If you’ve spent any time on the internet in the last few years, you’ve probably seen her. Maybe she was wearing a corset. Maybe she was covered in zombie blood. Or maybe she was just being effortlessly cool on a New York sidewalk. Ella Hunt is one of those actresses who feels like she’s everywhere and nowhere all at once. She doesn’t just "play" roles; she sort of haunts them.
Honestly, it’s rare to find an actor who can jump from a low-budget Scottish zombie musical to a high-profile Kevin Costner Western without breaking a sweat. Most people know her as Sue Gilbert from Dickinson, but her filmography is a weird, wonderful mix of period drama, indie horror, and high-stakes comedy. Let’s get into the stuff that actually makes her worth following.
The Dickinson Effect: More Than Just a Period Piece
We have to start with Dickinson. If you haven't seen it on Apple TV+, you’re basically missing out on the most chaotic, beautiful, and modern take on the 19th century ever made. Ella Hunt plays Sue Gilbert, and let me tell you, the chemistry between her and Hailee Steinfeld’s Emily Dickinson is the literal heart of the show.
People often think period dramas are just people sitting in drawing rooms drinking tea. Not this one. Ella’s Sue is complicated. She’s grieving, she’s ambitious, and she’s deeply in love with a woman she technically can’t be with because, well, the 1850s were a mess.
What’s wild is how Ella handles Sue’s evolution. In Season 1, she’s the "poor orphan" archetype. By Season 3, she’s this fierce, intellectual powerhouse. If you want to see a masterclass in "acting with your eyes," watch the scenes where Sue is just watching Emily. It’s heavy.
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The Zombie Musical You Didn’t Know You Needed
Before she was a literary muse, she was Anna. Specifically, the titular character in Anna and the Apocalypse.
Look, the pitch sounds ridiculous: "It’s High School Musical meets Shaun of the Dead set at Christmas." I know. It sounds like it shouldn't work. But it does, mostly because Ella Hunt treats the material like it’s Shakespeare.
She’s out here singing pop-rock anthems while decapitating zombies with a giant candy cane. It’s fun, sure, but she also nails the genuine "end of the world" dread. She actually got a Scottish BAFTA nomination for this, which is a big deal for a movie about singing undead people. It’s become a cult classic for a reason.
From Gilda Radner to the Wild West
Fast forward to 2024 and 2025, and things got really interesting. Ella took on the role of Gilda Radner in Saturday Night. Playing a comedy legend is basically a suicide mission for most actors—the fans are protective, and the expectations are through the roof.
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But she didn't just do an impression. She caught that specific, wiggly, manic energy Gilda had. She spent months obsessing over old SNL clips and documentaries like Love, Gilda.
Then there’s Horizon: An American Saga. Going from the frantic energy of 1970s New York to Kevin Costner’s massive Western landscape is a huge pivot. She plays Juliette Chesney, and it’s a much more grounded, gritty performance than we’re used to seeing from her. It proves she can handle the "big screen" weight of a blockbuster just as well as the intimacy of a TV set.
Every Major Ella Hunt Movie and TV Show (The Quick List)
If you're trying to catch up, here is the roadmap of her career so far. No fluff, just the facts.
- Intruders (2011): Her first professional gig. A horror movie with Clive Owen. She was just a kid here, but you can see the potential.
- Les Misérables (2012): Look closely at the ensemble "Turning Women." She’s in there. It was a massive production for a young actress to be part of.
- Robot Overlords (2014): A sci-fi indie where she plays Alexandra. It’s got Ben Kingsley and Gillian Anderson, which is a pretty cool flex for a teenager.
- Cold Feet (2016-2017): This was her big break on UK television. She played Ellie Marsden and really started to get noticed by the home crowd.
- Endeavour (2017): A quick guest spot as Emma Carr in this classic detective series.
- Anna and the Apocalypse (2017): The zombie musical. This is the one that changed everything.
- Summer Night (2019): An indie coming-of-age movie. It’s a bit of a slow burn, but she’s great in it.
- Dickinson (2019-2021): Her definitive TV role. All three seasons are essential viewing.
- Kat and the Band (2020): She plays a teen who fakes being a band manager. It’s light, musical, and charming.
- Master (2022): A psychological horror film on Prime Video. She plays Cressida. It’s dark and deals with some heavy themes about race and academia.
- Lady Chatterley’s Lover (2022): She plays Mrs. Flint in the Netflix adaptation. Small role, but she makes an impression.
- Horizon: An American Saga (2024): Chapters 1 and 2. High-budget Western drama.
- Saturday Night (2024): Playing the iconic Gilda Radner.
Why She’s Actually Different
The thing about Ella is that she isn't just an actress. She's a singer-songwriter too. She released a trilogy of EPs called Triptych, Motel Blues, and Fair Weather Lover. In 2025, she even started directing her own music videos, like for the track "Subway Trash."
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That musicality bleeds into her acting. There’s a rhythm to how she speaks and moves. She’s also been incredibly open about her personal life, coming out as queer in 2021 and sharing updates about her life in Brooklyn.
At the end of 2025, she mentioned on Instagram that she’d spent the year "planning a wedding" and "finishing a record." She’s building a career that feels very "her," rather than just following a Hollywood blueprint.
What’s Next for Ella Hunt?
As we move through 2026, the buzz isn't slowing down. With rumors of new music on the horizon and her name being floated for more prestige TV, she’s in that sweet spot where she can pick and choose her projects.
If you want to dive in, start with Dickinson for the heart, Anna and the Apocalypse for the fun, and Saturday Night to see her range. She’s one of those rare performers who feels like she’s just getting started, even though she’s been working for over a decade.
Your Next Steps:
Check out her Triptych EP on Spotify to hear the voice behind the characters, then head to Apple TV+ to see why everyone is still obsessed with Sue Gilbert. It's the best way to understand why she's currently one of the most interesting people in the industry.