Rebecca Ferguson

Rebecca Louisa Ferguson Sundström (; born 19 October 1983) is a Swedish actress. Known for her roles on film and television, she is the recipient of several accolades, including a Saturn Award and two Critics' Choice Super Awards, in addition to nominations for a Golden Globe and a Critics' Choice Movie Award.

Born to a British mother and a Swedish father, Ferguson began her television career in 1999 with the Swedish soap opera Nya tider and made her big screen debut in 2004 with the slasher film Drowning Ghost. She came to international prominence with her portrayal of Elizabeth Woodville in the British drama series The White Queen (2013), for which she was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Miniseries or Television Film.

In American cinema, Ferguson portrayed MI6 agent Ilsa Faust, opposite Tom Cruise, in three of the Mission: Impossible films: Rogue Nation (2015), Fallout (2018), and Dead Reckoning (2023), and Lady Jessica in the science fiction films Dune (2021) and Dune: Part Two (2024), winning her a Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress, as well as in the upcoming Dune: Part Three (2026). She also appeared in the films The Girl on the Train (2016), The Greatest Showman (2017), Doctor Sleep (2019), A House of Dynamite (2025), and Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man (2026). On television, she starred in the Apple TV+ science fiction series Silo (2023–2026), which earned her Saturn Award and Satellite Award nominations.

Early life and education Rebecca Louisa Ferguson Sundström was born on 19 October 1983 in Stockholm, and grew up in the city's Vasastan district. and moved from Britain to Sweden at age 25. and also appeared on the sleeve of the band's 1975 self-titled album. Her father, Olov Sundström, is a Swedish businessman. Her parents never married and separated when she was 3 years old. Ferguson took her mother's surname as her stage name. Her maternal grandmother is Northern Irish, and her maternal grandfather is Scottish. She attended the Adolf Fredrik's Music School in Stockholm and graduated in 1999.

Ferguson was briefly signed to a modeling agency but she disliked being photographed and turned down jobs. in retail stores, at a Korean restaurant, and as a cleaner in a hotel. while she continued her work on several short art film projects.

Career Beginnings Ferguson came to prominence as upper-class girl Anna Gripenhielm in the Swedish soap opera Nya tider (1999–2000). In 2004, she made her feature film debut in Mikael Håfström's horror film Drowning Ghost and later had a guest role in Wallander (2008). which earned her a nomination for the Rising Star award at the Stockholm International Film Festival.

In August 2012, it was announced Ferguson had been cast to play Elizabeth Woodville in the ten-part BBC historical television drama The White Queen (2013), based on Philippa Gregory's The Cousins' War novels about the women of the Wars of the Roses. Ferguson's performance in The White Queen was met with critical praise, and earned her a Golden Globe Award nomination for Best Actress in a Miniseries or Television Film. Her first Hollywood role was against Dwayne Johnson in Hercules (2014).

Recognition

In 2015, Ferguson gained wider recognition for her portrayal of MI6 agent Ilsa Faust, the female lead in the fifth Mission: Impossible film, Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation, for which she received critical acclaim. Tom Cruise handpicked Ferguson to star opposite him in the film after watching her in The White Queen and noticing a resemblance between Ferguson and Ingrid Bergman. – and reprised it again in the seventh film, Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One, in 2023.

In 2016, she played the dual roles of Katya and Lauren in the Cold War espionage thriller directed by Shamim Sarif, Despite the Falling Snow, opposite Sam Reid and Charles Dance. For her performance in the film, she won the Best Actress award at the 2016 Prague Independent Film Festival. Later that same year, Ferguson appeared in Stephen Frears's Florence Foster Jenkins opposite Meryl Streep and Hugh Grant, and Tate Taylor's thriller book adaptation The Girl on the Train starring Emily Blunt. In 2017, Ferguson played the female lead in Daniel Espinosa's sci-fi horror Life, opposite Jake Gyllenhaal and Ryan Reynolds, co-starred in Tomas Alfredson's crime thriller The Snowman, alongside Michael Fassbender and Charlotte Gainsbourg, and starred as Swedish opera singer Jenny Lind in the musical film The Greatest Showman, with Hugh Jackman and Michelle Williams.

In 2019, Ferguson had several major film roles. She co-starred in Doctor Sleep, the adaptation of Stephen King's novel of the same name; played the villain Morgana in Joe Cornish's adventure film The Kid Who Would Be King; and co-starred as Riza Stavros in F. Gary Gray's science fiction comedy film Men in Black: International. In 2021, she co-starred in Lisa Joy's science fiction thriller Reminiscence.

Denis Villeneuve cast her as Lady Jessica in his film adaptation of Frank Herbert's science fiction novel Dune, playing the role in both Dune (2021) and Dune: Part Two (2024).

In 2023, Ferguson starred in and executive produced the Apple TV+ science fiction series Silo.

Personal life Ferguson is claustrophobic and refuses to use elevators.

In 2004, Ferguson spent time in Thailand, where she earned a diving certificate and considered becoming a diving instructor.

In 2007, Ferguson gave birth to her first child, a son, with her then-boyfriend Ludwig Hallberg, a psychosynthesis therapist. After her soap opera success and the birth of their son, she moved with Hallberg to Simrishamn, on the Swedish southeast coast. In 2012, Ferguson and Hallberg taught tango together in Österlen. Ferguson has been in a relationship with businessman Rory St. Clair Gainer, with whom she has a daughter who was born in May 2018. They married in December 2018 a habit that influenced her creative choices for the costume of Rose the Hat in Doctor Sleep (2019).

Filmography +Key Denotes works that have not yet been released

Film +Film Year Title Role Notes 2004 Drowning Ghost Amanda 2010 Lennart Home care personnel Short film Puls Linda 2013 Us Linda 2015 Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation Ilsa Faust Florence Foster Jenkins Kathleen Weatherley The Girl on the Train Anna Watson 2017Life Miranda North The Snowman Katrine Bratt The Greatest ShowmanJenny Lind 2018 Little Match Girl Mother Short film Mission: Impossible – Fallout Ilsa Faust 2019 Doctor Sleep Rose O'Hara / Rose the Hat The Kid Who Would Be King Morgana 2021 Reminiscence Mae 2026 Mercy Judge Maddox Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man Kaulo Chiriklo / Zelda Chiriklo The Magic Faraway Tree Dame Snap Lady Jessica Post-production

Television +Television Year Title Role Notes 1999–2000 Nya tider Anna Gripenhielm 54 episodes 2013 The Inspector and the Sea Jasmine Larsson Episode: "Der Wolf im Schafspelz" The White Queen Elizabeth Woodville Main role (miniseries) 2023–present Silo Juliette Nichols Main role; also executive producer 2023 Wild Scandinavia Narrator Three-part wildlife series

Podcast

Awards and nominations Year Award Category Nominated work Result 2011 Stockholm International Film Festival Rising Star Award A One-way Trip to Antibes 2013 VI 2016Buffalo International Film Festival Best Actress in a Leading Role Despite the Falling Snow California Independent Film Festival Best Actress Critics' Choice AwardsBest Actress in an Action Movie Mission: Impossible –Rogue Nation Empire Awards Best Female Newcomer Online Film & Television Association Best Breakthrough Performance: Female Prague Independent Film Festival Best Actress Despite the Falling Snow 2019 Fright Meter Awards Best Supporting Actress Doctor Sleep Seattle Film Critics Society Villain of the Year Utah Film Critics Association Best Supporting Actress Women Film Critics Circle Best Actress 2020 Fangoria Chainsaw Awards Best Supporting Actress 2021 Saturn Awards Best Actress 2022 Göteborg Film Festival Nordic Honorary Dragon Award Critics' Choice Super Awards Best Actress in a Science Fiction/Fantasy MovieDune 2024 Saturn Awards Best Actress in a Television Series Silo Satellite Awards Best Actress in a Series Silo Astra Midseason Movie Awards Best Supporting Actress Dune: Part Two 2025 Saturn Awards