Gemma Arterton played around with different levels of “bad acting” while portraying her actress character in The Critic.

In the new period drama, the Quantum of Solace star plays actress Nina Land, who is frequently slated in the Daily Chronicle by its most feared theatre critic Jimmy Erskine, portrayed by Ian McKellen.

During an interview with Cover Media, director Anand Tucker praised Arterton for pitching Nina’s performances so effortlessly.

“It’s very difficult to do bad acting but it was sort of effortless really,” he said. “I mean, I’d like to take some credit for moulding and directing this wonderful performance she gives (but) I really had nothing to do with it. She was brilliant. Give her the frame and the stage to do it (and she will).”

Tucker explained that they played around with different levels of bad acting over different takes to find the performance that worked best for the film.

“We had fun because sometimes you’d say, ‘Oh, you can just be a bit more awful’ and it sort of worked, I think. I hope,” he continued. “I think we messed around a bit and had fun. You’ve got to kind of see where the right register is and how it fits in within the tonal range of the film because the film does go to quite big places but it’s always got to stay grounded so that’s a tricky balance.”

In the film, Jimmy orchestrates a blackmail plot involving Nina when his job becomes at risk.

The Critic, also starring Mark Strong, Ben Barnes and Lesley Manville, will be released in U.K. cinemas on Friday 13 September.

© Cover Media