Being Gail Porter

[sanguinary]

BBC Scotland last night - I guess now on iplayer.

I watched, by chance, a self made documentary of Gail Porter's career and life from the mid 90's to now.

It's worth watching. I found it particular poignant how quickly her life turned and everything around her fell apart. She tries to laugh some of it off, but it's still incredibly raw for her now.

It made me stop and think just how quickly my life could fall apart, be it illness, work, relationships or a nice combination of all three...

[rsbmw]

In some ways it highlights that those who rely on their looks for income, once they have gone they are going to struggle to get by.

[rider73]

just watched this - very raw and sad - how she talks about herself is quite painful to hear - things like just wishing there was someone to go home to, how she's single and will never find someone "looking like this" , "i'm a terrible person" etc etc - from someone who had a real shine and confidence in her early years (i met her once) she seems to have lost it all .

[Cantaloupe]

What was the event/incident that led to her decline, was it the hair falling out ?

[ceesvdelst]

I gather she was admitted to homes once or twice, and had the hair falling out thing, alopecia I think? And all sorts of treatment made her gain weight, her chest became enormous and she had them reduced, released pictures of her naked before and after, that is rather bizarre.

Stunning girl in her youth, but clearly very troubled. Reminds me a bit of Sinead O Conner in that way.

[sanguinary]

Cantaloupe said:

What was the event/incident that led to her decline, was it the hair falling out ?

Her career didn't really seem to get going with any longevity. She was huge in the late 90's certainly, but only to a relatively small audience I guess. By the early 2000's, she was already doing reality TV. Her marriage broke up in 2005, the same year of her Alopecia.

She'd also made some decisions which didn't work in her favour - FHM and such. It appears she wasn't privy to knowing her image was going to end up on the Houses of Parliament too. Back then, that stunt would have scuppered any further kids / family friendly TV.

I don't do much TV, but the documentary is still playing on my mind. I went through college in the 90's, so she was always on the radar when growing up.

She was good, no, great looking, to me. Full of life and seemed to come across really well, in what was a pretty mad time for live TV. I guess I had a crush on her, but now, when you see the close ups of her face, all you see is sadness and pain.

I suppose with TV, you're either in or out, with nothing in between.

I'm trying to compare her with people who are still on the box. You've got Holly Willoughby certainly, but I guess the likes of Denise Van Outen would be a closer match, and you don't see her much on TV nowadays either, but she's carved a career elsewhere with her music and acting.

I've had a pretty 'normal' life I guess, but it must be tough to have 'it all' at your feet and then it fall apart with you unable to control it.

(See S Club 7, from the same period!)

[durbster]

rsbmw said:

In some ways it highlights that those who rely on their looks for income, once they have gone they are going to struggle to get by.

You could say that about almost any job. It's no different from a bus driver losing their eyesight, for example.

[Johnspex]

durbster said:

rsbmw said:

In some ways it highlights that those who rely on their looks for income, once they have gone they are going to struggle to get by.

You could say that about almost any job. It's no different from a bus driver losing their eyesight, for example.

Absolutely. I always think it must be hard to have people saying ' aren't you Gail Porter? Didn't you used to be famous once?' But at least she will have been places and done stuff and met people the rest of us never will. Is that harder to tolerate than working in a shop all your life, never having much spare money, never having your picture in the paper?

[yanyan]

Having read this thread, I've just watched the programme; Mark Lamarr - what a prick.

She has done so well to have bounced back from where she was. Wishing her continued strength.

[ewolg]

yanyan said:

Having read this thread, I've just watched the programme; Mark Lamarr - what a prick.

She has done so well to have bounced back from where she was. Wishing her continued strength.

Lamarr was savage and you could see her wincing. I always loved her enthusiasm and glad I’ve watched this now. She’s still very watchable so hope she gets more work.

[sgtBerbatov]

yanyan said:

Having read this thread, I've just watched the programme; Mark Lamarr - what a prick.

She has done so well to have bounced back from where she was. Wishing her continued strength.

When was Mark Lamarr never not a prick?

I haven't watched the documentary yet, but I remember her so much from children's TV when I was growing up. She was fantastic. I loved her in most of the things she did. Same with Kate Heavenor.

A lasting memory, which is weird, was when she was presenting Pulling Power on ITV. She did a few shows but the program never really took off for whatever reason. She was doing a thing with the American muscle cars and she was in one when the suspension was being manipulated. The sounds were dangerous to a young teenage boy. This came out around the time of the parliament thing too.

If you look at her IMDB thing, she was fairly busy up until 2005 when she lost her hair. It seemed to have started there I think. I don't know, but it's not like Barrymore when he did something wrong (allegedly). She did nothing wrong, just her body failed her and she struggled to get a regular gig. Her marriage failed after, and she's got bipolar. The whole mix isn't going to exactly lend itself to being on the TV all the time.

If what others have said is true, then it's incredibly sad the way she views herself. Something's happened that she told us about. Maybe her ex was particularly nasty, who knows? But no one really should have that outlook on themselves.

[Stella Tortoise]

sgtBerbatov said:

When was Mark Lamarr never not a prick?

Say what?

[sgtBerbatov]

Stella Tortoise said:

sgtBerbatov said:

When was Mark Lamarr never not a prick?

Say what?

(Early morning + double negatives) - no coffee = nonsensical bullst.

I meant really that Mark Lamarr was always a prick. I don't know of a time when he wasn't one?

[anonymous-user]

sanguinary said:

Her career didn't really seem to get going with any longevity. She was huge in the late 90's certainly, but only to a relatively small audience I guess. By the early 2000's, she was already doing reality TV. Her marriage broke up in 2005, the same year of her Alopecia.

She'd also made some decisions which didn't work in her favour - FHM and such. It appears she wasn't privy to knowing her image was going to end up on the Houses of Parliament too. Back then, that stunt would have scuppered any further kids / family friendly TV.

I don't do much TV, but the documentary is still playing on my mind. I went through college in the 90's, so she was always on the radar when growing up.

She was good, no, great looking, to me. Full of life and seemed to come across really well, in what was a pretty mad time for live TV. I guess I had a crush on her, but now, when you see the close ups of her face, all you see is sadness and pain.

I suppose with TV, you're either in or out, with nothing in between.

I'm trying to compare her with people who are still on the box. You've got Holly Willoughby certainly, but I guess the likes of Denise Van Outen would be a closer match, and you don't see her much on TV nowadays either, but she's carved a career elsewhere with her music and acting.

I've had a pretty 'normal' life I guess, but it must be tough to have 'it all' at your feet and then it fall apart with you unable to control it.

(See S Club 7, from the same period!)

People like Denise van outen have had very successful careers in theatre and musicals in particular. She went to Sylvia young Theatre school where people like dua lipa, Rita Ora, Emma Bunton, Keeley Hawes (the bodyguard) etc and loads of other successful performers went to. So she had a very wide range of skills.

People like Gail Porter often have much less ability to fall back on and their success often is built on just being famous for being famous or their looks.

Going to somewhere like a theatre school also normalises working in the industry where kids are often performing in films and plays and musicals while at school. There’s loads of famous ex pupils visiting all the time and many have famous parents in the industry.

Much emphasis is placed on being grounded and not boasting about jobs you get etc. Kids have to audition to get in and if they’re not making the grade academically and vocationally they get asked to leave after the first term. It’s pretty good preparation for the entertainment industry, particularly the highs and lows.

Edited by anonymous-user on Friday 17th January 09:29

[Stella Tortoise]

sgtBerbatov said:

(Early morning + double negatives) - no coffee = nonsensical bullst.

I meant really that Mark Lamarr was always a prick. I don't know of a time when he wasn't one?

My head was spinning.

[Se7enheaven]

A very sad programme. The fragility of people laid bare.

[Jasandjules]

sanguinary said:

It made me stop and think just how quickly my life could fall apart, be it illness, work, relationships or a nice combination of all three...

Indeed. Unless you experience or know someone who becomes ill, it is hard to appreciate just how much life changes when that happens.

Always count your blessings.

[Mojooo]

The Big Ben thing was interesting

Granted, by being on Big Ben the photo was show not the general public rather than FHM readers but why even take a photo like that to start with. It was always going to be seen by a lot of people one way or the other.

[poo at Paul's]

durbster said:

You could say that about almost any job. It's no different from a bus driver losing their eyesight, for example.

Just go to Glasgow and drive a bin lorry....