Interview Gemma Arterton

The Bond girl and Hollywood A-lister talks to Chris Lochery about being the most popular thing on the planet right now

You are in: Film » Interview »Gemma Arterton

It will be a rare trip to the cinema this year where you don’t end up seeing Gemma Arterton in some way, shape or form. Currently appearing in two major films on national release (Clash of the Titans and The Disappearance of Alice Creed) as well as the trailer for the forthcoming Prince of Persia film, which hits screens later this year, she seems to have the movies pretty much sewn up for 2010.

Considering she only turned 24 earlier this year, and has just recently finished a three month stint on the West End stage, you’d be forgiven for thinking that she was somehow pulling some sort of Parent Trap-style trick involving a twin sister who’s doing half the work. But she has an explanation for it all.

“Prince of Persia wrapped a year and a half ago. Clash wrapped a year ago. I made these films over quite a long period of time but they all just happened to come out in this slot. Which is both fortunate and unfortunate because it’s a ripe time for something like Alice Creed to come out, but then again you don’t want to be that annoying girl who’s in everything and have everyone saying, ‘oh no! Not her again!’”

Were she to simply appear as token eye candy, wheeled out to titillate when the story began to dry up a bit, people might be right to grumble. However, her role on stage, her role in Hollywood blockbusters and her role in the British indie thriller The Disappearance of Alice Creed could not be more different.

Arguably, it is as Alice Creed - in which she plays a kidnap victim - that Arterton puts in her most impressive performance to date. Those who have only ever seen her in St Trinian’s or even Quantum of Solace will doubtless be stunned.

“When I saw the script I thought, ‘yes, I’m doing this’. I did get the odd LA agent saying, ‘Oh no, Gemma, it’s kind of risky,’ but I just thought, ‘well, exactly. That’s why I’m doing it.’”

This isn’t her trying to be obtuse, or sticking two fingers up to her audience or her agent. No, this is the reason why Gemma got into film in the first place. “I don’t really go and see blockbusters at the cinema. I mean, I do if everyone’s telling me to go and see something like Avatar, but it’s not what I’d choose to go and see. Really, I’m much more interested in films like Alice.

“As an actor - especially when you’re female - you do have to do some sort of bums-on-seats films, and I started off doing some really shitty ones, but now I’ve done a really, really good film, hopefully I will be able to choose the films I do a bit more.”

Her determination to prove herself as an actor is evident in her theatrical ambition too. Her turn in The Little Dog Laughed at London’s Garrick Theatre earlier this year won her glowing reviews for her portrayal of the put upon girlfriend of a Hollywood rent boy.

“I really had to fight my way into doing it. I had to turn down four films to do it and everyone was saying, ‘what are you doing?’ But I loved it and I learned so much doing it, and so much more about acting. Hopefully, I’ll do at least one play a year.

“It’s scary doing a play. Even though I feel much more at home on stage than I do on screen, it’s still very frightening and that’s why you should do it. That’s what excites me the most about films and theatre. And now I’m having a bit of a break, I’m really hoping I’ll do something next that scares me, you know, challenges me.” Her eyes widen.

“I might be playing a stalker. She’s really fat and ugly and no one wants to play the girl I stalk in it!” She throws her head back in delight, kicks her legs back and forth, claps and calls out “Yay!”

“Don’t worry. Then there’ll be a very big gap where you won’t have to see me any more.”

She’s being overly modest. Even though she may be taking a break from acting, the chances of anyone letting her disappear from our sights for too long seem slim.

The Disappearance of Alice Creed is released nationally on 30 April. For the review, visit www.leedsguide.co.uk

Posted on Wednesday 28th April 2010
Chris Lochery

You are in: Film » Interview »Gemma Arterton