Gemma Arterton

31 Dec, 1985 | Gravesend, Kent, England

Actress

Biography

Gemma Christina Arterton is an English actress. She is best known for her roles as Kelly in St Trinian's and Tess in Tess of the D'Urbervilles. Arterton appeared as MI6 Agent Strawberry Fields in the James Bond film, Quantum of Solace. She also played the role of Tamina in Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time. Arterton was born in Gravesend, Kent. Arterton and her sister, Hannah Jane Arterton (born 1989, Gravesend), were raised by their father who was a welder, and mother who was a cleaner. She 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, she trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art on a full grant. Personal Life In 2007, Arterton lived with John Nolan, an animator who is employed in the film production industry in London. A year later in 2008, she broke up with Nolan. She also broke up with a Spanish stuntman Eduardo Muñoz, her horse-riding instructor on the set of the Disney production, Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time. 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 a character called "Strawberry Fields", in what is described as a "nice-sized role". When it launched in October 2008, she was the face of Avon's Bond Girl 007 fragrance. Having already started in a series of low-key adverts for the 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. Arterton appears in a number of forthcoming films, and would like to reprise her role in a St Trinians sequel.