How Tom Cruise stood by his girl: Rosamund Pike reveals how star supported her during filming of new thriller Jack ...

PUBLISHED: 20:09 EST, 4 October 2012 | UPDATED: 20:23 EST, 4 October 2012

Rosamund Pike: The actress said Cruise 'could not have been more supportive' on the set of new film Jack Reacher

Rosamund Pike has revealed how Tom Cruise was her protector when the pair were shooting a new, high-octane thriller - and she was pregnant.

He could not have been more supportive, said Rosamund, who was five months pregnant when she completed filming the movie Jack Reacher, which opens here on Boxing Day.

Their on-screen chemistry makes it clear that Cruise and Pike enjoyed a good professional relationship.

Certain stars would have - or might have - said: Get someone else, shes pregnant! That sort of thing goes on in this day and age, she told me.

You dont know if youre going to have terrible morning sickness, whether youre going to suddenly balloon. I felt as if I had a secret stowaway, she joked. But she said that Cruise stood by her and did not want her replaced.

Rosamund, 33, who gave birth to son Solo in the spring, told me that during filming she read a biography of Lauren Bacall and loved the story of how Bacall met future husband Humphrey Bogart on the set of Howard Hawks 1944 classic To Have And Have Not.

Of course its very different, she said, but its still the big, iconic star who really is protective and Tom was protective in a way I didnt expect.

Sometimes you think after 30 years the performance might all be just for the camera but you get all of it with Tom. Everybody gets all of ! it.

Rosamund has scenes in rip-roaring high-speed car chases and gets tied up, with a gun held to her head...all sublime, edge of the seat stuff.

Its amazing the babys come out so chilled, she laughed. He probably thought the world was going to be truly terrifying. He came out, this delightful child, thinking: Thank God for that! I thought the world was going to be full of evil people with guns and bullet ridden cars.

The film is based on Lee Childs best-selling tale One Shot featuring his anti-hero, former US military cop Jack Reacher, a man of no fixed abode who travels on buses and doesnt own a mobile phone.

I find the idea of a man like that frustrating, but also very alluring, Rosamund confided.When a former army sniper is accused of killing five people in Pennsylvania, he claims he didnt do it and tells the police detective and the district attorney (played respectively by David Oyelowo and Richard Jenkins) to: Get Jack Reacher!

Reacher duly rides into town and goes up against the towns darkest elements, in order to discover the truth behind the killings.

Theres the most sensational nail-biting moment involving a sinister figure played by Werner Herzog.Rosamund plays Helen Rodin, the snipers savvy attorney, and shes initially shocked by Reacher.

He has this great sense of justice but hes a really violent man and its an interesting, dangerous combination.

'On-screen chemistry': Tom Cruise and Rosamund Pike in a scene from their upcoming film Jack Reacher, in which Pike plays attorney Helen Rodin

Theres an amusing moment in the film that has a touch of gender reversal. Rosamund and Cruise are in a motel room and its Cruise, naked from the waist ! up, whos ! the object of desire. Could you just please put your shirt on, Pikes character demands.

Rosamund laughed and noted: The inevitable doesnt happen. It would have been corny. Often you realise maybe people put kisses in when there isnt any chemistry.

With that in mind, Christopher McQuarrie, the movies director, had his two leads viewing classic pictures such as His Girl Friday, with Rosalind Russell and Cary Grant; and even Whats Up Doc with Barbra Streisand and Ryan ONeal; to give them a sense not so much of chemistry but pacing.

Those films dont seem to bear any resemblance to Reacher, but it was all about the speed of the dialogue and delivery, she said.

For lessons in suspense and tension, McQuarrie had them view Hitchcocks Notorious, North By Northwest and Spellbound.

Chris and Tom were very hot on how you play a moment, and build tension into the performance, Rosamund observed.

Though her character doesnt appear in any of Childs other Reacher novels it would be great if McQuarrie and Cruise could bring her back in future Reacher films. Its enormously enjoyable watching the pair spar and maybe they might even do that clich kiss scene one day.

Despite her busy schedule, Rosamund spends plenty of fun quality time with her son, as a truly charming private film she shot of Solo on her iPad would attest, and shes in much demand on the big screen.

Shes currently shooting the first of two films with Simon Pegg. The first is The Worlds End, with Pegg and Nick Frost, about a bunch of school friends reunited for a special night back in their home town.Rosamund plays the little sister of one of the gang. Im the designated driver, she told me, though she feels somewhat disgruntled that now the characters are aged between 35-38 older, apparently, than I am, which Im a bit disgruntled about, but still pleased to be in the gang.

She will shoot another comedy with Pegg called Hector And The Search For Happiness.Already in the can is what she termed a delicious ! cameo whe! re she plays a breakfast TV host in A Long Way Down, based on a Nick Hornby novel, with her old Bond beau Pierce Brosnan.

Imelda's facing a Rosy Future

Imelda Staunton will play Mama Rose in the musical Gypsy

Everythings coming up roses for Imelda Staunton, wholl open as Mama Rose in the landmark musical Gypsy around this time next year.

I first broke the news about this long-awaited Chichester Festival production, to be directed by Jonathan Kent, a few months ago.

Several hurdles had to be cleared before Chichester could talk to potential partners, such as the Ambassador Theatre Group and Stage Entertainment.

One of the key ingredients was to get the blessing of Stephen Sondheim, who wrote the lyrics, and the estate of Arthur Laurents, who wrote the book.

Imelda and Kent (who directed her and Michael Ball in Chichesters excellent Sweeney Todd) have told all the various parties theyll be free next autumn.

The show, which focuses on Gypsy Rose Lees mother in a Mama Lear sort of way, hasnt been seen in the West End for more than 30 years.

Now Chichester chief Jonathan Church must work out if Gypsy opens first in London, or comes via another regional theatre.

Its Gypsy time at last, said a show insider.