Kent stars are painting the BAFTAS red tonight.

The county boasts a strong showing in the annual gongs for film stars and workers, with an impressive two nominations.

Actress Gemma Arterton will be all glammed up to take the prestigious Bafta event by storm this evening.

The 25-year-old, with strong links to Gravesend and Dartford, will appear at the British Academy of Film and Television Arts event in London, having been nominated for the Rising Star Award.

Gemma grew up on a Gravesend council estate, and was brought up with her sister Hannah by their single mother.

Their parents, mum Sally-Anne and welder Barry Arterton, divorced when Gemma was five.

Gemma was educated at Gravesend Grammar School for Girls, leaving at 16 to take a performance arts course at Dartford's Miskin Theatre before studying at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art.

Meanwhile Whitstable director Clio Barnard will tread the red carpet as she bids to scoop another award for her first feature film.

The Kent University film studies lecturer is nominated in the outstanding debut by a British writer, director or producer category for The Arbor.

Released last autumn, the film has already claimed an array of awards for its portrayal of the late working class Bradford playright Andrea Dunbar and her daughter Lorraine.

It recently won the best screenplay award at the Evening Standard film awards and also picked up two gongs at the London Film Festival for best British newcomer and director of most original feature film.

Clio, who lives in Woodlawn Street with her partner Adam Chodzko, is overwhelmed by the response.

She said: “It’s quite amazing and unexpected, it’s bizarre and it’s brilliant.

“There’s a strange contrast between the subject matter of the film and these celebratory evenings where everyone dresses up and makes speeches.

"But there’s a sense of ownership among the people involved in the film, who are incredibly pleased about it and that allows me to feel pleased as well.”

The Arbor is nominated alongside Four Lions, directed by comic actor Chris Morris and artist Banksy’s first film, Exit Through The Gift Shop.