Rebecca Ferguson has been cast as the female lead in 'Mission: Impossible 5'.

The 30-year-old actress - who received a Golden Globe nomination for her debut in the title role of BBC drama 'The White Queen' - has signed up to play the female lead opposite Tom Cruise in the upcoming action sequel, Deadline reports.

Cruise will reprise his role as secret agent Ethan Hunt while Alec Baldwin is rumoured to be in talks with Paramount Pictures to play the head of the CIA and details of Ferguson's character so far remain unknown.

Chris McQuarrie - who directed Cruise in 2012 film 'Jack Reacher' - will helm the project, which marks the fifth instalment in the action franchise, following on from 2011's 'Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol'.

Cruise will also produce alongside 'Star Wars: Episode VII' director J.J. Abrams and Bryan Burk while David Ellison, Dana Goldberg and Don Granger are to executive produce.

Swedish up-and-coming actress Ferguson will next appear in the Brett Ratner-directed 'Hercules' with Dwayne ''The Rock'' Johnson, Ian McShane and Irina Shayk.

Although details of the 'Mission: Impossible 5' plot currently remain under wraps, the film is scheduled for release on December 26 2015.