Gemma Arterton To Star In Almeida Theatre's THE MASTER BUILDER

Popular actress Gemma Arterton will star as Hilde Wangel in The Master Builder. The production will play November 12 through January 8 at The Almeida Theatre in Islington, North London. The news was reported by Baz Bamigboye in the U.K. Daily Mail.

Arterton will play opposite Stephen Dillane in Kenneth McLeish's translation of Henrik Ibsen's The Master Builder - a play of heady symbolism, betrayal and sexual passion.

The production will be directed by California-based Travis Preston.

Michael Attenborough, the Almeida's artistic director, described Hilde as 'one of the great parts for a young woman in classical theatre'. 'It's a sensational role, and the chance to play opposite Stephen Dillane doubles the sensation, really,' he told Bamigboye.

"Attenborough has known of Arterton's talent ever since he gave a two-day workshop to third-year students at Rada. He used to warn his classes that, more than likely, he would forget their names the minute he left the auditorium. 'It's extremely hard to forget the name Gemma Arterton, I have to tell you,' he said. 'I absolutely remembered her. She was corking when I worked with her. 'The camera tells you she's beautiful, but the huge difference is that she's an absolute humdinger, 100 percent, proper actress."

For more information on the production, visit http://www.almeida.co.uk/production_details/production_details.aspx?code=98.