DAMAGE CONTROL
Tom Cruise is finally enjoying the spotlight again! Insiders tell Us the real story behind his surprising about-face
Following an onslaught of bad press, Tom Cruise has set out on a comeback tour — and Us has all the details!
Talk about a return to form. On July 10, Tom Cruise caused quite a stir when he attended the Wimbledon tennis tournament in London alongside his
Mission: Impossible 7 costar Hayley Atwell. Decked out in a blue threepiece suit and aviator sunglasses, the actor flashed his megawatt smile as he waved to an adoring crowd of spectators and gamely posed for (socially distant!) selfies.
It’s a more accessible Cruise than fans have seen in a long time. The 59-year-old’s been keeping a low profile in recent years after an onslaught of bad press over everything from his high-profile 2012 divorce from Katie Holmes to his allegiance to the controversial Church of Scientology and his December 2020 meltdown on the
M:I 7 set over an alleged breach of Covid-19 protocol. (He made headlines again in April following another on-set rant over noisy tree branches that were banging on his trailer’s roof.) Now, sources tell Us Cruise is ready for a public relations makeover. “He’s still a little wary of putting himself out there,” says an insider.
“But he’s gradually coming out of his shell and sending the message that he’s not some paranoid recluse.”
As Us previously reported, Cruise’s team has been encouraging him to soften his image. “He’s listening to their advice,” says the insider, adding that the actor — who also hobnobbed with former close pal David Beckham on July 11 at the Euro 2020 finals and racing star
Lewis Hamilton on July 18 ahead of the British Grand Prix — “is not as bullheaded as people think” and “wants to let loose again.” Adds the insider: “Hanging out with people like David gives his image a boost and it’s fun for Tom, so it’s a win-win.”
DAMAGE CONTROL
It hasn’t been easy to see his reputation take so many hits. “Tom is aware people call him a control freak, and most of the time he can brush off the criticism, but there’s no doubt it hurts on a personal level,” says the insider. “He’s only human and wants to be
liked and respected, especially in light of everything he’s achieved in the business.” A second source notes that Cruise is very “savvy” when it comes to his public persona “and knows it impacts his numbers at the box office.”
MOVING ON?
Stepping out with Atwell, 39, was significant for Cruise. “He’s very impressed with Hayley and she checks off a lot of boxes,” the insider says of the A-lister, who has remained single since splitting from Holmes. “Hayley’s well-educated, sophisticated and funny.”
But Atwell is not a Scientologist — and it remains to be seen whether Cruise would leave the religion for her if their rumored romance gets serious. “There are whispers he’s backing away from the church, and it’s unusual that he hasn’t denied them,” explains the insider. “The feeling is he’s decided to keep that part of his life totally private.”
His main focus, as always, is work. “Tom has huge plans for the future,” says the insider, referring to his upcoming flick with director Doug Liman, which is set to film in space, and the next two M:I sequels. “Tom finds it regrettable that he’s been so misunderstood, but he says it is what it is,” adds the insider. “All he can do is be himself and continue to live his life on his own terms.”