Gemma Arterton misses Tamara Drewe's Cannes premiere to promote Prince of Persia ~ Beauty Care

Gemma Arterton misses Tamara Drewe's Cannes premiere to promote Prince of Persia

There are plenty of actresses who might feel a little jealous of Gemma Arterton just now.

From a virtual unknown she has become one of Hollywood's hottest young stars - forced to choose between two conflicting premieres.

So while a host of stars walked the red carpet at the Cannes Film Festival for the premiere of Tamara Drewe, Gemma was instead promoting her big-budget blockbuster Prince Of Persia: Sands Of Time in Los Angeles.

Ruling the red carpet: Gemma Arterton looked stylish at the LA premiere of Prince Of Persia: The Sands Of Time, but missed her Tamara Drewe premiere

Top director Stephen Frears said that the Disney studio's 'billions' have kept his 'gorgeous' star away from Cannes.

'We didn't stand a chance,' he said. 'Disney has spent billions, well, it seems like billions but it's probably millions on the Pea And The Princess or whatever it's called and Gemma's their leading lady and they have first dibs on her.

'It was probably written into her contract that she would be required to go on promotional tours for the film.

'She knew this and we can't compete with that. It's just a shame because Gemma's gorgeous as Tamara Drewe and she would have been stunning on the red carpet', Frears told the Mail just before last night's gala showing in Cannes.

Frears, who directed Helen Mirren in The Queen, the film that won her a best actress Oscar, added: 'Gemma's going to be a huge star and I'm just happy to have gotten her to be in my little British film while she was still available, and affordable'.

Where's my star? Stephen Frears leaves the screening of the movie Tamara Drewe at the Cannes Film Festival

Tamara Drewe is based on Posy Simmonds' graphic novel, which in turn is based on Thomas Hardy's Far From the Madding Crowd.

The film is set in contemporary Dorset.

Tamara, a journalist, returns to her village after her mother's death to find the local men lusting after her because she has had a nose job, plus she has a voluptuous figure and is seen as a ravishing beauty.

The men wanting to get to know her better are played by actors Roger Allam, Dominic Cooper and Luke Evans. Tamsin Greig also stars as Allam's screen wife.

Her comic timing and the comedy skills of the cast in general have been highly praised by reviewers here who have already seen the picture.

Bold shoulder: The dress featured draping and silver detailing

Ready for her close up: Gemma looked cool and confident

Frears declared he cast Gemma, a graduate of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts, the minute he met her.

'Gemma came to see me and I said to my casting director, "Is she any good? If she is then book her."

'You're lucky when things like that happen', he added.

While she wasn't able to make it to Cannes, Gemma, 24, was working hard in Los Angeles.

Handsome co-star: She was joined by Jake Gyllenhaal, who looked dapper in a black suit

The actress looked like a goddess as she sauntered along the red carpet in a pale gold Grecian dress that featured silver detailing on the one shoulder.

She was joined at Grauman's Chinese Theatre in Hollywood by her co-star Jake Gyllenhaal, who made more than a few guests swoon as he arrived in a dapper suit.

Sir Ben Kingsley, who also stars in the action adventure film, was accompanied by Daniela Lavender while Alanis Morissette, who wrote the theme song I Remain, made a grand enterance all on her own in a plunging black gown.

Ben Kingsley arrives with Daniela Lavender

VIP guests: Alanis Morissette, who wrote the Prince Of Persia theme song I Remain, turned out for the evening, along with the film's star Sir Ben Kingsley, who was joined by Daniela Lavender

While Arterton looked incredibly confident, she has confessed she struggles with her body image.

The British star - who was told what not to eat by the makers of Prince Of Persia, after she was pictured with a double chin - has said she was recently insulted by a designer who questioned whether she would fit into a size-six dress.

She told the Mail's Richard Kay: ‘It is ridiculous. I went to a designer the other day — who will remain nameless — and he said to me: “I’m amazed that you’re fitting into these sample sizes.”'

She then told the designer: ‘I’m a size eight to ten! I should be amazed that the largest you’re making these is a size six.’

Special tribute: Prior to the premiere Gemma and Jack looked on as producer Jerry Bruckheimer was honoured in the forecourt of Grauman's Chinese Theatre

However, she admits: ‘Occasionally, I come home and say to my fiance [stunt driver Stefano Mioni]: “I feel really fat.”

‘He says: “Will you just listen to yourself? You know you’re being silly.” And I do know that when I’m home, but in the business it’s different.’

She adds: ‘The only way that I could ever be a size six is if I didn’t eat. I’m not naturally meant to be that size, and I just feel like there’s a responsibility to people who aren’t that size to make that known.

‘All I can do, I think, is try to look good. I have things made for me so they fit.’

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Making an impression: Jerry, whose films include Top Gun, Pirates of the Caribbean and now Prince of Persia, added his hand and footprints to a plaque

Before the premiere began, Arterton and Gyllenhaal joined a host of stars paying tribute to the film's acclaimed producer Jerry Bruckheimer.

The pair, along with Tom Cruise and Nicolas Cage, watched as Bruckheimer, 64, added his hand and footprints to some 200 other celebrity impressions in the forecourt of the famous theatre.