Film star Gemma Arterton has spoken about how growing up in Gravesend shaped her career.

Her latest movie, Their Finest, opens in cinemas today and she says the role is the start of her “taking control of her career” after having second thoughts about acting following her last film, Runner Runner.

In an interview with The Sunday Times, the 31-year-old said this latest film tackled topics like women’s issues and equal pay which fulfilled her aims of not playing another “token woman” or performing in something that is not meaningful.

Arterton admitted that coming from Gravesend and being the daughter of a cleaner and a welder affected her career choices.

She took work to make a living and believes she made some wrong choices.

But now, she said, there was barely any of the early giddiness and the “little old me from Gravesend” left.

Their Finest, which also stars Bill Nighy, is about a British film crew which attempts to boost morale during World War II by making a propaganda film after the Blitzkrieg.

Gemma studied at the Miskin Theatre in Dartford.