Biography
Who is Gemma Arterton?
Early life and education
Gemma Christina Arterton was born on February 2, 1986, at North Kent Hospital in Gravesend. She grew up in a council estate with her mother, who ran a cleaning business, and her father, a welder. Her younger sister, Hannah Arterton, is also an actress. She attended Mayfield Grammar School in Kent, which was known as Gravesend Grammar School for Girls at the time.
At age 16, she left the school to study drama at the Miskin Theatre at North Kent College. She later graduated from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in 2008. She was born with polydactyly, a condition involving extra fingers, which doctors removed shortly after her birth.
Professional stage and screen debut
Her professional acting career began with a role in Stephen Poliakoff's Capturing Mary while she was still a student. In July 2007, she made her stage debut as Rosaline in Shakespeare's Love's Labour's Lost at the Globe Theatre in London. That same year, she appeared in the comedy film St Trinian's as Head Girl Kelly.
These early roles helped launch her into larger projects in both film and theatre. She also performed in an amateur production of The Boy Who Fell into a Book, which won her a best actress prize at a local festival.
Film and television career
In 2008, she played Strawberry Fields in the James Bond film Quantum of Solace. This role earned her an Empire Award for Best Newcomer. She appeared in several other well-known films, including the 2010 releases Clash of the Titans, Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time, and the title role in Tamara Drewe.
In 2013, she starred alongside Jeremy Renner in the action horror film Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters. She also took on the challenging role in the 2009 film The Disappearance of Alice Creed, which required significant physical performance. She later appeared in the 2021 action war film The King's Man as the spy Pollyana Wilkins.
Stage performances and production work
Gemma Arterton has maintained a strong presence in theatre. She starred in the title role of The Duchess of Malfi at the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse in 2014 and performed in Made in Dagenham at the Adelphi Theatre. Her portrayal in the 2016 play Nell Gwynn at the Apollo Theatre earned her an Olivier Award nomination for Best Actress. In 2017, she played Joan in Saint Joan at the Donmar Warehouse.
In 2016, she founded Rebel Park Productions, a company dedicated to creating female led content. Through this company, she produced the film The Escape, for which she received a Harper's Bazaar Woman of the Year Award. She also produced the short film Leading Lady Parts to raise awareness for the UK Justice and Equality Fund.
Birthday and age
Gemma Arterton was born on February 2, 1986, which makes Gemma 40 years old today. That birthday falls under the Aquarius sign. Gemma shares the date with 32 other famous people.
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