Jessica Biel describes Vera Miles as a woman who was ahead of her time.
Biel is set to play the actress in a big screen biopic about director Alfred Hitchcock - played by Anthony Hopkins.
And Biel praises the actress for being a forward thinker as Miles wanted to be both an actress and a mother - she was dropped from her role in Vertigo after she fell pregnant.
Speaking to the Press Association the actress said: "The more I got to know her more I found out that she was quite a modern woman.
"As much as she was a very career-driven person, and a very independent thinker; and a very serious dramatist, she was also someone who wanted a family and wanted a personal life and wasn't interested in being a 'star' - she was interested in being an artist."
"She was just ahead of her time. She was like 'Yeah, I think I can do it all actually, so thanks, I will.'"
Hitchcock is directed by Sacha Gervasi and sees Scarlett Johansson take on the role of Janet Leigh while Helen Mirren will play Alma Reville.
Biel is back on the big screen this week with her new movie Total Recall, a remake of the 1990 movie.
The actress has also completed work on Playing For Keeps, Nailed and Emanuel and the Truth about Fishes.