The Duchess of Malfi

Shakespeare's Globe has announced that Gemma Arterton will be returning in January 2014 to play the Duchess in the forthcoming production of The Duchess of Malfi which is to be the inaugural production in the new indoor Sam Wanamaker Playhouse.

Gemma made her professional stage debut at the Globe in 2007, fresh from RADA, when she won huge critical acclaim as Rosaline in Love's Labour's Lost. She went on to star as Hilde Wangel in Ibsen's The Master Builder at the Almeida and as Ellen in Jamie Lloyd's The Little Dog Laughed at the Garrick. She also played Tess in the BBC television adaptation of Thomas Hardy's Tess of the D'Urbervilles and the iconic Tamara Drewe in Stephen Frears' film of the same name. Her other film credits include Quantum of Solace, Prince of Persia: Sands of Time, St Trinian’s, The Disappearance of Alice Creed, Hansel and Gretel and Runner Runner.

Gemma said: "To play the Duchess of Malfi in a magical new theatre seemed an irresistible opportunity for me. I am thrilled to be coming back to Shakespeare's Globe where I made my stage debut and I really look forward to the adventure of performing in such an intimate and wonderful space."