Gemma Arterton

Born: 1985
Where: Gravesend, Kent, UK

The actress first gained public attention for the role of sexy schoolgirl Kelly in the 2007 film version of St Trinian's.

Soon after her appearance it was announced she had beaten off the challenge of 1,500 other actresses to land the role of a Bond girl opposite Daniel Craig.

The daughter of a welder and a cleaner, Arterton - who has a younger sister - attended a local grammar school and acted with the Masquerade Theatre Company in Kent.

She subsequently landed a scholarship to study acting at London's Royal Academy of Dramatic Art.

She made her stage debut as Rosaline in Shakespeare's Love's Labour's Lost at London's Globe Theatre.

In 2007, she made her small screen debut as Liza in Stephen Poliakoff's Capturing Mary.

The same year she beat off the challenge from Sienna Miller to land the role of Kelly in St Trinian's.