This brunette Gemma Arterton grew up in the English county of Kent, along with her sister, Hannah, and their parents. Mom was a cleaner and dad a welder, but Gemma's parents encouraged their children to pursue their artistic sides. Hannah tried singing, but Gemma Arterton stumbled onto acting.

As a teenager, girl studied the craft with the Masquerade and Miskin theater companies, appearing in productions like The Massacre of Civitella and Guiding Star. A 2004 award for Best Supporting Actress helped she earn a grant that helped her gain acceptance to the acclaimed Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. Once there, she appeared in plays like An Ideal Husband as well as specialized in the study of accents and specialized stage combat.

Her Royal Academy stint earned her an audition in Capturing Mary, a 2007 made-for-television film starring Academy Award winner Maggie Smith. Actress won the role and, upon her RADA graduation, she auditioned for St. Trinian's, beating out Sienna Miller and winning a role as a schoolgirl opposite Brit sensations Rupert Everett and Colin Firth. This proved to be Gemma Arterton's much needed big break and, as a result, she earned roles in the 2008 films "Rock'n Rolla" and "3 and Out".

This actress was already grateful for the help of her agent, Sally Long-Innes, but her next audition was for Bond 22, a movie costarring Long-Innes' most recognizable client, Daniel Craig. She won the part against 1,500 other women, and she was poised for the international stardom that arrived with the film's release.