×
Cookies help us deliver our Services. By using our Services, you agree to our use of cookies. Learn More.

Why Jinx From Netflix's Arcane Sounds So Familiar

While Netflix is known mostly for its live-action series, the streaming service has had a number of successful animated original series as well, such as "BoJack Horseman," "Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts," "Big Mouth," "Disenchantment," and "Masters of the Universe: Revelation." The streaming platform's latest animated release is the series "Arcane: League of Legends," also known as "Arcane." The show, which is set in the same universe as the online multiplayer game "League of Legends," tells the story of increasing tensions between the privileged, rich city of Piltover, and the impoverished city of Zaun, with sisters Vi and Jinx finding themselves picking different sides in the rising conflict.

Fans have responded enthusiastically to the series, leading to its renewal for a second season shortly after the first season's release. As expected, Season 1 left viewers with plenty of questions, with one of the first things fans wanted to know being who voiced the characters of Vi and Jinx, as both sounded familiar. The character of Jinx, also known as Powder, is voiced by Ella Purnell, and here's why she sounds so familiar.

Ella Purnell started her career at a young age

Ella Purnell began her career alongside a few big names, making her acting debut in 2010 in "Never Let Me Go" when she was just 14, playing the younger version of the character Ruth, who is played as an adult by Keira Knightley. The movie also stars other major British actors like Carey Mulligan and Andrew Garfield, making it the perfect first movie for Purnell.

She then followed this up with a role in the 2011 horror film "Intruders" alongside Clive Owen. Purnell plays the character Mia Farrow, a young girl who tells a story of a creature named Hollow Face, soon realizing it's a real entity. Her father John, played by Owen, discovers Hollow Face in Mia's bedroom one night but is unable to capture the creature on a security camera, leading to doubts about the monster's existence.

After "Intruders," the rising actress nabbed a role in "Kick-Ass 2" playing Dolce, a member of the group of high school girls bullying Mindy Mccready (Chloë Grace Moretz), while 2014 saw Purnell make her first foray into Disney features with "Maleficent," in which she plays the teen version of Angelina Jolie's titular character.

The actress went on to work with Tim Burton

In 2015, Ella Purnell started working in television for the first time — albeit with a TV movie — playing Megan Turner in "Cyberbully," in which she stars alongside Maisie Williams. In the film, Purnell's character Megan is the best friend of Casey Jacobs, played by Williams, who is accused of cyber bullying. Megan later figures out that Casey's online posts are not coming from her, but from a hacker who's seized control of her computer.

Next up was a major role in Tim Burton's 2016 film "Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children," based on the book series by Ransom Riggs. In the movie, Purnell plays Emma Bloom, a child with supernatural powers who is under the care of Miss Peregrine (Eva Green). Emma, who can manipulate air, falls in love with Jake Portman, played by Asa Butterfield, while also playing a key role in the film's central fight against the Wights and Hollows.

On a roll, Purnell then starred in the ensemble musical dramedy "Access All Areas" in 2017. Her character Mia is a young woman who defies her father to go to an island music festival with her best friend, played by Georgie Henley. The duo end up in the company of her father's employee Heath, played by Edward Bluemel, and his best friend Leon, played by Jordan Stephens, all of whom hope to see an elusive performer rumored to be at the festival.

Purnell fully transitioned to television and found a lead role

In 2018, Ella Purnell made the full leap to television with the BBC Agatha Christie adaptation "Ordeal By Innocence." In the miniseries, Purnell plays Hester Argyll, one of the five adopted children of heiress Rachel Argyll, played by Anna Chancellor, whose murder kicks off the series' central mystery. In the pursuit of the murderer's identity, several truths come to light, including the fact that Rachel was cruel to her children, making Hester a potential suspect.

Soon after, Purnell got her first lead TV role in the Starz drama "Sweetbitter." Adapted from the 2016 novel by Stephanie Danler, the series stars Purnell as Tess, a young woman who moves to New York City and gets a job as a back waiter at a busy restaurant named 22W. The first season focuses on Tess trying to make a good impression so her job at 22W can be permanent, while also navigating relationships with her co-workers, including a love triangle. In the show's second season, which ended up being its last, Tess continues to navigate the ups and downs of working at 22W and living in New York City, ultimately culminating in her and her coworker Jake, played by Tom Sturridge, acting on their mutual attraction, and Tess privately calling for her coworker Simone (Caitlin FitzGerald) to be fired.

Purnell had a banner year in 2021

2021 has been Purnell's biggest year to date, as she joined the "Star Trek" universe with a voiceover role in the Paramount+ animated series "Star Trek: Prodigy." In the show, Purnell voices the alien Gwynala, a.k.a. Gwyn, who is part of the makeshift team that finds the USS Protostar and soon becomes a real crew. Gwyn's father the Diviner, voiced by John Noble, is a tyrant who is also after the USS Protostar.

Purnell also made the jump from Starz to Showtime, joining the ensemble drama "Yellowjackets" to play Jackie, the captain of a high school girls soccer team in 1996 who find themselves stranded in the wilderness after their plane crashes on the way to a tournament. While the series cuts between 1996 and 2021, some members of the team reappear as adults who are hesitant to talk about the 19 months they spent stranded. Jackie, however, has yet to appear in 2021, so her ultimate fate is unknown.

Purnell hasn't remained absent from feature films, however, also appearing in the Zack Snyder Netflix film "Army Of The Dead." Her character Kate Ward is the daughter of mercenary Scott Ward, played by Dave Bautista. Kate joins the mercenary heist team going to Vegas, despite her father's objections, revealing her ulterior motive of finding her friend who previously got into the city. 

You can hear Purnell as Jinx in the first season of "Arcane" now on Netflix.