyptic chic" or "90s grunge" aesthetic, she’s rarely seen in flat shoes. A 2-inch platform instantly bumps her up to the 5'6" range, which is why she never looks "short" next to average-height men.
What this means for her career
Being 5'4" is actually a huge advantage for a character actress. It makes her versatile. She can play the "girl next door," the "vulnerable survivor," or the "hidden powerhouse."
Think about her role as Jinx in Arcane. Even though that’s voice acting, the character’s design is based on that same lithe, slightly bird-like energy Ella has. Jinx isn't a bruiser like her sister Vi; she’s fast, chaotic, and uses her size to her advantage. Ella brings that same physical energy to her live-action roles.
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There’s a common misconception that you need to be tall to be an "action star." Ella Purnell is effectively dismantling that. Whether she’s fighting off zombies in Army of the Dead or navigating the radiated ruins of California, she proves that 5'4" is plenty of height to lead a billion-dollar franchise.
Final verdict on the height debate
The internet might keep guessing, but the data is pretty clear. Ella Purnell is 5'4". She isn't a "tiny" actress, but she isn't a "tall" one either. She is right in that sweet spot where she can be whoever the role needs her to be.
If you're trying to compare yourself to her or just settling a bet with a friend, just remember that screen presence has nothing to do with inches. If Lucy MacLean can take on the Wasteland at 5'4", you can probably handle whatever your day throws at you.
If you're interested in how Ella’s physical presence translates to her different roles, the best thing to do is watch Fallout and Yellowjackets back-to-back. Notice how she uses her posture—slumping to look smaller and more teenage-like as Jackie, or standing rigid and "Vault-perfect" as Lucy. It’s a masterclass in how to use a 5'4" frame to tell two completely different stories.