As “The Wolverine” hits theaters over the weekend, Australian actor has once again impressed in the role that made him what he is today. But what dominated in the big screen as the hit film claws its way to the box office was a new, yet captivating face of beauty - - Tao Okamoto.

Tao is Wolverine’s love interest in the film. She had even once admitted having a crush on Australia’s “most liked celebrity” and the success of their team-up in the film could be attributed to the chemistry formed before they ever set eyes on each other - - just as friends and actors.

The Asian beauty has captured the audience not only with her exotic looks but also her genuine, untapped talents.

Here are the top 5 things you should know about Tao Okamoto:
1. She has been a successful model before hitting the big screen.
Tao Okamoto may not ring a bell in Hollywood but Wolverine’s Mariko has been a successful model before hitting the big screen. She began modeling at 14 but her career took off when she moved to Paris and get serious with her passion in fashion.

She may be a newbie in film, but Tao is a big name in the fashion industry, and big star in her native country, Japan. As she cracked the international fashion industry in Paris, Tao has since then been featured in big campaigns including retail giants such as Chanel and Ralph Lauren.

2. She turned down the role as Mariko Yashida
Uncertain if she wanted to pursue a career in acting, Tao didn’t want to leave her comfort zone in the modeling industry. But she quickly changed her mind when she met the film director and she emphasized she was glad she did.

"Because I’m a huge fan of him. I wasn’t even sure if I really wanted to do acting, but then he just opened the new door for me and I met Jim [Mangold, the film's director] in L.A. for an audition and camera test,” Tao said in an interview, according to Yahoo Movies.

Noting that Jim also made sure she go on with the project, Tao accepted the new challenge upon speaking with the film director.

3. She accepted the film because of Hugh Jackman
Having been modeling and being very good at it since she began as a teen, admitted having second thoughts about the project, especially if it means getting paired to titular actor representing comic, iconic role. But when she was informed that Australia’s great actor, Hugh Jackman will be in it for the title role, she changed her mind.

She also noted that the film director, Jim had something to do with her 360-degree turn.

She said, “I just fell in love with what he thinks and what he teaches me and everything. I was just like, 'I really want to do this,' and I got it."

4. She began acting in ‘Wolverine’ without training.
Tao went to the set of ‘The Wolverine’ bringing only her determination to do the job. When she finally gave a green light to take on as Wolverine’s leading lady, director Jim Mangold told her not to take acting lessons. On the first day of film production, Tao took with her nothing but fresh innocence in the world of acting.

Yahoo Movies noted that Mangold has such an insurmountable faith in Tao’s natural abilities. Sharing one of her top moments in the production, Tao recalled a sequence that required her to do a long speech, one that she muster for the audition and it was when Jim came to her, admitting almost tearing up at how good she has become in her new-found career.

"There was a scene I worked on for my audition, which was a long speech. I had some confidence about it and James gave me different ideas on every take so I could play with that. When I finished it, he came to me and said, 'I almost cried, you've grown up so much in this journey,” Tao said.

5. She collaborated in “Wolverine” helping out in correct translation of the script.
Tao proves that she is not just a pretty face in her first film. The stunning model also sat down with film writers and officials working to ensure film’s authenticity. She pointed out that she is one of the rare actors who ensure that the film’s “distinct cultural landscape” is not far from real representations.

Tao said, "Sometimes things looked a little Chinese and the producers were always asking me and they always kept making fixes along the way. I felt very important because they asked me over and over and listened," Yahoo Movies quoted Tao as saying, adding that other Japanese actors also helped in re-translating the script to achieve high accuracy in the film.

Tao plays the role of Mariko Yashida in “The Wolverine” which hits Australian theaters and in many countries worldwide, including U.S. on July 26. Scroll down and check out the video featuring Tao Okamoto in a scene with Hugh Jackman in Jim Mangold’s ‘The Wolverine.’

Don’t MISS! You Might Also Like to READ:
Liam Hemsworth’s Love, Miley Cyrus Strips Naked for a Cause; But Singer Looks Scary Thin [PHOTOS] Full article here.
One Direction Nemesis, The Wanted Wraps Up Shooting Video of First Single, “We Own the Night” [PHOTOS] Full article here.
The Voice Judge Adam Levine and Fiancee Behati Prinsloo Engaged Over Text? [PHOTOS] Full article here.