The Insider.com

She's Tom Cruise's sexy co-star in the new action blockbuster Mission: Impossible -- Ghost Protocol and got multiple award nominations for her powerful performance in the 2009 drama Precious. Most people also know she's married to R&B crooner Robin Thicke -- but here are five things you probably don't know about Paula Patton.

• December 19, 2011Paula Patton Reveals On-Set Injury on 'Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol'
• December 14, 2011Paula Patton: 'Dirty Texts' With Robin Thicke Keep My Marriage Hot
• December 07, 2011Tom Cruise: Paula Patton Is a 'Goofball'
• December 27, 2011Top 11 Celeb Scandals of 2011!
• December 27, 2011They Dated?! Surprising Hookups
• December 27, 2011Taylor Lautner's Fake Gay People Magazine Cover

1. Born December 5, 1975 in Los Angeles -- her mother was a schoolteacher and her father a lawyer.

2. Her first acting role was a small part in Will Smith's 2005 film Hitch.

3. Before getting her break as a star, she worked as a segment producer for the Discovery Channel series Medical Diaries, which required her to coordinate the filming of surgical procedures.

4. Provided additional vocals for Usher's multi-platinum album Confessions on the song Can U Handle It, which was co-written by husband Robin Thicke.

5. Is close friends with Queen Latifah, who planned and hosted her baby shower in 2010.