Gemma Arterton sister gets first acting break from same director

Published Aug 8 2011, 21:37 BST  |  By Sophie Hines

Gemma Arterton's younger sister Hannah has been given her first break as an aspiring actress by the same director who first gave Gemma a chance.

Stephen Poliakoff gave the older sibling a part in TV drama Capturing Mary when she had not even left acting college, and told her at the time thatshe would be a star.

Gemma went on to star in films such as Quantum of Solace, Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time and Tamara Drewe.

Four years on, Poliakoff has cast Hannah in a small but crucial role in his first new play for 12 years, called My City.

"It's a little diamond of a part, a supporting role, something that can be really noticed. We will see if history repeats itself," Poliakoff told the Evening Standard.

Hannah - like Gemma - studied acting at RADA, finishing her course just three weeks ago.