— "i have a horrible feeling I am a greedy, perverted, selfish, apathetic, cynical, depraved, morally bankrupt woman who can’t even call herself a feminist." - fleabag
MANNERISMS:
What words or phrases do they overuse?
she uses the word ‘basically’ a lot. she also definitely overuses her britishisms but that’s mainly because she’d been living there for the last few years. favouite curse word is ‘fuck’. ends too many sentences with the word ‘me’.
Are they more optimistic or pessimistic?
ellie will tell you she’s a realist, though she does tend towards optimism, particularly when it comes to the outcomes of certain events in her life.
What bad habits do they have?
speaking before she speaks, drinking way too much coffee (and as a result has developed an unhealthy addiction to breath mints, seriously she’s always gone some on her person!), nail biting/picking (particularly when she’s nervous/bored), flirting before thinking (she’s sure your partner is great, she just didn’t consider their existence), pouting until she gets what she wants.
What makes them laugh out loud?
friends reruns, friends in general, lana sullivan. she’s also the sort to laugh at her friends embarrassments/trip ups but would also be the first to bail you out in a bind so figurers that balances things out.
How do they display affection?
little touches (on your arm, your shoulder, your lower back), little gifts/things she’s seen that remind her of you, sending random texts/pictures throughout her day, sharing anecdotes/gossip.
Do they make snap judgements or take time to consider?
she’s an impulsive little sun of a gun, just ask lana. she detests feeling stuck and that has driven her to make many questionable decisions and has resulted in the breaking down of some important relationships in her life.
How do they react to praise?
she THRIVES off of it. like tinkerbell she needs applause and praise to live.
How do they react to criticism?
she’ll tell you she can take it, and that’s not totally untrue, as an actress she has developed a fairly thick skin but she only really takes constructive criticism well. trolly comments on the internet will send her into a tailspin and often result in her seeking some outside affirmation of her awesomeness (often in the form of hookups or friendly cheerleaders).
What is their philosophy of life?
work hard and be kind.
When was the last time they cried?
professionally? daily, her current project requires a lot of mental gymnastics. personally? after meeting up with lana.
If they could change one thing about themselves, what would it be?
apart from forever appearing ageless?? physically she wouldn’t mind being a little taller, but she thinks her face is nice and her ass is good so she happy with her appearance. there are a lot of internal things she’d change about herself but mainly she’d like to be braver and a little more vulnerable about the things that matter with the people she loves.
What is their obsession?
herself?? sex?? skin care??
What are their pet peeves?
she does get annoyed easily and pinning down what will set her off from one day to the next isn’t an exact science but some things that never fail are slow walkers, people who talk on their phone in public, traffic (she probs shouldn’t drive bc the road rage is real), and people who insist on continuing conversations when she’s clearly checked out.
FRIENDS&FAMILY:
Is their family big or small? Who does it consist of?
pretty small, just her dad, step mum and gran left.
What is their perception of family?
family used to be everything but after her mum passed ellie hasn’t been super connected to her family, with the exception of her gran who is her favouite person in the whole world.
Do they have siblings? Older or younger?
she’s an only child, i’m sure this surprises no one.
Describe their best friend.
the real yin to her yang and the one person she will never put the moves on because it would totally ruin their vibe. also it would be weird because they are basically sisters at this point. if ellie is ever able to sit still long enough to sit and think things through things it is down to this person. big mom friend vibes. 10/10 angel on earth.
Do they have any pets?
oh god no, she shouldn’t be trusted to care for a living creature.
PAST&FUTURE:
What was your character like as a teen?
not unlike herself now, which speaks to her emotional maturity but much more moody and reckless, very little regard for the consequences of her actions, and pretty listless/unmotivated. she’s since learned to reel some of that in as she’s focussed on her career.
Did they grow up rich or poor?
middle class, they were comfortable, but they didn’t go on holiday every school break or anything.
Did they grow up nurtured or neglected?
nurtured, but when she lost her mum she an her dad started to neglect each other.
What is their greatest achievement?
winning a bafta.
What was their first kiss like?
awkward and the result of a game of spin the bottle gone wrong -- she’d really wanted to kiss matt jones but instead the bottle had landed on rory tyler.
What is the worst thing they did to someone they loved?
LEFT THEM AT THE ALTAR?!
What are their ambitions?
she’d really like to have a career that lasts past her 35th birthday
What advice would they give their younger self?
hang in there, be kinder to mum, go easier on dad, don’t forget to keep your promises.
What smells remind them of their childhood?
cinnamon sugar and french toast, mum would make it every sunday.
What was their childhood ambition?
to be an actress and a unicorn doctor, so she’s definitely lived up to some of her childhood ambitions!
What does their five-year plan look like?
become a house hold name, successfully bake banana bread, take a dance class, learn to play piano, take someone she loves to an awards show.
LOVE:
Do they believe in love at first sight?
no, not even a little which is funny because she is definitely the sort to fall quickly.
Are they in a relationship? Are they in love?
no, but she is still in love with her ex so that’s fun. particularly for someone whose default is to seek vey surface level/fun ‘relationships’.
How do they behave in a relationship?
depends on the relationship and the person, honestly. ellie hasn’t been in many serious relationships because she typically bolts at the first sign of feeeelings as she tends to lean towards her need for freedom rather than commitment but on the rare occasion her heart has fallen before her brain was able to catch on she’s been quite happy to hermit with her partner. she becomes so smitten the idea of wanting someone else escapes her completely.
When did your character last have sex?
probably last night. or this morning. she’s a ho and she doesn’t like to be alone. that’s when things like thinking happen and that’s no good!
Has your character ever been in love?
yes, twice. and both instances left her gutted.
Have they ever had their heart broken?
she has, but in the end it’s usually by herself as she has the tendency to leave before she gets left.
Are they crushing on anyone now? Tag them!
lana (and also probs sabrina lbh): @lauralaword , sean: @gapsofsvnlight , quinn: @sonderbound , and probs pyper: @chvrryglcss bc she seems emotionally unavailable and ellie likes a challenge, plus she a babe. guys i said she’s a ho.
WORK&LIFE:
What is their current job?
actress, she’s also an aspiring screen writer/playwright and director, but that’s mainly born of fear of what she’ll do when the industry decides she’s too old to play a lead
What do they think about their current job?
loves it, a +, everything she’d hoped it be even if the hours are maybe a bit longer than she’d like and she doesn’t always love feeling like she has to hide parts of herself from rabid fans/news sources, but she likes her privacy.
What are some of their past jobs?
bag girl, ride attendant, bartender (at uni), nanny, waitress, and snow white for a tick!
What are their hobbies?
she likes to read and netflix, but her main hobby is bugging her mates until they entertain her.
Educational background?
went to the royal academy of dramatic art in london where she studied acting.
Do they have a natural talent for something?
photography, the written word, charming her way into your pants.
Do they play a sport? Are they any good?
no, she does not sport well nor does she understand any of the rules. her disdain for football is just another point of contention between her and her father.
MISC:
What is in their fridge?
a half drank bottle of vodka, seltzer, diet coke, some probiotics she never takes and a variety of take out containers. she does not cook.
What is on their bedside table?
cellphone charger, a book she’s been trying to finish for ages, and a sound machine.
What kinda car do they drive, and is their car messy or clean?
honestly she couldn’t tell you the make or model unless she read the manual butt it gets her to auditions and that’s all that matters. it’s basically always got at least three changes of clothes and a takeaway coffee cup and/or wrapper somewhere so if you think that’s messy...
Do they carry a purse? What is in their purse or wallet?
usually, but if she’s out at retrograde she’ll pair her essentials down to things that can fit in her pocket -- basically that means a lip (red if she’s feeling feisty or insecure), her debit card, her cell and some mints. her purse has at any given time four different lips, a chapstick, some gloss, three packs of gum, mints, a pack of emergency smokes (for when things get intense and she needs to break her clean streak), her wallet, a compact, an umbrella, and so many receipts!
What is in their pockets?
if she has her purse they’re likely empty, if she doesn’t all the things. also sometimes her hands when she doesn’t know what to do with them.
What is their most treasured possession?
her mums wedding band, she wears it basically all the time on her index finger.
