Rebecca Ferguson was on a camel in the desert when Tom Cruise wanted to meet her for Mission Impossible 2

Mission: Impossible is one of Hollywood’s most expensive franchises and is loved by millions. And not only because of the breathtaking stunts that Tom Cruise is so keen to do himself, but also because of the heart-pounding action and adventure stories set around the globe. The spy plot always excites audiences, but to move the well-thought-out plot forward, it’s important to introduce other key characters.

Rebecca Ferguson is one of the stars who joined the cast, but according to her, the way she got the role was quite unusual. Then again, it’s exactly what Cruise would do to get her in his films. Not surprising considering how much he’s putting into the project.

How Rebecca Ferguson was selected for the role in “The Mission: Impossible franchise

The latest film in Tom Cruise’s iconic franchise, Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part 1brings back Ethan Hunt and Ilsa Faust, played by Rebecca Ferguson. Despite her character’s tragic end, she remains one of the most enduring characters in the entire series, as she was introduced to audiences early on.

Adding Ferguson to the cast wasn’t difficult, but it was a little unconventional. Since the franchise features dangerous scenes in various locations around the world, it might have been helpful that Cruise knew she was filming The Red Tent in the desert. That probably made it easier for him to imagine her in the role.

Interviewed by FabTV on the red carpet for Mission: Impossible – Falloutthe star spoke about her casting process. She revealed that she had to interrupt her filming in Morocco and fly to London to take part in the film:

I was on a camel in the desert (…) And they stopped filming and said: “Tom Cruise wants to meet you and they want to cast you in Mission Impossible. We’re going to stop filming for two days and fly you to London so you can meet him.” And then they called a week later.

Considering that Cruise’s character is even seen riding a horse through the desert to meet Ferguson’s character in the latest film in the franchise, it’s easy to imagine what the actor and producer had in mind when casting them.

In the same interview, she was asked about her chances of winning an Oscar in the future and jokingly asked what she would do if another actress won the award instead. Ferguson replied:

Oh my God, I would chase her (…) And I would take it back [the award]and I would say, “Do you want it? You can ask me for it.” I would do that. That’s why Tom wanted me.

The actress has spoken about her relationship with Cruise before, and reflecting on the film and her overall experience with the star, it seems like she learned a lot.

Rebecca Ferguson’s experience in Mission: Impossible?

In a 2023 interview with Radio Times magazine, the actress shared some insights into her immersion in the franchise and the entire process of working with Cruise: (via Deadline)

He is a happy, enthusiastic, professional movie star. He is kind, wonderful, determined and has given me the most incredible opportunities.

She says she owes her experience as Ilsa Faust above all to the actor, who was the driving force behind everything and inspired the cast and crew. She sees him as a great source of inspiration.

She also said that Cruise expects the best from everyone and that was one of the most important lessons she learned. His professionalism and dedication stand out, especially because he is always the first to arrive on set and the last to leave.

She also mentioned that the most important lesson she learned from this is the importance of versatility because “If you can’t deliver, that’s fine, you always look for other solutions“No situation is ever completely lost.

All Mission: Impossible Movies are available to stream on Paramount+.