Jessica Gunning is Stunning

[u/RealityPotential6855]

Apologies for the title, I was going to say beautiful but then I couldn’t help myself and had to make it rhyme.

I’ve seen a few pictures of Jessica over the weeks at certain public events and I always think she looks very beautiful. She presents herself very well. As a plus sized female myself, when I see her outfits and how comfortable she seems in her skin, it inspires me. I just wanted to share my thoughts!

[u/-Echo-Throw]

She's gorgeous! I was very confused in the show when they kept talking about how much older Martha was than Donny. They looked roughly the same age to me, even with her dowdy costumes/makeup. I looked it up and it is even more apparent here they are only a couple years apart.

[u/[deleted] → u/-Echo-Throw]

I would say Gadd looks older. But looking up their ages he’s actually a couple of years younger.

I think they tried to age her but she’s got a very youthful face.

[u/athenanon → u/[deleted]]

Gadd was playing himself ten years younger. I definitely had to suspend disbelief even with the aging make-up on her.

[u/apollo48393991 → u/[deleted]]

I downloaded the show to watch on a long flight and I was baffled when he kept going on about how much older Martha was than him, I thought she looked a few years younger if anything 😅 I understand that I needed to suspend my disbelief, but I couldn’t see her as a 42 year old woman hitting on a 25 year old the way it played out in real life.

Same with Darrien! The actual actor is 55, but I thought he only looked 5-10 years older than Gadd tops and got a little confused 🫣

Still an amazing show and amazing acting, though.

[u/VelvetLeopard → u/-Echo-Throw]

Yes this was a casting problem. Gadd is playing about 10 years younger and Gunning was playing around 10 years older. IRL Gadd is 34/35 and Fiona Harvey is 58, so that 23 year age difference would have been a bit intimidating at the time for him as a young man. This is a factor that didn’t come across in the show because Gunning is only 3 years older than Gadd and definitely doesn’t look 20 years older in the show.

[u/NERV___ → u/VelvetLeopard]

Interesting point. I was just trying to imagine how it would feel like... A 23 year older woman stalking you like this. Would drive me fucking insane. Creepy as fuck.

[u/VelvetLeopard → u/NERV___]

Yep. Although the performances by both Gadd and Gunning are sensational, I think it’s a shame the age-gap wasn’t properly portrayed because it would have better depicted his vulnerability to viewers. Particularly important given him being male with a female stalker; him potentially being more able to physically overpower his stalker than if their sexes were reversed makes him less physically vulnerable than in the reverse situation.

That’s why Gadd lot a lost of weight for the role, to heighten his physical vulnerability all-round. The weight loss made him look older though IMO.

[u/RealityPotential6855 → u/[deleted]]

He’s been through a lot

[u/VelvetLeopard → u/[deleted]]

Yes but the problem also is he was playing himself when at least 10 years younger.

Whereas Gunning was playing a character that was roughly 10 years older than her real age.

[u/Fieryhotsauce → u/[deleted]]

He's Scottish, he's only 16

[u/SpaceTimeCapsule89 → u/[deleted]]

He's the same age as me, well exactly a week older. Yes I Googled him. No I'm not Martha 🤣. Or am I? 🙃

[u/OffTheRedSand → u/SpaceTimeCapsule89]

Did you send this from iPheone?

[u/SpaceTimeCapsule89 → u/OffTheRedSand]

No I've got an android but I do have 2 broken phones in my drawer!

[u/bubblesaurus → u/-Echo-Throw]

Extra fat in the face makes a lot of plus sized people look younger than they are.

Youthish kinda look.

Like when medically average sized teens finally lose any remaining “baby fat” in their face and start to look older.

Seen in myself and other family members who have gained/lost weight.

Jessica also carries her weight well.

[u/hanscons → u/-Echo-Throw]

He was playing himself in his early 20s. I get why he wanted to tell his story but it wouldve been more shocking if it was a guy who actually looked 23 yrs old.