Gemma Arterton

Gemma Christina Arterton, (born 12 January 1986)[1] is an English actress. Arterton is best known for her role as the eponymous heroine in the BBC adaptation of Thomas Hardy's Tess of the D'Urbervilles. She made her feature film debut in the British comedy St Trinian's (2007) where she played Kelly. She then starred as the MI6 agent Strawberry Fields in the James Bond film Quantum of Solace (2008). In 2009, she starred in the sequel to St Trinian's entitled St. Trinian's II: The Legend of Fritton's Gold. Arterton also starred as Io in the adaptation of Clash of the Titans (2010) and is cast as Princess Tamina in Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time (2010).

Early life

Arterton was born in Gravesend, Kent. She was born with polydactyly. Born to a welder father, Barry, Arterton and her sister, Hannah Jane Arterton (born 1989, Gravesend), were brought up by their single mother, Sally (née Heap), who was a cleaner. Arterton worked as a makeup salesgirl, according to a November 2008 interview with Teen Vogue. After attending Gravesend Grammar School for Girls on Pelham Road in Gravesend attending a performance arts course at The Miskin Theatre in Dartford (part of North West Kent College), she trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art on a full grant.



Career

Arterton won her first professional role (in Stephen Poliakoff's Capturing Mary) while she was still at drama school. Similarly, she made her stage debut as Rosaline in Shakespeare's Love's Labour's Lost at the Globe Theatre, London in July 2007 before graduating later that year. She made her film debut in the 2007 St Trinian's movie St Trinian's as Head Girl Kelly, a role she gained in competition with Sienna Miller.
In 2008, she appeared in the James Bond film, Quantum of Solace. Chosen from around 1500 candidates, Arterton plays Bond Girl "Strawberry Fields", in what is described as a "nice-sized role". In 2008 also, she played the role of Elizabeth Bennet in the ITV serial Lost in Austen, albeit a reduced role from the original Pride & Prejudice.
She is the face of Avon's Bond Girl 007 fragrance which launched in October 2008. Having already started in a series of low-key adverts for cosmetics company Avon, in May 2008 Arterton requested a role opposite model Kate Moss for Rimmel, but was blocked on contractual terms under her Avon contract.
In 2010, she made her West End debut in the UK premiere of The Little Dog Laughed. She was originally attached to star in a new adaptation of Wuthering Heights as Catherine Earnshaw, however, she later left the project. She is set to star in Burden of Desire.
Arterton was seen in the 2010 films Clash of the Titans and Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time and will next appear in Tamara Drewe, being released on September 10, 2010 in the UK.


Personal life

Arterton lived with John Nolan, a special effects technician, whom she broke up with in 2008. In July 2009, Arterton celebrated her engagement in London with her fiance, Stefano Mioni, a stunt driver she met on the set of Quantum of Solace. Arterton is a supporter of Charlton Athletic F.C. She has a tattoo of an angel wing behind her left ear.



Filmography

Films
Year Film Role Other notes
2007 Capturing Mary Liza TV Movie
St Trinian's Kelly Jones Nominated - Empire Award
2008 Three and Out Frankie Cassidy
RocknRolla June
Quantum of Solace Strawberry Fields
2009 The Boat That Rocked Desiree
St. Trinian's II: The Legend of Fritton's Gold Kelly Jones
2010 Clash of the Titans Io
The Disappearance of Alice Creed Alice Creed
Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time Princess Tamina
Tamara Drewe Tamara Drewe
[edit]Television
Year Show Role Other notes
2008 Lost in Austen Elizabeth Bennet Two episodes - Episode (1.1 & 1.4)
Tess of the d'Urbervilles Tess Durbeyfield Four episodes - Episode (1.1 - 1.4)
Source:wikipedia