Director Stephen Frears (The Queen) was instead accompanied by Arterton's co-stars Dominic Cooper and Tamsin Greig.

BBC: Gemma Arterton misses Cannes film premiere

With Dominic Cooper as Dakin, the cunning, dark-eyed seducer, and Samuel Barnett as the smooth-cheeked Posner, physically younger than the other boys and hopelessly in love with Dakin.

NEWYORKER: The History Boys

With Judi Dench, Julia Ormond, and Dominic Cooper.

NEWYORKER: My Week with Marilyn