Quotes from Ella Purnell

At 9, I started taking classes at Sylvia Young Theatre School. One day, they asked if I wanted to join their agency. You get in if you're cute, I guess.

I think passion in a physical way goes hand in hand with taste and smell.

Social media can be so damaging.

Twenty is a hard time. It doesn't matter what profession you're in or how much experience you have, you're always going to be haunted by this feeling of failing. It's terrifying.

When I worked with Keira Knightley in 'Never Let Me Go,' I learned how to be classy and sophisticated.

It's very hard to not give in, to sell your soul: to flatter a more experienced male person of power, a producer or director, in order to get what you want. You feel a pressure to flutter your eyelashes and flirt because you know that will work, and I think it's admirable to not do that.

I did a bit of baby modeling. I loved it.

When you're growing up, the most important thing is to try to not change yourself too much. Be you, because everyone else is taken.

I love movies where you can tell who's directed it even before the credits roll in, like Wes Anderson or Quentin Tarantino. People who make very stylized types of film.

I can do a really good animal impression! I'm great at ducks, cats, dogs, and occasionally dolphins.

Keira Knightley remains one of my mentors. I absolutely love her and will turn to her for industry advice or reassurance or validation at any time. She is very classy and elegant and lovely. I have a bit of a woman-crush on Keira.

All women are strong, and we don't need to write stronger female roles; what we need to start writing is real women that have emotions and have real-life thoughts.

I had quite a bit of experience doing things that had been adapted from a book and playing real-life characters and playing the younger version of actors. That's kind of my thing.

The detail that goes into couture stuff is insane. Everything is handmade - every sequin, every double stitch.

I've acted for as long as I can remember, really.

If someone says I can't do something, I always think I'm going to totally do this to annoy you.

The world is changing, and you have to keep up with the way the world is changing as well as your own expectations that you set for yourself or that your family might set you.