Thandie Newton recalls being 'scared' of Tom Cruise during filming for Mission: Impossible 2

Thandie Newton has shed light on what it's like working alongside Tom Cruise on Mission: Impossible: 2, revealing she felt "scared" of the actor.

"He was a very dominant individual. He tries super hard to be a nice person," she told Vulture on July 7 (US Time). "But the pressure; he takes on a lot. And I think he has this sense that only he can do everything as best as it can be done."

Newton, who played Nyah Nordoff-Hall, described rehearsing a scene with Cruise where the actor became "frustrated" by her performance.

"Tom was not happy with what I was doing because I had the s---tiest lines," she said.

"We filmed the entire scene with me being him — because, believe me, I knew the lines by then — and him playing me. And it was the most unhelpful… I can't think of anything less revealing," she added.

"It just pushed me further into a place of terror and insecurity. It was a real shame. And bless him. And I really do mean bless him, because he was trying his damnedest."

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Newton called the entire experience a "nightmare" but eventually re-shot the scene the way Cruise envisaged it.

"I realised what he wanted," Newton said. "He just wanted this alpha (expletive). And I did as best as I could. It's not the best way to get the best work out of someone."

The actress went on to reveal Cruise's ex-wife Nicole Kidman was a "huge advocate" for her getting the part after meeting on set of 1991's Flirting.

"I've never actually outright asked her, but when your husband is like, 'Who would you mind me pretending to shag for the next six months?' You know what I mean? It's kind of nice if you can pick together," she said.

Cruise is slated to appear in upcoming Mission: Impossible sequels.

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