Famous Faces
Cruising along nicely
Life couldn’t be better for Hollywood favourite Tom Cruise. A new
fiancée , a new film, and a great family — and that’s just the start, as he tells Oliver O’Neal.
When you were younger, were you a
heart-throb?
No, I was shy with women. I was very respectful. I was so respectful that a girl had to kiss me. It got to the point where one girl said, ‘Look, are you going to kiss me?’ And I said, ‘Would you like me to?’
You have two failed marriages behind you (to actresses Mimi Rogers and Nicole Kidman). How do you get over past relationships?
You move on.
How would you describe your fiancée Katie Holmes?
She’s an extraordinary woman.
Reportedly your first date was on your private jet (Tom is a licensed pilot) 15,000 feet above Southern California. Are you a romantic?
Yes. I like doing romantic things, like bringing a woman flowers. I love candlelit evenings with nice music.
Since you’re both in big-budget films just now (Tom’s War of the Worlds and Katie’s
Batman Begins), it isn’t surprising the media is hot on your heels. How do you feel about it?
It is trying at times. When a movie comes out, the paparazzi go looking for me. Suddenly there are 14 of them chasing me. But it doesn’t happen too often. Truly, I have a relatively normal life.
Do you use bodyguards?
Sometimes, unfortunately I need to. But it’s not to keep people away. It’s just at certain times when the paparazzi are there and I have to watch that, because that’s just the nature of things. But I don’t want to complain. In the situation I’m in, I’m lucky. And if you don’t enjoy it, hey, you have a choice in life — don’t do it.
Do you read what’s written about you?
No. Personally, I’ve never been interested in gossip. As a kid, because I moved so many times, I was never part of a sewing circle. But a lot of people are. Some people like to know and I’m happy to share with them and help them when I can — but I think, ‘To what extent?’ I don’t mind things being stated, good or bad, if they’re true.
Steven Spielberg directs War of the Worlds. You’ve known each other for 20 years and also made
Minority Report together. What is he like?
He is a loyal friend and incredibly generous and kind. I have so much respect for the way he lives his life.
And how is he as a director?
It’s fun being around him and he makes me feel very relaxed. He also works incredibly fast. I’ve been a Spielberg fan since I was a teenager.
What was the first Spielberg film you saw?
Jaws. Afterwards I remember even being nervous taking a bath. Of course, with my sisters, I was always knocking on the doors and going, ‘Dah dum dah dum’, and they’d scream, ‘Cut it out, Tommy!’
Do you consider yourself a good father?
Yes. I love spending time with Isabella and Connor because my own father wasn’t there much (Tom was raised by his mother), and I want to be a different dad to my kids. My family is the most important thing in my life.
How do you manage to keep some normality?
I have tried not to stay isolated because it’s not good for the kids and me. It’s very important to us to get to know new people. I go to the children’s groups like other daddies.
How do the other parents react when they see a superstar in their midst?
At first people look at me like, ‘My gosh, it’s him!’ and they treat me a little differently. But then they realise I’m just a father with my kids. It’s up to me to make everybody else feel OK about the fact I’m there.
You have described yourself as a strict dad and you don’t like your children to watch much TV.
I notice the difference in them when they are allowed to watch more TV in terms of
their attention span and their behaviour.
How would you feel about them choosing the acting profession?
Children have a mind of their own, no matter what. Whatever they want to do is fine with me. I won’t mind if they go into the business. I just want them to be happy and I’ll support them in their lives. Acting certainly has been good to me. It has given me an incredible life.
What was your own childhood like?
I went to 15 different schools so I didn’t have a normal childhood. Some people might think I had a difficult childhood but it was actually extraordinary. My mother and sisters and I get together and have the greatest laughs about all that stuff. Now that I am a parent, I have a greater appreciation for what my parents did do and for the shortcomings.
Who were your idols when you were growing up?
I liked Dustin Hoffman, Paul Newman, Jack Nicholson, Al Pacino and Spencer Tracy. I loved to go to the movies but as a kid I wanted to be an astronaut and a pilot. I thought other people got to act and be in movies. I didn’t think it could happen to me.
You are one of the most powerful stars in Hollywood, with a $25 million per picture price tag. How do you select your projects?
Every choice is different, every piece of material. I look for challenges. I look for all kinds of roles. When I see a script, it’s not an intellectual decision. I read something and connect with it. I think about why I was interested in it later.
You have had an amazing string of hits. Do you know what is going to be successful?
No, I really don’t know what’s going to do well. I just hope that they make back the money so that I can make movies for a little bit longer.
How do you prepare for your roles?
I take great pride and pleasure in working. I put a lot of time into everything I do.
Rain Man, Born on the Fourth of July and Eyes Wide Shut were years in preparation. It took me almost a year to
physically be able to make The Last Samurai. If I do something, it’s completely. I’m not very good at doing things in a light way.
Are you as athletic off-screen as you are on?
I like sports — all different kinds. Hockey, football, sky-diving and race driving. I like motorcycles, horse riding, mountain climbing and scuba diving. And I love flying. As a little kid I always wanted to fly. It’s something that’s freeing and it’s a lot like acting in many ways. You never know it all. You always learn something.
Did you love danger as a child?
Yes. I’ve always liked excitement and enjoyed being scared. I jumped off garages. I was climbing trees — I was falling out of trees. At four, I sky-dived from our roof using bed sheets as a parachute!
Do you ever get bored?
No. Life is never boring because I have so many interests and I’m meeting so many interesting people.
Do you enjoy the power you have in Hollywood?
I didn’t become an actor to have power but it happened. I have it and I’ve had a lot of opportunities. Whatever power I carry, I try to channel it in a way that makes good films. But power is fleeting and doesn’t last forever. I want to make the most of it while I do have it and make the kind of pictures that interest me.
For the past 12 years, you have produced your films. Why?
I enjoy being involved in the movie-making process and since I was 18,
I’ve dreamed of making my own. Not because I need to control things
but because I don’t want to make bad movies. To make good films has
always been my goal. And I enjoy the excitement, the push, that
adrenaline rush of making movies.
Mission Impossible 3 is out next year. It’s been delayed a year
and gone through a few directors.
I’ve never made a movie where I’ve heard someone say, ‘This is so easy’. It’s tense, there’s a lot of money at stake, and you get tired. There are always problems, especially on a picture of this size. Still, I enjoy the pressure and the intensity of that.
Would you like to direct?
I’m looking for the right script, a story that I have enough passion for to commit to for a year or more of my life. One day I’ll hopefully find that piece.
What is your life like these days?
Life is good. I’m in a really good place — the best ever.
Do you ever have doubts?
When you’re working toward something you always have moments of wondering, ‘Is this gonna work?’ But I don’t beat myself up. I live to be the best man I can. I make mistakes just like everybody makes mistakes but I’m out there fighting away.
Now you are in your 40s (Tom is 43 today!), do you see yourself settling down to a more relaxed life?
I’m not going to mellow. That’s just not in the deck. I do feel good about myself at this point in my life. I’m very proud of how I live and conduct my life.
What are your priorities?
My children. Then there’s my work. I think before, it was very much my work and everything else came second. Now, it’s very much my family.
How do you wish to be remembered?
As someone who made life a bit better.
By Oliver O’Neal/Planet Syndication.
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