Gemma Arterton thinks playing a ''pretty girl'' will only get her so far in the film industry.

The 29-year-old actress stars opposite Ryan Reynolds in the black comedy 'The Voices', and she admits a credible track record - and not just her natural beauty - will be what gives her career longevity.

Gemma - who starred in the 2008 James Bond film 'Quantum of Solace' - explained: ''You have to do good work. I think in the long term it goes against you (doing those pretty girl roles). That might last for ten years, but I want to be working when I'm in my 70s and 80s. I don't want to suddenly get to 40 and be like, 'Oh, I just did those pretty girl roles.'''

Gemma recently starred in 'Gemma Bovery', a French adaptation of Posy Simmonds' graphic novel that was inspired by Flaubert's 'Madame Bovary', and says performing in French - which she now speaks fluently - created a unique challenge for her.

She told The Independent newspaper: ''I had to learn French and, for me, that created this weird kind of disconnect because there is always a switch happening in my mind and so you're never quite in the moment.''