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1. Rumpf follows in the footsteps of Alicia Vikander and Maisie Williams

Rumpf was the one to watch in Switzerland well before her Netflix appearance. In 2020, Rumpf earned a Shooting Star award at the Berlinale, an accolade which has managed to predict the rise of stars such as Alicia Vikander, Carey Mulligan, Daniel Craig, Maisie Williams and Rachel Weisz (who was awarded the honour in 1998).

But the actress maintains that awards are not what drive her. Rumpf has reportedly said [translated from German]: “I don't work for awards. Rather, I work for the stories that I want to tell and for the characters that I want to embody. That is my passion. Then when someone likes what you do, it's a very nice thing. It also gives you the courage to go on.”

2. Like Freud, her father’s a psychotherapist

Rumpf's father works as a psychotherapist in Zurich – but actually met Ella's mother at Sorbonne University, Paris, where he was studying philosophy at the time. Ella was subsequently born in Paris before the family packed up for Switzerland. As such, the Swiss actress speaks French in addition to German and English.

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3. She is an improv pro

Rumpf studied in London in 2014 at the Giles Foreman Center for Acting, which trains actors particularly well in improvisation. She managed to carry her new-found skills over to her role in Tiger Girl, where every single line was improvised – as per the director’s wishes.

When asked about the process, Rumpf said, [translated from German]: “On certain days you are in full flow, because it gushes out of you. And on other days, nothing comes …”. Whatever she did must have worked because, in 2018, Rumpf was nominated for a German Film Critics Best Actress award.

4. Her ADD was treated with acting

According to an in-depth interview with Swiss media, the actress was diagnosed by a psychiatrist for attention deficit disorder (ADD) when she was just a child. Instead of prescribing Ritalin, the common medication used to treat ADD, Rumpf was sent to a Rudolf Steiner School in Zurich.

The Steiner schools are famous for their emphasis on creativity, imagination and integrative education. For Rumpf, the experience was transformative and helped develop her passion for acting. “My world changed completely; suddenly school made sense for me,” said Rumpf [translated from German].

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5. She is a hair strand away from being a method actor

Rumpf reportedly went to a hypnotist in Vienna in preparation for her role in Freud. She was able to ask questions about her character while in a state of deep relaxation. Of the experience, Rumpf said: “I could think about Fleur much more uncontrollably than in a completely awake state.” The actress also shaved her head for her character in the 2014 Swiss drama, War.

But, in an interview with German press, Rumpf has said that it can be a slippery slope when you immerse yourself completely in a role. She said [translated from German]: “As an actor, you are always in a role with a part of yourself, with your voice, with your body … That's why you have to differentiate very clearly between yourself and the role. It is not ideal if there is no longer a difference.”

6. She will star in the upcoming HBO crime drama series, Tokyo Vice

Rumpf has been cast alongside Ansel Elgort, Ken Watanabe, Odessa Young and Rinko Kikuchi in the upcoming 10-episode crime drama series. Based on the 2009 memoir by Jake Adelstein, Tokyo Vice will follow the American journalist (played by Elgort) as he navigates Tokyo's corrupt police force. The series will appear on HBO Max, the new streaming platform that has announced plans to launch in May.

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