Gemma Arterton on starring with Sir Ian McKellen and Mark Strong in ‘gorgeous’ new film The Critic

Virgin Radio

4 Sep 2024, 11:41

As well as returning for series two of hit show Funny Woman, Gemma Arterton is also gracing the big screen this month in new movie The Critic.

Joining the Chris Evans Breakfast Show, Gemma said: “The critic is a film I did with Ian McKellen and Mark Strong and Lesley Manville and Ben Barnes and Alfred Enoch.

“Funny Woman's out on Friday [6th September]. And then The Critic [on 13th September].”

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Speaking about the premise of the film, the Kent-born actor said: “It's set in 1930s London, so pre-war, and it's about a theatre critic, and it's all set in the world of theatre. I'm an actress that's trying to be a star, but it's not quite there yet, and this theatre critic just keeps on completely, sort of giving me the worst reviews of my life.

“It was based on a book called Curtain Call by Anthony Quinn, and it's been adapted by Patrick Marber, who's a genius who did Notes on a Scandal and Closer.”

She told Chris: “It's a gorgeous film. We had our premiere two nights ago. I thought it was really good, and I think the performances are excellent. So I hope people go and see it.”

Ahead of that, Funny Woman sees Gemma reprise her role of Sophie Straw/Barbara Parker in series two of Funny Woman. “There's a lot more political stuff going on in this [series],” she explained. “We had marches in Trafalgar Square, and also one of our writers, Bill,  played by Matthew Beard, he's gay, but at the time it was illegal to be gay, so there's a lot of stuff with that storyline.

“It's a real ensemble show. The cast is really talented, and they all have their own shows that they do on their own, where they're the lead in this, that and the other. And when we're all together, we just have a complete ball. It's a laugh. We're messing about. We're making each other laugh. And it's a little family.”

Based on Nick Hornby's 2014 novel, ‘Funny Girl’, the show is set in the 1960s. The lead actor said: “It's a great time, all the fun, great costumes and the hairstyles, really extra, over the top hairstyles, I love it!”

"I do love that era,” Gemma revealed. “I've always been a bit of a muso and so it's all about the music from the time. But, yeah, people send me period stuff a lot with work, but I'm trying to do more modern stuff!”

If Funny Woman ever heads into the 70s, the St Trinians star will be ready. “My mum's cousin is Wreckless Eric," she said. "So we had Punk in our family, like it was just in our genes. My mum was a punk. My uncle was a punk, you know, and so I grew up with that. The Damned and Stranglers, all of that lot.”

The ever-busy actor also spoke about providing her voice for sports comedy film, Grand Prix of Europe. Describing it as “a lovely children's animation film,” she told Chris: “Lenny Henry's in it, Hayley Atwell, and I'm a mouse. I'm a little mouse called Edda.”

She added: “We're making it at the moment. It’ll come out next year.”

Read more about what Gemma had to say about series two of Funny Woman here.

Meanwhile, virginradio.co.uk was at the European Premiere of The Critic on Monday 2nd September. Read what Mark Strong said about working with Sir Ian McKellen here.

Funny Woman series two is available this Friday 6th September on Sky Max And NOW.

For more great interviews listen to The Chris Evans Breakfast Show weekdays from 6:30am on Virgin Radio, or catch up on-demand here.