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Complex Video Shoot

November 16, 2011

Just a year ago, Paula Patton never would have slipped into a barely there outfit to straddle a pommel horse in front of a camera.

The occasional innocent bra shot? Sure. But steamy sexual provocation, complete with come-hither eyes and generous amounts of skin? Not a chance.

Believe it or not, she was just too shy.

From the outside looking in, Patton’s insecurities seem ridiculous. For one thing, she’s drop-dead gorgeous. She’s also a respected actress who’s graced romantic comedies (Just Wright, Jumping the Broom) and critical darlings (Déjà Vu, Precious) alike. Off screen, she and husband Robin Thicke—the Grammy Award–winning singer and songwriter—keep on giving lovesick fools hope by maintaining one of Hollywood’s most functional celebrity marriages. (Their first child, Julian Fuego, was born April 2010.)

Her unforgettable performance in Thicke’s steamy “Lost Without You” video shows she’s not exactly as shy as she claims to be.

Still, the Los Angeles native was never comfortable disrobing for anyone else’s visual pleasure.

But she’s never had a lead role in a blockbuster like Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol either. Sharing screen time with Tom Cruise in the fourth installment of the mega-successful spy franchise, Patton has found her confidence skyrocketing.

She’s packing heat and beating down bad guys. It’s the kind of role that very few actresses get to tackle, and Patton knows it. No wonder she’s feeling better than ever about herself. And when she feels good, we feel good, too.

It’s safe to say that Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol is the biggest film of your career so far. Not every actress gets to be in a franchise that’s earned over $4 billion worldwide.

Making Mission: Impossible was a dream come true. It challenged me as an actor because it’s so technical. Any time you’re challenged you get better. I learned so much from working with Tom Cruise—it was remarkable. Also, I got to do my own stunts, and that felt more freeing than anything I’ve ever done. To be able to be that physical was exciting.

Was that first meeting with Tom Cruise intimidating?

No, actually. He made me feel comfortable; he was so kind. At first I felt like I shouldn’t waste my time, because I just didn’t see how they’d actually cast me. I didn’t think of myself being hired to be in this.

Then they kept calling, so I figured, “OK, I have nothing to lose. It would be cool to be a spy. [Laughs.] And it’d be amazing to work with Tom. If they’re calling, there has to be a reason—you have to have more faith in yourself.” So they called and said that they wanted me to do a chemistry read with Tom, and it was like no screen test I’d ever done before.

I had my trailer, and the test was on a big soundstage in Paramount. It felt very “old Hollywood.” It was very exciting. I had to learn how to disarm a gun a little bit—or at least be able to fake it—that same day!

Had you ever used a gun before?

Yeah, I had, actually. Before I got married, back in 2005, I did this TV pilot that Antoine Fuqua directed and produced, starring Josh Brolin and myself as homicide detectives—but it didn’t get picked up. I got to learn how to use a gun then, so I wasn’t coming into Mission: Impossible as naïve and fresh as I would have otherwise.

Was the weapons training difficult?

There was a lot of gun training that was far more intense than what I had done previously. The guns expert on set was nicknamed “Peter Guns.”

Not the rapper, obviously.

[Laughs.] No, not him. Ours used to be the head of SWAT teams. He put me through some intense gun training. I’m embarrassed to say how much fun it was. [Laughs.] I’m not somebody who really likes guns. I don’t like the idea of being violent in that way, and yet there’s something so powerful about holding a gun. It’s weird, but it’s the truth.

It was fun to feel powerful enough to know that you could protect yourself in crazy situations. He taught me how to attack a man who’s nearly twice my size, and the training actually gave me the ability to do that, if need be.

Read more here.

That 1st picture would have been much sexier in a boxing outfit.

She looks really good, though.

The next time u guys start debating "what/who is sexy"...............refer back 2 this thread.

[Edited 11/16/11 8:50am]

She has a Vanity tincture.

2freaky4church1 said:

She has a Vanity tincture.

I see where you're coming from .. but only just

I can't wait to see what her and Robin Thicke's son looks like when he grows up!

Mya said:

2freaky4church1 said:

She has a Vanity tincture.

I see where you're coming from .. but only just

I can't wait to see what her and Robin Thicke's son looks like when he grows up!

You might be too old for him by then though, right?

Double daaayumm! No wonder Robin Thicke is making mediocre

music these days. I wouldn't give a shit either if i had to wake up

to that daily.

Tittypants said:

Mya said:

I see where you're coming from .. but only just

I can't wait to see what her and Robin Thicke's son looks like when he grows up!

You might be too old for him by then though, right?

I said that out of honest curiosity, but now that you mention it ..

He may turn out to be into cougars? I could play matchmaker for my future daughter? The possibilities are endless!

Mya said:

Tittypants said:

You might be too old for him by then though, right?

I said that out of honest curiosity, but now that you mention it ..

He may turn out to be into cougars? I could play matchmaker for my future daughter? The possibilities are endless!

Yeah, you never know.

Ooohhh, Paula.

I've seen Paula look waaaay better than that cover...I know the photographer was going for a "look" but it's too "hard" of a "look" in my opinion...

The finest & sexiest she ever looked was when she co-starred with Queen Latifah & Common...I forget the name of the movie...

I didn't see it but the title of the film is Just Wright.

2freaky4church1 said:

She has a Vanity tincture.

I never thought of that. But, if they were to do a movie of about Vanity/ Denise it clearly should be Paula's name they think of first. Here are some pics of Vanity that show it would not take much for a make-up artist to make Paula look just like Vanity.

Vanity - Promo photo

Vanity - Skin on Skin promo photo

© Motown

Vanity

Vanity. Denise Matthews is no longer Vanity. She has taken back her origina...

Chancellor said:

I've seen Paula look waaaay better than that cover...I know the photographer was going for a "look" but it's too "hard" of a "look" in my opinion...

The finest & sexiest she ever looked was when she co-starred with Queen Latifah & Common...I forget the name of the movie...

Right before Prince was on the cover of Ebony, Paula had the cover. I think she was pregnant at the time and she looked very beautiful in those pics.

Identity said:

I didn't see it but the title of the film is Just Wright.

Thanks..Hours ago I was about to post "Love & Basketball"....LOL...."Just Wright" was just alright...The flick was missing something..

Paula's next flick is with Tom Cruise in his next Mission Impossible installment...The trailor doesnt look to promising but I might check it out anyways...

Did anybody see "Jump the Broom"? I was suppose to take someone to see that flick when it was showing but never did. Is it worth a trip to Blockbuster?

Chancellor said:

Paula's next flick is with Tom Cruise in his next Mission Impossible installment...The trailor doesnt look to promising but I might check it out anyways...

Yeah, it comes out next month. There's an open thread on it here.

Deadflow3r said:

2freaky4church1 said:

She has a Vanity tincture.

I never thought of that. But, if they were to do a movie of about Vanity/ Denise it clearly should be Paula's name they think of first. Here are some pics of Vanity that show it would not take much for a make-up artist to make Paula look just like Vanity.

Vanity - Promo photo

Vanity - Skin on Skin promo photo

© Motown

Vanity

[ img#1357]

Vanity. Denise Matthews is no longer Vanity. She has taken back her origina...

I also see a bit of Sheila E as well.

Paula behind the wheel of a new BMWi (seen in the new Mission: Impossible flick) at the Annual LA Auto Show last week.

Chancellor said:

Did anybody see "Jump the Broom"? I was suppose to take someone to see that flick when it was showing but never did. Is it worth a trip to Blockbuster?

Good movie....

She's gorgeous and I like the hair and makeup, but something about the outifts and the porny poses leaves me cold.

P.S. I think that pommel horse is acting as what psychology students might refer to as a 'phallic signifier'.

Another shoot.