GALLERY LINKS:
- Tess of the D’Urbevilles: Behind The Scenes - May 2008 — Hans Matheson and Gemma Arterton film the scene where Alec and Tess first meet
- Magazines: Empire (UK) - June 2008, scanned by Lorna
- Magazines: Independent (UK) - April 23, 2008, scanned by Lorna
- Magazines: Sunday Telegraph - Stella supplement (UK) - April 27, 2008, scanned by Lorna
- Magazines: Mail On Sunday (UK) - May 11, 2008, scanned by Lorna

Sexy Bond girl Gemma Arterton was taught how to milk a cow for her latest screen role.

Gemma, 22, plays MI6 agent Fields in Quantum of Solace and has already shot love scenes with 007 Daniel Craig.

But she needed farmyard skills to play Thomas Hardy’s milkmaid Tess of the D’Ubervilles in a BBC costume drama.

So she went for lessons at a farm near Berkeley, Gloucs, and learned milking techniques on goats.

Farmer Judy King said: “She was a very confident young lady, very down to earth. She just got on with it all. She brought a bit of glamour to the farm, but she’d have a future with livestock if she wasn’t in the movies.”

Source: The Sun

One of the BBC’s autumn drama highlights, Tess of the d’Urbervilles, has been hit by a suspected arson attack that has damaged thousands of pounds’ worth of period costumes.

Costume-makers have been roped in to work around the clock to replace outfits lost in the fire for the four-part adaptation of Thomas Hardy’s tragic novel, which stars Bond girl Gemma Arterton.

Arterton, who plays Agent Fields in new Bond movie Quantum Of Solace, plays the lead role alongside a top cast including Anna Massey.

The damage was discovered yesterday morning in a trailer at Tog Hill near Bath, Somerset.

A STREET in Corsham was transformed back in time for a day as the BBC moved into film a new production of Tess of the D’Urbevilles.

On Monday a scene from the Thomas Hardy novel was recreated in Church Street.

The star of the production, which is due to be screened in August, will be 22-year-old Gemma Arterton.

The young starlet landed the role as Tess just months after being signed up to play Agent Fields in the next James Bond film, Quantum of Solace.

After graduating from Rada last year she has starred in several films, including the British comedy St Trinian’s.

From ThisisWiltshire.co.uk:

The Corsham club have also been playing host to the BBC this week as filming continues for an adaptation of Thomas Hardy’s Tess of the D’Urbervilles. The production, whose cast includes new Bond girl Gemma Arterton and Anna Massey, have been utilising the rugby club as a base unit while filming in the Corsham locality.

Gemma Arterton to star in BBC adaptation of popular book

There is a new star on the horizon. Gemma Arterton, soon to be seen as the latest Bond Girl, has just landed a plum role in a BBC One drama.

The drama is to be screened during the autumn in the West Country. Arterton is to play Tess in an adaptation of the book Tess of the D’Urbervilles.

The character of Tess has always been played by devastatingly beautiful actresses and Gemma is no exception. This famous story was written by Thomas Hardy and is about a humble girl who discovers she is actually of high birth.