After departing from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, Jessica Plummer underwent a significant metamorphosis to secure a role in the Netflix comedy The Decameron.
The cast of EastEnders Jessica Plummer is expected to appear unrecognizable in her new Netflix series role. In The Decameron, which is slated to debut on the streaming service later in July 2024, the actress—who gained notoriety for her performance of Chantelle Atkins in the BBC serial opera—is playing a totally different role.
Jessica appears in a promotional photo for the program, which is set in the 1300s, wearing period clothing, including a dress in red and cream. Her brunette hair is done into stylish curls and put up in a chic half-up, half-down look.
As a “spoiled oddball with a chip on her shoulder,” she will portray Filomena. Comparable to a vintage Love Island, the series takes place in Florence, Italy in 1348, at the height of the Black Plague.
It centers on a group of nobility and their attendants who flee the plague by withdrawing to Villa Santa in the Tuscan countryside. An allusion to a survival story can be seen in the official synopsis, which reads, “As they try to wait out the plague in the hills of Tuscany with wine and sex, the group eventually must fight for their survival.”
Tony Hale from Arrested Development, actor Tanya Reynolds from Sex Education, and Derry Girls star Saoirse-Monica Jackson have also joined the cast of the show. There are lots of shenanigans, colorful costumes, and sensual sequences to look forward to, as the official trailer suggests, according to the Daily Star.
Jessica hinted at the program’s ribald nature by comparing it to a popular summer reality show: “Like Love Island, but back in the day. A lot of drama, a lot of sex, a lot of, yeah, craziness.”
Speaking with The Telegraph about her latest career move, she humorously reflected “I always told myself I wanted to try comedy, because I wanted a break from dying!”, a playful jab at her soap opera past.
Jessica talked about how [showrunner] Kathleen Jordan encouraged eccentricity during her audition process. She recalled, saying, “One of the notes from [showrunner] Kathleen Jordan was ‘Don’t be afraid to be weird’.” “Excellent,” I exclaimed. The show is about the crazy things that can occur when ten people put themselves in quarantine together.”
“It’s definitely going to be relatable for audiences when they watch it,” she said, dropping more tease tidbits about the upcoming series. However, it’s carried out in such a modern manner. It’s a little odd, amusing, and depressing. I eagerly forward everyone seeing it.”
One particularly striking scene pays homage to Pride and Prejudice by imitating the famous scene in which Colin Firth emerges from wet water wearing a transparent white shirt before taking off his clothes.
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