Arterton to start work on Drewe

The Tamara Drewe strip appeared regularly in the Guardian newspaper

Production is due to begin this month on Stephen Frears' version of comic strip and graphic novel Tamara Drewe, starring Gemma Arterton.

The story is adapted from Posy Simmonds' modern-day take on Far From The Madding Crowd - the classic novel by Thomas Hardy.

Arterton will play Tamara, once a shy, ugly teenager, she reinvents herself as a smouldering femme fatale.

The film also stars Mamma Mia's Dominic Cooper and Tamsin Grieg.

The film starts shooting on 21 September on locations in the UK and at Pinewood Studios.

"I've loved Posy Simmonds' work for a long time," Frears said in a statement. "I've got a tremendous cast and crew.

"Tamara Drewe is a terrific story. Fingers crossed, we can do it justice."

Arterton is currently filming a remake of the swords and sorcery classic, Clash of the Titans, which is due in cinemas on boxing day.