The Tamara Drewe star told Stylist that she was "always into music" growing up.
Arterton said: "My mum brought me up on lots of great female artists, like Kate Bush and Björk. It was Björk's role in [Lars von Trier's] Dancer in the Dark that made me want to be an actor.
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"I love PJ Harvey as well. The music industry is the one place you can really express yourself as a woman.
"It's very different in my job. If you want to be a feminist you have to deal with the consequences, but as a musician you can go for it."
Asked if the difference existed because actors have to maintain some anonymity to take on different roles, Arterton added: "Yes. I'm very conscious of that because I do like to transform slightly.
"I don't really want everyone to know every opinion I've ever thought, even though I'm very outspoken. I have to watch myself when I do interviews."
Arterton recently signed up to star in Neil LaBute's adaptation of Agatha Christie's Crooked House and Neil Jordan's vampire movie Byzantium.
She has also been linked to a role in a Dynasty remake after Joan Collins suggested her as a "sexy and vixenous" candidate to play Alexis Carrington Colby.
> Gemma Arterton 'loves London anonymity'
Watch Björk in the Dancer in the Dark trailer video below:
