Gemma Arterton
- Actress
- Producer
- Soundtrack
Gemma Christina Arterton was born in Gravesend, Kent, England, where she was raised. She is the daughter of
Sally-Anne (Heap), a cleaner, and Barry J. Arterton, a welder. Her
mother's cousin is singer-songwriter
Eric Goulden.
Her parents divorced
when she was age five, and Gemma subsequently lived with her younger sister and her
mother. Her parents encouraged their children to explore their creative
abilities. Gemma's sister, Hannah, liked to sing, whereas Gemma chose
acting. During her teenage years, she was part of the Masquerade and Miskin
theater companies, appearing in productions of The Massacre of
Civitella and Guiding Star. In 2004, she won an award for Best
Supporting Actress, which helped her to win a grant to study at the
Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA).
Whilst studying at RADA, she landed her first professional role in
Capturing Mary (2007),
directed by Stephen Poliakoff
and starring Maggie Smith. Gemma
graduated from RADA in 2007 and won her first film role in
St. Trinian's (2007). Her
breakthrough role came in 2008, when she appeared in the James Bond
film Quantum of Solace (2008).
In 2009, she was the winner of Empire's Best Newcomer Award.
Sally-Anne (Heap), a cleaner, and Barry J. Arterton, a welder. Her
mother's cousin is singer-songwriter
Eric Goulden.
Her parents divorced
when she was age five, and Gemma subsequently lived with her younger sister and her
mother. Her parents encouraged their children to explore their creative
abilities. Gemma's sister, Hannah, liked to sing, whereas Gemma chose
acting. During her teenage years, she was part of the Masquerade and Miskin
theater companies, appearing in productions of The Massacre of
Civitella and Guiding Star. In 2004, she won an award for Best
Supporting Actress, which helped her to win a grant to study at the
Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA).
Whilst studying at RADA, she landed her first professional role in
Capturing Mary (2007),
directed by Stephen Poliakoff
and starring Maggie Smith. Gemma
graduated from RADA in 2007 and won her first film role in
St. Trinian's (2007). Her
breakthrough role came in 2008, when she appeared in the James Bond
film Quantum of Solace (2008).
In 2009, she was the winner of Empire's Best Newcomer Award.