Gemma Arterton plans to let her "hair down" on the West End stage.

She said: "[The play] speaks to me in that 'working-class girl finding her voice and breaking through class barriers' kind of way."

The former Bond girl starred in London's West End earlier in her career, in the musical 'Made In Dagenham', and she didn't envisage making a return to the theatre so soon.

However, Gemma admitted she couldn't reject the chance to play such an interesting role.

She told the Daily Mail newspaper: "There's singing! And dancing! Gwynn's very lively."

Gemma revealed she was particularly attracted to the role because of how Nell engages with the audience about popular topics, including the treatment of woman.

She said: "It's nice to know that we've had to fight through this before."

Earlier this year, Gemma - who was born in Kent, England - revealed she'd never be tempted to move to America, despite being one of the world's most in-demand actresses.

She explained: "I love Europe, I live between here [London] and Paris. I like going to America, I've got lots of friends there and I go there for work but I just can't imagine living there.

"I also like our sense of humour and I always struggle when I'm over there because people don't get my sense of humour and they think I'm being serious all the time."