Rebecca Ferguson has been taking Hollywood by storm since her big break in American film, stealing the spotlight from co-star Tom Cruise in 2015’s Mission: Impossible Rogue Nation. The alluring Swedish-born actress now has several high-profile projects in the works including The Girl on the Train. Here’s what you need to know about Hollywood’s latest “It Girl.”

 

Born in Sweden

 

 

Rebecca Ferguson was born in Stockholm, Sweden in 1983 to a British mother and Swedish father. She attended music school in Stockholm and currently lives in the seaside town of Simrishamn, on the south coast of Sweden.

 

She Started Her Career on a Soap Opera

 

 

When she was just 15 years old, Ferguson began her career on the Swedish soap opera Nya tider in 1999. For over a decade she worked mainly on Swedish TV series as well as features like Drowning Ghosts.

 

She Gave a Golden Globe-nominated Performance in “The White Queen”

 

 

Tom Cruise reportedly discovered Ferguson while watching her in the 2013 Starz series The White Queen, based on Philippa Gregory’s novel. Her portrayal of 15th century British queen, Elizabeth Woodville was nominated for a Golden Globe.

 

She Lives in a Windmill

 

 

Many celebrities have unconventional homes, but Rebecca Ferguson’s house is truly unique. She lives in a windmill located in an orchard and says she dreams about coming home to work on the windmill at the end of the day.

 

She’s an Impressive Fashionista

 

 

Rebecca Ferguson is very style conscious, even by Hollywood standards. While promoting Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation, she showed off her great taste by wearing stunning dresses from designers like Elie Saab and Diane von Furstenberg.

 

She’s Been Compared to Lauren Bacall and Ingrid Bergman

 

 

With her aura of mystery, sophistication and classic Hollywood glamour, Ferguson has been compared to some of the most desirable actresses of all time, including fellow Swede Ingrid Bergman and the legendary femme fatale Lauren Bacall

 

Wants to Do More Action Films

 

 

Since playing assassin Ilsa Faust in Rogue Nation, she’s itching for more action movies, telling Time: “Doing a film like this, challenging yourself in a completely different way, you feel happy and exhausted, because it’s a difficult job.”

 

Exciting Family Lineage

 

 

Her British mother is related to Duchess of York Sarah Ferguson (pictured). The actress says she likes to combine her Swedish and English roots, such as doing a British film where gets to speak a little Swedish.

 

Works with Some of Hollywood’s Biggest Icons

 

 

Although she’s still a newcomer in Hollywood, Rebecca Ferguson has already worked with several American film icons. In addition to Tom Cruise, she’s acted with Dwayne Johnson in Hercules, and with Meryl Streep in upcoming dramedy Florence Foster Jenkins.

 

She Was a Professional Dancer

 

 

Besides acting, her most impressive talent is probably dancing. Ferguson studied numerous dance genres and once taught the Argentine Tango with her boyfriend Ludwig at a local dance studio. That must have heated up those cold Swedish winters.

 

She’s One Sexy Mama

 

 

Literally one sexy mama, Ferguson has a nine-year-old son, Isac, with ex-boyfriend Ludwig Hallberg. After many years together, Ferguson and Hallberg separated in 2015, but with all she has to offer, Ferguson could have her pick of hunky A-listers.

 

Overcame Her Fear of Heights for “Mission Impossible”

 

 

The hardest part of co-starring in Rogue Nation may have been the preparation. Ferguson did fitness and stunt training for six weeks, six hours a day. Doing her own stunts also meant she had to overcome extreme vertigo.

 

She Learns from the Best

 

 

Rebecca Ferguson draws inspiration from an impressive list of acclaimed actresses that include Helen Mirren, Cate Blanchett, Helena Bonham Carter, and Maggie Smith. With role models like these, Ferguson obviously takes her profession very seriously.

 

She Loves a Challenge

 

 

Ferguson is anxious to really challenge herself as an actress, saying: “I want to play an awkward, Tim Burton-esque, weird creature. Something where you really have to change, even if it’s just body language or voice.”

 

Has Five Exciting Films in the Works

 

 

The future looks bright for Rebecca Ferguson with five major films premiering through 2017 including M:1 6 – Mission Impossible; the Ryan Reynolds-Jake Gyllenhaal thriller Life; and highly anticipated Emily Blunt mystery The Girl on the Train.