(Born Nov. 06, 1972) Thandie Newton is a British actress. She gained international recognition opposite Nick Nolte in the Merchant Ivory Film Jefferson in Paris as Sally Hemmings, which led to her being cast in Jonathan Demme's Beloved (1998) alongside Danny Glover and Oprah Winfrey, in which she played the title character. She played the female lead, Nyah Hall, in the film Mission: Impossible II with Tom Cruise.