Irish actor Rory Keenan and his wife Gemma Arterton have quietly announced the birth of their first child – a baby boy. Chatting on Wednesday’s Radio 2 Breakfast Show with Zoe Ball, the ex-bond girl expressed her delight in confirming the arrival of their son saying: “I just had a baby. We are very very happy, he was born just before Christmas. A little Christmas elf”.
Zoe congratulated Gemma and noted how fabulous she looked so soon after her son’s birth. Gemma laughed off the comment, joking that it was the ‘power of the paintbrush’.
The celebrity couple went public with their pregnancy in November at the Raindance Film Festival awards where Gemma showcased her bump in a black dress.
Best known for her part in Quantum of Solace as Strawberry Fields, Gemma has also held roles in films like St Trinian’s, Kingsman: The Secret Service and is now adding Sky TV series Funny Woman to her portfolio. Dublin born Rory, has appeared in the likes of Peaky Blinders and Birdsong and can most recently be seen in the Channel 4 drama Somewhere Boy.
The couple met in 2017 after appearing in the West End production of St Joan. Rory had previously been in a relationship with Irish model Amy Huberman and Gemma was married to Italian businessman Stefano Catelli before divorcing in 2015. The acting couple married in 2019 in a beautiful private ceremony in Ballybeg House, Co Wicklow.
In 2013, when asked about her plans in regard to motherhood Gemma told The Times: “I don’t think you can ever plan the right, exact time. I don’t feel ready for kids because I want to know that I can come back and still be valuable in the industry”.
We’re happy to see she feels 2022 was the right time for her and her family, we look forward to seeing what comes next for both actors.
