'It's not a pretty film. That's why I wanted to do it': Gemma Arterton on why she agreed to be handcuffed and stripped naked for gritty low-budget fil

By Chris Johnson

Gemma Arterton will be seen in a new light in the low-budget indie flick The Disappearance Of Alice Creed, due for release on April 30


She's known for her sexy roles as a Bond girl and as one of the many naughty St Trinian's schoolgirls.


And she plays the love interest in one of the year's most anticipated blockbusters, Prince Of Persia: The Sands Of Time, opposite Jake Gyllenhaal.

But next month, Gemma Arterton will be seen in an entirely new light in the low-budget, gritty drama, The Disappearance Of Alice Creed.

In the role, the 24-year-old's character is kidnapped, stripped naked, handcuffed and gagged - and the girl from Gravesend has to cry throughout.

'There was a bit of resistance from some people wondering if it was a good idea for me to do this film,' she tells GQ in an interview. 'it's quite violent, there's nudity in it, it's not a pretty film. But that's why I wanted to do it.'

It appears Arterton's decisions have been spurred on by not wanting to become typecast - and trying to prove she is more than just a pretty face.


Gemma at The Prince's Trust Celebrate Success Awards in London on Monday

She spent up to eight hours in tears for Alice Creed and there are some scenes in which she wears nothing but a bag over her head.

She said of the brutal drama by novice writer-director, J Blakeson: 'It was made for under a million in a shed on the Isle of Man. Film-making at its purest: no money, no time, but really good actors and really good script.'

But she is honest to explain that she is still keen to do the big-budget movies - Prince Of Persia (out in May) cost around £100m - 'to earn the money'.

'There is this realistic, business side to me, and I think that it's informed my career a lot.

'You need to be known as an actress to get the really good parts, so you need to make sure you're in something that people see.

'Then hopefully you get chance to have the creativity later.'

She is currently enjoying a stint in the theatre during this busy year, opposite Keira Knightley's boyfriend Rupert Friend in The Little Dog That Laughed.

She explained: 'Recently I've been worrying if my career is going the way I planned it. I hope people don't see me just as a Bond girl. I hope they'll soon see my work and think differently.'

Fans who saw her disrobe for Daniel Craig as Strawberry Fields could be forgiven for pigeon-holing her as 007's love interest but the actress who graduated from RADA in 2007 is pushing for much more.

In the Hollywood satire showing at the Garrick Theatre, she can be found playing a hip New Yorker, which is not bad for an English girl whose parents split when she was in primary school.


Racy: The star pictured posing in her underwear for the GQ magazine interview


It was in her local theatre that Atherton began her acting career after studying for her GCSEs and she made it to the UK's top drama school despite what she admits was a thick Estuary accent.

She surprised her lecturers by leaving to take on the role of Kelly in St Trinian's and played sexy June in Guy Ritchie's RocknRolla before her breakthrough role in Quantum Of Solace.

She dazzled briefly before meeting a sticky end but was visible enough to impress Barbara Broccoli, who was making Prince Of Persia.


Arterton with Jake Gyllenhaal in the upcoming film Prince Of Persia: The Sands Of

Audiences will also be seeing her soon in Clash Of The Titans, a remake of the 1981 fantasy with Liam Neeson as Zeus and Avatar's Sam Worthington as Perseus.


The full interview appears in this month's GQ magazine


Arterton plays Io the nymph in the film set for release in April, but the role still exerted its demands.

Speaking to GQ about doing some re-shoots , she recalled finding it difficult to deliver a line.

She said: 'At one point I have to say, "I imagine you're not sympathetic to that plight..." I'm not slating the writing but people don't talk like that. It's hard to act that stuff.'

Gemma goes on to say that, in her view 'a lot of credit goes to people who can pull off movies like Transformers and Pirates Of The Caribbean'.

Even Megan Fox and her friend, Miss Knightley, might blanche at taking on Arterton's role in The Disappearance Of Alice Creed, however.

And one thing's for sure, Arterton won't be disappearing from screens for some time yet.


source: dailymail