Mission Impossible: Forget Tom Cruise it’s all about the leading ladies of the film franchise

Tom Cruise stars in the new Mission: Impossible movie ‘Dead Reckoning Part One’ and we all know that he is amazing and doing all his own stunts at the age of 61. He’s even admitted that he won’t be retiring anytime soon and will continue to make movies for the next 20 years.   

The Hollywood actor has been inspired by Harrison Ford who is starring in the new Indiana Jones film aged 80. During an interview with The Sydney Morning Herald Tom said "Harrison Ford is a legend. I hope to be still going at that age, I've got 20 years to catch up with him"

He added: "I hope to keep making Mission Impossible films until I'm his age."

But wait a minute. Can we get a shout out to all the lead actresses that have featured in the Mission: Impossible film franchise over the years?

We take a closer look at the leading ladies that have helped the movie become a success alongside Tom’s character Ethan Hunt. 

Hayley Atwell - Mission: Impossible Dead Reckoning Part One (2023) 

British actress Hayley joins the cast in the latest film as Grace. She is a skilled thief with a mysterious past and dubious loyalties. Hayley was Peggy Carter in the Marvel films Captain America: The First Avenger and Ant-Man and her own spin off TV series Agent Carter. 

Vanessa Kirby - Mission: Impossible Fallout (2018)

Another Brit starring in the new movie first appeared as Alanna Mitsopolis, professionally known as the White Lotus in the 2018 film. She is an arms dealer on the black market. 

Vanessa has had many TV roles including Great Expectations and Poirot  but is best known for her role as Princess Margaret in the Netflix series The Crown. 

Rebecca Ferguson - Mission: Impossible Rogue Nation (2015)

Swedish actress Rebecca is also in the newest film and has been a regular face since starring in Rogue Nation. She plays Isla Faust, a former MI6 agent. 

Rebecca is best known for her role as Jenny Lind in The Greatest Showman alongside Hugh Jackman. She also starred in the film Dune and will be in the upcoming sequel Dune: Part two. 

Paula Patton - Mission: Impossible Ghost Protocol (2011)

American actress Paula played Jane Carter in the fourth instalment of the movie franchise. She is an operative of the Impossible Mission Force in search of revenge on French hit- woman Sabine Moreau for killing her lover, Trevor Hanaway.

Paula made her film debut in the movie Hitch and also starred in Warcraft and Deja Vu. She was asked to return for the fifth Mission Impossible film but the scheduling didn’t work. 

Michelle Monaghan - Mission: Impossible III (2006)

American actress Michelle played Julia who debuted in the third film and returned in the sixth film, Fallout. Ethan meets and falls in love with Julia while on a "heli-boarding" trip at Lake Wanaka. marry shortly before he set off on a two-day ‘business trip.’

Michelle has had a successful film career with leading roles in Gone Baby Gone, Made of Honour and Kiss Kiss Bang Bang. 

Thandie Newton - Mission: Impossible II (2000) 

British actress Thandie played Nyah Nordoff-Hall in the second film 23 years ago. She is a former professional thief who was enlisted in the Impossible Mission Force in order to spy on terrorist Sean Ambrose, who also is her former lover.

Thandie is best known for her role as Mauve Millay in the TV series Westworld. She also starred in Pursuit of Happiness with Will Smith and the movie Crash. Thandie is also mother to the up and coming actress Nico Parker who’s film debut was Dumbo and is now set to be in the film adaptation of How To Train A Dragon. 

Emmanuelle Béart - Mission: Impossible (1996)

Who can forget the first ever leading lady for the Mission Impossible films was French actress Emmanuelle. She played Claire, the wife of rogue IMF director, Jim Phelps, and Ethan Hunt's first love interest and friend.

Emmanuelle went on to have acting roles in mostly French films. In 2003 She posed nude for French Elle and it remains the magazine's best selling issue to this day.  

The actress spoke openly in 2013 about a failed cosmetic surgery procedure on her mouth when she was 27. She has since gone on to campaign against plastic surgery.  

Mission: Impossible Dead Reckoning Part One premieres in cinemas from 10 July