How did you get involved in the film?

Because were going back some two years, arent we?

Youd doneQuantum Of Solaceby this point?

I think Id just finished filming Bond.

And I thought, Oh, okay.

Because I have to say, I didnt know about the game.

And she said, Its quite a big deal.

And I sort of had a sneaky peek, so I knew who else was going up for it.

And I thought, Ooh, this must be a big deal then.

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And then she said,Mike the director really wants to meet you.

so I came in and I did a reading.

It was exciting when I got it.

I had, like, 25 missed calls.

And I phoned her back and she said, Why didnt you answer your phone?

Youve gotPrince of Persia!

And I just sat on my bed.

I was in shock.

Because I knew this was probably the part that was going to change things for me.

And its weird the connotations that has on your life and your career.

All of a sudden youre given a phone call and thats it.

You dont even realise when youre growing up whos the producer on each film.

And then you look at their CV and you think wow, theyve just done these huge films.

For my generation it was thePirates Of The Caribbeanfilms I remember going to the cinema and seeing.

The spectacle of them and how grand they were and fun.

For me, it was just wow, I cant believe it.

Little old me from Gravesend in Kent is going to be in the nextPirates Of The Caribbean-style movie.

It was an amazing thing to think that could that happen.

[laughs]

It is a huge film but theres a big British cast, giving it aHarry Potterfeel.

Did it feel like a family?

And again thats down to the casting director Susie Figgis.

Which meant that even though it was this big Hollywood movie, it had this earthiness to it.

Also, aside from all the location shoots, it was filmed in London.

It wasnt as nerve-racking as I thought it would be.

And it was nice.

I was able to go home.

I could have a normal life while filming this crazy film.

Oh, I have a laugh anywhere I go.

[laughs] I refuse to be serious.

It was hot, but we all knew it was going to be hot.

It was full on, especially for the crew.

I mean, us actors we get it easy.

Were fed and watered all day, but they were out there in the sun.

At one point it was 50-something degrees Celsius It was ridiculously hot, but it was brilliant.

And it was a British crew.

They like to have a muck around.

They take their job seriously, but they like to have fun.

I think its important.

Why do a job thats hard on yourself?

Youve got to enjoy it at the same time.

[Incredulously] Was there?!

He must have done his job pretty well, then.

Yeah, I didnt know that guy was there.

Which is the CGI snake, which is quite funny.

Because theres this little green sock [laughs], which was stuffed.

And they had it on an invisible green string, and there was somebody that would puppeteer it.

Im lying there and this little green sock comes up my body.

It was meant to be really, really scary and it was just really comical.

Youve just doneAlice Creed, which has recently come out.

Was that a deliberate reaction, to do something much smaller and intimate?

Yeah, I think so.

I never expected Id end up in a film like this, or Bond, orClash Of The Titans.

I always imagined myself doing [Alice Creed] sort of films.

I always want to do things that are completely the opposite of what Ive just done.

It makes my job much more enjoyable.

It was kind of the polar opposite, in terms of the budget and the style.

Its still good quality work, its just a very different discipline.

We had four weeks to shoot it, whereas onPrince Of Persiawe had six months.

So you have the luxury, or not.

Sometimes having too much time and money is not a luxury in a way.

But it was really interesting to go from one to another.

Im lucky Ive been able to do both.

I hope I can continue to do that.

He wont do it.

He wont do it.

I know he wont.

I was talking about it with my driver earlier, whos the biggest Bond fan ever.

And he was, Oh, what if it doesnt get made?

Its going to get made.

Its Bond, its not going to end.

Its had another peak.

It was one of the biggest movies of 2008.

Its just a matter of time.

Its hard to make movies at the moment.

Thats the state of the film industry at the moment.

Its the state of the world at the moment.

It will happen, it will just be a bit later.

Gemma Arterton, thank you very much!

Prince Of Persia: The Sands Of Time is released on Friday.