From Bond Girl to Tess of the D'Urbervilles

There is a new star on the horizon.  Gemma Arterton, soon to be seen as the latest Bond girl,  has just landed a plum role in a BBC One drama. 

The drama is to be screened during the autumn in the West Country.  Arterton is to play Tess in an adaptation of the book Tess of the D’Urbervilles. 

The character of Tess has always been played by devastatingly beautiful actresses and Gemma is no exception.  This famous story was written by Thomas Hardy and is about a humble girl who discovers she is actually of high birth.

In 2007, there was a census for World Book Day.  It was revealed that Tess of the D’Urbervilles was the UK’s twelfth most popular book of all time.  The last adaptation of this favourite was screened in 1997.  David Nicholls is the writer of the BBC adaptation to be filmed in 2008.  His name is to be seen on the credits of Starter for Ten and Cold Feet.  His adaptation will run for four hours and filming begins at the end of March.

Gemma Arterton only recently graduated from RADA.  This esteemed school of drama has the reputation of turning out some of the best UK talent.  This actress made her first film appearance on BBC Two in Capturing Mary. 

The UK actress was born in 1986 in Gravesend, Kent.  She was brought up by her single mother.  She has a younger sister named Hannah who is also showing signs of talent. 

Arterton is well known for her skill in a variety of accents.  Her natural accent is from London but she is able to mimic perfect American and Irish as well as regional British.  The actress is a skilled dancer and dances the following styles: 

• Elizabethan

• Restoration

• Flamenco

• Russian

• Polka

• Waltz

 Arterton is regarded as a talented soprano singer with a BASSC Certificate.  This certificate is for Stage Combat.  Her singing, acting and dancing skills enable her to audition for a great variety of roles in film and theatre.   

Gemma Arterton has received the following awards:

• 2004 Best Supporting Actress for Kent Award

• 2008 Nominated for Empire Award (Best Newcomer - St Trinians)

Right now, Gemma Arterton is busy with the filming of her latest coup.  Arterton is the latest Bond Girl.  This has catapulted the young actress into the limelight.  The fact that immediately after this role she will be involved in Tess Of The D’Ubervilles is proof of her versatility as an actress.  Arterton moved from the comedy St Trinians to being a Bond Girl and then becoming Tess.