Tom Cruise praises ex-wife Nicole Kidman during London interview

Tom Cruise's unusual remarks about ex-wife Nicole Kidman

Actor Tom Cruise (62) expressed ongoing respect for his ex-wife Nicole Kidman (57), whom he divorced 20 years ago.

Cruise recently reminisced about his last project with deceased director Stanley Kubrick and the film "Eyes Wide Shut," which he worked on with Kidman, during an interview while visiting London, where he received a special fellowship from the British Film Institute (BFI).

Cruise noted, "I got to know Stanley Kubrick through Sydney Pollack. I was very excited when I received the grants to join the film." He recalled, "At that time, I directly offered the role of Alice to Nicole. She was a fantastic actress."

The film is a psychological thriller about a successful doctor who gradually descends into a dangerous world after hearing his wife's confession of a sexual fantasy. Cruise added, "That experience was very special. The script was at the idea level, and we kept rewriting and shooting scenes."

"Eyes Wide Shut," released in 1999, grossed more than $60 million despite controversy. Cruise earned $20 million, while Kidman received $6.5 million in grants. The film is Kubrick's last work, and he passed away just months before its release.

Nicole Kidman also recalled in a 2023 interview, "Kubrick needed persuasion for sexual scenes early on, but he made me feel very safe. He had a daughter and was like a father figure to me."

However, after this film, Cruise and Kidman divorced in 2001, citing "irreconcilable differences" after 11 years of marriage. At the time, it was reported that Kidman was shocked by Cruise's sudden legal filing.

Former high-ranking Scientology official Mike Rinder claimed in his book that "Kidman's refusal to join Scientology was the reason for the couple's separation." Relatedly, it has been reported that Cruise's long-standing conflicts with Scientology affected his relationship with his family.

Cruise and Kidman's adopted daughter, Suri (19), is not a Scientologist and currently goes by the name "Suri Noel."

Meanwhile, Cruise was recently spotted in London with his girlfriend, actress Ana de Armas (37). De Armas is known to be a Catholic, similar to Kidman, and there are speculations that their differing faiths could play a role in their future relationship.

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