A few months ago, Gemma Arterton was an unknown actress making ends meet working in a beauty shop in London’s Covent Garden.

Now the 22-year-old is not only the newest Bond girl but has won the role of Tess of the d’Urbervilles in a major BBC TV series.

Gemma was named as 007 Daniel Craig’s sidekick in the new Bond movie Quantum Of Solace just six months after graduating from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art.

And yesterday, the BBC confirmed she will play Thomas Hardy’s heroine Tess, alongside a top cast including Anna Massey and Jodie Whittaker, who starred opposite Peter O’Toole in the film Venus.

Ruth Jones, from BBC3 comedy Gavin and Stacey, plays Tess’s mother.

Gemma’s role cements her status as one of the hottest British actresses of her generation, following a meteoric rise over the past year.

The daughter of a welder and a cleaner from Gravesend in Kent, she made her film debut last year in Stephen Poliakoff’s Capturing Mary, which was screened on BBC2.

Since then, she has been much in demand, playing Rosaline in Love’s Labour’s Lost at London’s Globe Theatre and the naughty head girl in the film remake of St Trinian’s.

Gemma is now shooting the new Bond film and is also due to appear in Guy Ritchie’s latest gangster film, RocknRolla.

In Quantum Of Solace, she plays the kick-boxing Agent Fields, alongside Daniel Craig in his second outing as 007.

But despite becoming the new “It Girl” of the acting world, Gemma is uncomfortable with the trappings of fame and has said: “It’s not me, although I suppose it comes with the job.”

Source: Daily Mail