Who played Tom Cruise's wife on Mission Impossible​?

Last Modified Mar 10, 2025 05:11 EDT


Who played Tom Cruise's wife on Mission Impossible​?
Julia and Ethan (Source: YouTube Screengrab)


Michelle Monaghan plays Tom Cruise's wife (later ex-wife) in the Mission Impossible movie franchise.


Mission Impossible is an American spy-action film franchise produced by Hollywood star Tom Cruise. The franchise is based on the 1966 TV series of the same name. Tom Cruise is not only the producer but also the main lead of the franchise. The first film titled Mission: Impossible was released on May 22, 1996, and was directed by Brian De Palma.


As of 2024, the franchise has once again made news as the makers disclosed the release date and trailer of the final Mission Impossible film. Titled Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning, Tom Cruise’s final Mission Impossible film is set to release on May 23, 2025, and is directed by Christopher McQuarrie.


Who is Tom Cruise’s wife in Mission Impossible?


Who played Tom Cruise's wife on Mission Impossible​?
Julia Meade (Source: YouTube Screengrab)


In Mission Impossible: III, Ethan Hunt (played by Tom Cruise) meets and falls in love with Dr. Julia Anne Meade-Hunt while on a "heli-boarding" trip at Lake Wanaka. To keep her from learning about Mission Impossible Force, Hunt lies about his job by saying he works for the Virginia Department of Transportation. In the film, Julia was known to be a nurse (later a doctor). In the same film, the two get engaged and move to Norfolk where Julia was born and brought up.


In Mission Impossible: The Ghost Protocol (4th film), it's revealed that Ethan Hunt is now married to Julia Meade with her being aware of his work. Hunt’s wife had a short cameo in the film. In the previous film, Julia learned about the reality of Ethan Hunt’s work after she was kidnapped and held at gunpoint by the film’s antagonist, Owen Davian.


Are Ethan Hunt and Julia Meade still married?


Who played Tom Cruise's wife on Mission Impossible​?
Julia Meade (Source: YouTube Screengrab)


No. In Mission: Impossible – Fallout it was revealed that Ethan Hunt and Julia Meade had separated and gotten divorced. In the 2018 film, Julia was shown to have relocated to Kashmir for safety purposes and restarted her life there as a doctor. After divorcing Ethan, Julia then went on to marry someone named Erik. However, before relocating and starting a new life, Ethan had to make the harsh decision of making his former wife Julia fake her death to make sure his enemies wouldn’t go after her.


Despite genuine efforts, August Walker (played by Henry Cavill)., the antagonist of Mission: Impossible – Fallout, finds out about Julia and threatens her life. By the end of the film Ethan Hunts manages to save his former wife and it's shown that despite the divorce, the two share a friendly bond.


Who plays Julia Meade in the Mission Impossible franchise?


Who played Tom Cruise's wife on Mission Impossible​?
Michelle Lynn Monaghan (Source: Facebook)


American actress Michelle Lynn Monaghan plays Julia Meade in the Mission Impossible franchise. Born on March 23, 1976, the actress is also known for acting in Mr. & Mrs. Smith, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, Trucker, Source Code, Tomorrow You're Gone, Comedy Bang! Bang!, Bad Monkey, Echoes, and Boston Public, amongst many other movies. Speaking of her personal life, she is married to Australian graphic artist Peter White and together they have a daughter and a son.


FAQs about Julia Meade from Mission Impossible

A. Michelle Lynn Monaghan plays Julia Meade-Hunt, Ethan Hunt’s wife in Mission Impossible.

Julia Meade’s death is faked in order to send her into hiding and keep her safe from Ethan Hunt’s enemies.

A.  Julia and Ethan Hunt met at Lake Wanaka in Mission Impossible.

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