Director who gave Gemma Arterton big break helps her sister
Stephen Poliakoff chose Gemma Arterton for a TV drama when she had not even left drama college and told her she would be a star.
She went on to play a Bond girl in Quantum of Solace, appear at the Globe, feature in the film Prince of Persia and receive Bafta nominations for work including rural comedy Tamara Drewe.
Four years on, the writer-director has cast her younger sister, Hannah, and is wondering whether he can sprinkle stardust a second time.
Hannah, 22, who left Rada three weeks ago, has been cast in a small but crucial role as three waitresses in My City, Poliakoff's first new play for 12 years, which he is directing at the Almeida.
"It's a little diamond of a part, a supporting role, something that can be really noticed. We will see if history repeats itself," he said.
Gemma, now 25, was still training at Rada when he chose her for the role of David Walliams's girlfriend in BBC drama Capturing Mary in 2007.
My City, which also stars Tracey Ullman in her first British stage performance for 20 years, runs from September 8 to November 5.
