Gemma Arterton breaks her silence on her secret pregnancy and reveals they had to use CGI to conceal her ‘very obvious’ bump while filming Secret Service

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Gemma Arterton recently revealed she was secretly pregnant while filming the ITV drama, Secret Service.

The 40-year-old actress shared that she was about three and a half months pregnant when filming for the show started. As her pregnancy became more noticeable, producers had to use computer-generated imagery, or CGI, to conceal her baby bump.

Gemma and her husband, Rory Keenan, had a baby late last year, and she just recently announced the news.

The actress discussed filming the new show, which premieres on Monday, in an interview with The Times. She explained, ‘It’s really noticeable when I watch the episodes. I was about three and a half months pregnant when we started, and they cleverly adjusted my costumes to accommodate my growing belly.’

After about six months, the change was so noticeable that they even had to use some computer-generated imagery in a few scenes to hide it.

I became skilled at concealing things – using body language like leaning, specific poses, or covering up with bags and crossed arms, things like that.

The series Secret Service follows Gemma, a British intelligence officer juggling a high-stakes political investigation with the challenges of raising two teenage children.

A British spy is in a desperate race against the clock to find out if a politician is secretly working with the Russian government. She puts everything on the line – her job, her family, and her good name – all while a murder investigation unfolds and an election is fast approaching.

The five-part series, Secret Service, is adapted from the novel of the same name by Tom Bradby, a political journalist at ITV.

Gemma explained to ITV that while there’s been a lot of discussion about a female James Bond, this project is different. Unlike many others, it also focuses on Bond’s personal life and what’s happening at home.

Raising two teenagers is already a handful, and it’s hard to imagine doing it while keeping so many secrets. I found that aspect of her story particularly relatable – the added pressure on top of everyday parenting seemed incredibly difficult.

After a short preview of the show appeared on YouTube, fans immediately expressed their enthusiasm for Secret Service.

They wrote: ‘Gemma Arterton is an underrated actress, glad to see her again.’;

I really like British dramas. They’re more entertaining than real life – it seems like wealthy Russians with ties to the UK aren’t even trying to hide their activities anymore.

Others shared: ‘Yes please, I’m looking forward to the series.’;

‘What on earth would we do without a girlboss? Help us girlboss, you are our only hope!’ 

Secret Service features Rafe Spall, Mark Stanley, Alex Kingston, Roger Allam, and Khalid Abdalla, alongside Gemma, who was also in the James Bond film Quantum of Solace.

Although Gemma has played spies before, she doesn’t think she’d be suited for the job in real life, as she shared with ITV.

She admitted she’d be a terrible spy, explaining that she blushes easily. She believes this involuntary reaction would immediately reveal her cover, as spies can’t afford to show such a telltale sign.

I have trouble keeping secrets. I value my privacy, but I’m not someone who’s good at hiding things or being sneaky. I’m just naturally a bit open and not very subtle.

Secret Service airs on Monday at 9pm on ITV and will be available to stream on ITVX. 

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2026-04-27 16:50