July 17, 2000
The Mirror
"Welsh Film Catapults Star To Top"

Tom Cruise hand-picked his co-star for the blockbuster Mission: Impossible 2, after watching the low budget Welsh movie Twin Town.

He was amazed by the performance of Dougray Scott as a corrupt detective in the comedy thriller filmed in Swansea and Port Talbot three years ago.

After watching Twin Town on video, Cruise decided that Dougray would be perfect for the role of evil Sean Ambrose in M:I-2.

The part has catapulted the former Cardiff student into Hollywood stardom following 13 years as a struggling actor in fringe theatre, TV and on the silver screen.

Although a popular film in Welsh cinemas following its release in 1997, Twin Town was not much of a success elsewhere.

But Cruise and his actress wife Nicole Kidman discovered it in a video store near their London home.

That find changed the life of Dougray, 34, who graduated from acting at Cardiff's Welsh College of Music and Drama in 1987.

The actor revealed: "What people don't know about Tom is that he really keeps up with small independent films. When he met me he said: "You were in Twin Town!   Man, you were great!'"

Cruise produced M: I 2 as well as playing hero Ethan Hunt. The pair spent two years filming, mostly on location in Australia under director John Woo.

© 2000 The Mirror

Thanks to Faith for the find!