Gemma was born in a poor family. Her father was a welder and her mother a cleaner. Gemma has a younger sister named Hannah. She studied at a Grammar School in Gravesend; and later took up acting and drama courses. Gemma made her stage debut in Shakespeare's 'Love's Labour's Lost' staged at the Globe Theater in London.
Gemma Arterton made her movie debut in 2007 with St. Trinian's {2007} in which she played the role of a head girl Kelly. She beat Sienna Miller to bag the role. Gemma Arterton also acted in a direct-to-video film "Capturing Mary" relapsed in 2007. She later appeared in a comedy film "Three and Out" {2008}.
Gemma the young twenty-two-year-old actress is appearing in several of the upcoming films "RocknRolla", a Bond film "Quantum of Solace", "The Boat That Rocked", and "Prince of Persia The Sands of Time" that are under various stages of production. Two of her television series are also in progress "Lost in Austen" and "Tess of the D'Urbervilles".
Gemma Arterton won the role in a Bond film "Quantum of Solace" by beating over 1500 wannabe Bond girls. The bond girl role has made Gemma a popular actress across the world. Her co-stars in the new Bond film are Daniel Craig and Olga Kurylenko.
Avon cosmetics, for its new launch 'Bond Girl 007' fragrance has chosen Gemma Arterton to be its face in 2008. Besides acting, Gemma Arterton is also gifted with talents in music, playing guitar, drawing & painting, making clothes and jewellery.
Gemma reportedly is in a live-in relationship with her animator boyfriend John Nolan, who is working in a film production company in London.