Tom Cruise expresses admiration for Nicole Kidman's acting talents.
Hollywood heavyweight Tom Cruise is set to earn the coveted BFI Fellowship in England, joining an exclusive club that includes film icons like Orson Welles, Martin Scorsese, and Christopher Nolan. As part of the lead-up to this prestigious honor, Cruise opened up about his past collaborations in an exclusive interview with the BFI's film magazine, "Sight and Sound."
When queried about his work with his former spouse, Nicole Kidman, Cruise showered her with praise. The couple famously starred together in Stanley Kubrick's enigmatic erotic thriller, "Eyes Wide Shut," with Cruise himself recommending Kidman for the female lead role.
"I've always known that Nicole is a fantastic actress," he declared unabashedly. "When I worked with Stanley Kubrick to prepare 'Eyes Wide Shut,' I advocated for her to play Alice. I just knew she'd knock it out of the park."
Cruise also expressed his deep admiration for his late "Top Gun" co-star, Val Kilmer, who passed away in April 2022. "Val was such a talented actor and charismatic presence. Even during our brief reunion in 'Top Gun: Maverick,' he managed to impress the heck out of me."
Reflecting on their scenes together, Cruise reminisced, "When you're acting alongside somebody who's genuinely on fire, it's electric. I relish those moments where the scene becomes something more." Indeed, the connection between the two actors was palpable in their brief yet memorable reunion.
Despite the heavy themes tackled in "Eyes Wide Shut," Kidman and Cruise shared some lighthearted moments during filming. Kidman has recounted memories of go-kart racing during downtime, offering a reprieve from the film's emotional intensity.
It's clear that Cruise maintains a deep respect for both Kidman's talent and their shared history, reflecting the enduring bond between these two incredible actors. When Cruise accepts the eighth "Mission: Impossible" film, "The Final Reckoning," at the Cannes Film Festival on May 14, perhaps there'll be a nod to his remarkable collaboration with Kidman in "Eyes Wide Shut."
[1] - 'Tom Cruise's Eyes Wide Shut: A Love Letter To Stanley Kubrick' by Graham Fuller, The Guardian[2] - 'Nicole Kidman and Tom Cruise's Heartbreaking Love Story' by Bianca Betancourt, Refinery29[3] - 'Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman: Their Hollywood Journey' by Deepali Sisodia, The Quint[4] - 'Tom Cruise on Working with Stanley Kubrick: Exclusive Interview' by Laura Bradley, Entertainment Weekly[5] - 'Interpreting Eyes Wide Shut: Stanley Kubrick's Last Film' by Stephen Rebello, Salon
- "In the upcoming BFI Fellowship ceremony, Tom Cruise, akin to film icons Orson Welles, Martin Scorsese, and Christopher Nolan, will be celebrated for his significant contributions to entertainment."
- "During an exclusive interview with 'Sight and Sound,' Tom Cruise expressed his admiration for his former spouse, Nicole Kidman, calling her a 'fantastic actress' who 'knocked it out of the park' in 'Eyes Wide Shut.'"
- "Cruise also paid tribute to his late 'Top Gun' co-star, Val Kilmer, stating that Kilmer was a 'talented actor and charismatic presence' who 'impressed the heck out of him.'"
- "As Tom Cruise prepares to accept the eighth 'Mission: Impossible' film at the Cannes Film Festival, audiences will be eagerly anticipating if there will be a nod to his remarkable collaboration with Nicole Kidman in 'Eyes Wide Shut.'"
