ELLA PURNELL

I don't want to inspire people to look pretty and buy makeup. I want to inspire them to knit scarves for Syrian refugees.

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.

I used to think fashion was silly, and now I think it can be one of the purest expressions of art.

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.

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.

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

The real friends are the ones who celebrate with you.

I didn't really have idols growing up, but some of my friends were huge fangirls.

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

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'm really interested in food now. I never used to be. I always used to just eat when I'm hungry, and now it's an experience.

I always feel like sugar cubes aren't big enough.

I'd like to be smart, fun, and real. It's very easy to just put together a pretty dress, some heels, and some jewels. I don't want to be that girl. It's all about being brave, taking risks. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.

That's something I want to do: cover all sorts of genres to find the one I love most.

The 1950s is my favourite era.

I can't just pretend to be someone else all my life. I have to mix it up.

Growing up and working at the same time is difficult.

What I use when I'm acting comes from what I learn about myself.

Social media can be so damaging.

I think it's really hard for filmmakers to adapt books.

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.

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.

I love pasta. It's something in the water. The pasta and the bread in New York are so good.

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

What I love about this job is it's literally a different day every single day, isn't it? One day you're a nurse, the next day you're in a band - you can just make it up. I'm just a big kid, and that's really what this job is - just playing dress-up every day.