Gemma Arterton likes her physical roles.
Arterton stars in Prince of Persia; The Sands of Time alongside Jake Gyllenhaal and it's the second big budget blockbuster for the British actress this year after finding box office success with Clash of the Titans.
Speaking to MTV she said: "I think it's quite rare to get [action roles]. I mean, guys are always playing soldiers and warriors, [but] there's not many roles for women like it.
I really threw myself into it and did a lot of my own stunts, which I'm really, really proud of. I always sort of saw myself as a bit of a stunt girl anyway.
"I'm quite reckless. [Laughs.] So I was really pleased when I got offered this role."
And the Arterton reveals that there were two scenes in particular that were a great physical challenge for her.
"There's a horse-riding one, where I pull myself to the horse from standing while it's galloping towards me.
"It took me about two weeks to learn how to do that. And it was pretty nerve-racking doing it, because everyone's watching, and I had to prove that I could do it."
And the second. "I roll under [a] closing gate while I'm running. I was petrified that I was actually going to run into the gate.
"And there's actual video footage of me going: 'Did you see that? Did you see that? I did it!' and everyone going, 'Uh, yeah, we were all filming it, funnily enough.'"
Arterton will next been seen on the big screen in Stephen Frears' latest movie Tamara Drewe, which premiered at Cannes Film Festival last week.
Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time is out now.
Tagged in Gemma Arterton