Weapons of mass distraction! Mission Impossible star Paula Patton strips down to her underwear for sultry GQ shoot

By Amelia Proud

Last updated at 8:31 PM on 19th December 2011

Voluptuous Paula Patton is set to be steaming up a newsstand near you as she's stripped down to her underwear for GQ's January issue.

The 36-year-old actress also chatted to the magazine about taking on the leading lady role in Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol, opposite Tom Cruise, 49.

'I was doing physical stunts, feet in the mud, fingernails full of dirt, shooting and fighting for my life,' she said.

Superhero shape: Paula Patton in an outtake from the GQ shoot that hits newsstands on December 20

She also talked about her marriage to Grammy-winning singer Robin Thicke, 34 , and her Canadian in-laws, 'Canadians are a lot like us, actually. I’ve figured out how to blend in.'

The actress got to shoot lots of action sequences for her role as Jane Carter in the movie and had to undergo gruelling martial arts, capoeira, kick boxing and weapons training before she could flex her muscles.

Paula admits the timing of the shoot was perfect because it came five months after she gave birth to her son Julian Fuego in April 2010 and whipped her into shape.

She told Bang Showbiz art London’s BFI IMAX premiere last week: 'In the wish to do all my own stunts it was quite a bit of training, especially because I'd just had my son five months prior so as you can imagine, I wasn't in tip-top shape.

Stunt woman: Paula says that working on the high-octane film helped get her back into shape after having a baby

It wasn't just about the outward appearance, which of course got affected, but it was about being able to do these stunts.'

Referring to the different disciplines she had to learn, she added: 'Once I felt like I could do those things, I felt like I could really be Jane Carter .'

Paula and Tom are joined in the critically-acclaimed movie by Simon Pegg and Lea Seydoux.

She also praised Tom – who reprises his role as IMF agent Ethan Hunt in the sequel – insisting he was a great support on set.

Paula said: 'It was an amazing experience. Those are the moments you dream of as an actress. He is very generous in that he wants to share the spotlight with everyone and make everyone shine.'

For more of Paula's interview, out December 20, visit America's GQ.