There is no doubt that are small 19 year old Sally Field could easily pass for a 14-15 year old girl But on the show at different angles Larue look like she was in her mid to late twenties lol. I don't know If it just me but Larue looked more mature than Sally Did!;)

Yeah, she did look older to me too.

Here's a couple of pictures from the show.
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Oh, Larue looked much, much older.

Yes, she seemed more mature physically but also her character because Gidget would always go to her if she needed help.

She looks more like Gidget's older aunt than best friend.

Even Gidget's sister and brother-in-law look younger than poor Larue.

There is no doubt that are small 19 year old Sally Field could easily pass for a 14-15 year old girl But on the show at different angles Larue look like she was in her mid to late twenties lol. I don't know If it just me but Larue looked more mature than Sally Did!;)

Lynette Winter, who portrayed Larue was 21 when the series began.

Well I've read a newspaper clipping where Miss Winter said the producers would give her unflattering hairstyles to make her beliveable as a wallflower. Let's also consider as the show went on she got a flip hairstyle (http://s2.dmcdn.net/D7uMg/1280x720-frk.jpg) that made her far younger looking than those dated updos.

All of Gidget's friends looked older than her. She looked 14, and they all looked like college kids.

Sally Field was petite and looked so young it had to be difficult to find a Larue that wasn't actually 14-15 years old in real life to play her. I also imagine the show didn't want child actors as well so they wanted them to be at least 18 years of age or older. Larue definitely looks like she is in her mid 20's while Gidget looks to be 15.