Mission: Impossible's 5 Most Recurring Characters, Ranked

Mission: Impossible, like all good franchises, relies not only on its protagonist – but the other characters that bring a story to life on screen.

These are the 5 most recurring characters (we're not counting Ethan Hunt as a 'recurring' character) in Mission: Impossible – ranked by us.

5. Solomon Lane (Sean Harris)

What's a decent protagonist without an imposing antagonist? Lane brings out the best of Ethan Hunt's skills and abilities in espionage – and the head honcho and brains behind a global terror organisation.

Cool, focused and unflappable – at least when first appearing in Rogue Nation – Hunt can't dispose of him in a single movie. In Fallout, he's more your archetypal villain, but that's because he's consumed by revenge.

4. Ilsa Faust (Rebecca Ferguson)

Faust is a complicated character who we never truly get to know, making her realistic and intriguing. Almost from the outset, there's an electric tension between her and Ethan Hunt. But perhaps even more importantly, Ilsa Faust is all-action and shares some fantastic adrenaline-pumping scenes with the main protagonist of the movies.

First appearing in the sixth instalment (Fallout), she brought back a sense of the noir narrative that framed the earliest Mission: Impossible movies. And in keeping with movie tradition, trouble always found a way to seek her out.

3. Julia Meade-Hunt (Michelle Monaghan)

As Ethan's lover, Julia brought to the franchise one of the most obvious (but purposeful) tropes of the movie world. Her mere introduction to the franchise added another layer to Ethan Hunt. But it was the way she was portrayed, and the myriad storylines she influenced, that made her such an integral part of the overall narrative.

In a world of cool characters, she was relatable and likeable in a more conventional way than some of the others. And, even when her appearances were fleeting, they had an impact.

2. Benji Dunn (Simon Pegg)

Tech guys are so important to spy movies. Yes, we want thrills and action, but sometimes we need a techy problem or solution that will move the story along. James Bond without the gadgets simply wouldn't be James Bond.

Benji brings that geek chic to Mission: Impossible – with a twist. He also gets stuck into the action from time to time. He also adds a little humour to a franchise that always seemed to want some light relief but had failed to really deliver it until Simon Pegg arrived in Mission: Impossible III.

1. Luther Stickell (Ving Rhames)

Ok, so he appeared in every movie – but we're still calling Luther Stickell a recurring character. He's Hunt's partner in (solving) crime and the bond between them is no more evident than when Ethan opted to save Luther in Fallout.

Not always at the heart of the action, he is nonetheless crucial to every mission. And he's loyal, which makes him a safe pair of hands and someone viewers can rely on no matter what the circumstances and challenges he's faced with.