The Little-Known Things About Tom Cruise's Private Life

As a Hollywood star, Tom Cruise has no trouble earning attention from potential love interests. His fame and fortune are already a winning combination for some, especially once you throw in what plenty consider to be good looks and a winning personality. That doesn't mean the actor's love life always goes swimmingly, though.

When you look at the relationships of Tom Cruise, something quickly becomes clear - a lot has happened. While the Hollywood star might attract plenty of interest, he sometimes has trouble keeping partners around. After three divorces, some have wondered what keeps happening.

Tom Cruise reportedly dated Melissa Gilbert during his time as an unknown actor

Most of Tom Cruise's relationships have been while he's been in the limelight. After all, it's been a long time since the actor was unknown in Hollywood. However, Cruise wasn't always a big shot, and his dating history does extend to before he got his big break. One woman Tom apparently dated during that time was Melissa Gilbert.

Still going by the name of Tom Mapother then, he was reportedly in Los Angeles trying to establish himself when he crossed paths with Melissa. Cruise was 19 years old, while she was slightly younger at either 16 or 17. Their time together was allegedly brief, but it was seemingly long enough to leave an impression.

Melissa Gilbert apparently bought Tom Cruise his first dishes

Tom Cruise's time with Melissa Gilbert was apparently memorable enough that the actress was still talking about it in 2017, more than three decades after it happened. This was when Gilbert appeared on the late-night talk show 'Watch What Happens Live' and confessed that Tom was "a good kisser." However, making out was apparently where it ended.

According to Melissa, she and Tom weren't intimate with one another during their time together. Gilbert did apparently buy him "his first set of dishes," though. As a struggling actor at the time, money was probably hard to come by, so the actress seemingly helped him out with this purchase. We don't think Tom has trouble affording dishes nowadays.

Tom Cruise and Heather Locklear went on a date that didn't end perfectly

Melissa Gilbert was seemingly the first in a long line of women in Tom Cruise's dating history. Not everyone he was with lasted as long with the Hollywood star as others. One person whose time with the actor was reportedly brief was Heather Locklear. While the two never officially became a couple, they did apparently go on a date.

Locklear opened up about it in a 2013 interview, where she admitted that she asked him to go out dancing because Tom didn't have many Hollywood friends. That proved to be a mistake because the two didn't spend much time together that night. Supposedly, Cruise was too busy dominating the room with his dance moves.

His three-year relationship with Rebecca De Mornay almost didn't happen

It seems that Tom Cruise used his date with Heather Locklear to show off the moves he'd picked up from his teen dramedy film 'Risky Business.' The movie was a big deal for the actor and helped him to both establish his career and start capturing the attention of more notable names. This included Rebecca De Mornay.

They were co-stars in 'Risky Business,' and the relationship that developed was apparently "intense." The pair were ultimately together for three years before parting ways, although the couple nearly didn't happen at all. Rebecca told Celebrity Page that Cruise was "extremely annoying" when they first met, and it took several months for her to see him as a potential partner.

Tom Cruise and Cher apparently dated until Scientology got in the way

The love life of Tom Cruise has been incredibly varied, but if there's one woman many have never imagined him dating, it's Cher. The pair are legendary in their own right, but it's hard to see them as a couple. However, they did reportedly date after first meeting at Madonna and Sean Penn's wedding, then again at the White House.

At the time, Cher was 16 years older than the actor, but that supposedly didn't matter. What did apparently matter, though, was Tom's beliefs, with Scientology supposedly being to blame for them splitting up. Nevertheless, Cher later told Andy Cohen that Cruise is one of the best lovers that she's ever been with, so she still remembers him fondly.

He and Mimi Rogers fell in love during the early days of his Scientology interest

The early dating history of Tom Cruise showed that he had a bit of trouble finding someone to settle down with. However, that seemingly changed once Mimi Rogers came into his life. The first woman to tie the knot with the Hollywood star, she was supposedly around when he first became a member of the Church of Scientology. 

How did the couple meet? It's unclear because they have different stories regarding their start. Tom claims she was in a relationship at the time, while Mimi says she wasn't. Regardless, a spark was allegedly quick to ignite between the pair, and Cruise fell in love. This was supposedly the first time he'd ever felt so strongly about someone.

Tom Cruise's first marriage allegedly ended because he wanted to become a monk

Mimi Rogers might have been the first of Tom Cruise's wives, but she certainly wasn't the last. After a very quiet wedding, where only Tom's mom and best man were allegedly in attendance, the couple managed three years together before parting ways. There were all sorts of rumors about why this happened, including jealousy and the age gap.

Their joint statement when they announced the divorce stated that the pair had issues that they'd tried and failed to resolve. However, when Mimi later spoke to Playboy in 1993, she claimed that their split was the result of Tom wanting to be a monk. Their marriage supposedly "wouldn't fit into his overall spiritual need," so they ended things.

Mimi Rogers still gets asked about Tom Cruise all these years later

Unlike the other wives of Tom Cruise, people sometimes forget that Mimi Rogers was once married to the Hollywood star. However, not everyone overlooks the deep connection these two once shared. Enough people apparently still remember Cruise's first marriage that they continue to ask Rogers about the actor now, even though three decades have passed since the divorce.

According to an interview she gave to the news and talk morning show 'Today,' whenever something happens with Tom, she gets a call. People seemingly want Mimi’s opinion on everything going on in his life, especially regarding his relationships. She said she doesn't know what to say in those situations because it's been so long since they had been together.

Nicole Kidman came into the picture during Tom Cruise's divorce

Tom Cruise and Mimi Rogers divorced in 1990, by which point the Hollywood star had allegedly already set his eyes on a new potential partner - Nicole Kidman. At the time, she wasn't the big Hollywood celebrity that many people know her as today. She was still trying to make a name for herself when Tom first saw her at work.

According to Vanity Fair, Cruise was so eager to meet Kidman that he allegedly arranged a part for her in his next movie. He also apparently set up a date for the two of them, one that led to another and another and so on. Some fans were stunned by this, given Tom was in the middle of a divorce.

Tom Cruise allegedly made an immediate and positive impression on Nicole Kidman

By this point, Tom Cruise's dating history was filling out, so he was no stranger to trying to woo someone. However, just because he put all this effort in, that didn't mean he was guaranteed to win over the object of his affections. Luckily, Nicole Kidman was allegedly enamored by the Hollywood star, so things worked out for Tom.

Nicole told Vanity Fair that Cruise "swept me off my feet," enough so that it didn't take long for her to start considering marriage. Of course, the actor needed to finalize his divorce before he could walk down the aisle with anyone else. So, they waited for Mimi Rogers to officially be out of the picture, then tied the knot.

Nicole Kidman apparently couldn't wait to have Tom Cruise's baby

Tom Cruise and Mimi Rogers only tied the knot in 1987. Three years later, their marriage had fallen apart, and the actor had walked down the aisle with someone else. To fans of the pair, it probably seemed like the relationship was moving incredibly quickly. However, if Nicole Kidman had things her way, they allegedly would have progressed even faster.

That's because the actress was apparently "desperate to have a baby" with Cruise. She was so eager for this that she told Vanity Fair she "didn't care if we were married," she just wanted to become a mom. A baby in the family would mean a significant change for the couple, but Nicole was reportedly ready to embrace that fact.

Efforts to get pregnant repeatedly failed, allegedly straining the couple's marriage

Unfortunately, there's a difference between wanting to have a baby and it actually happening. Once the couple started trying to grow their family, they reportedly ran into obstacles that stopped them from achieving their dream. An alleged string of unsuccessful pregnancies left them questioning whether the two of them would ever get to become parents.

To make matters worse, this inability to welcome a child reportedly strained the pair's marriage. Doctors eventually told Nicole Kidman that it was "highly unlikely" she'd manage to naturally conceive a baby, prompting the couple to turn to adoption. They eventually welcomed Connor and Isabella into their home, but had the damage of their former pregnancies already been done?

The Church of Scientology might have ended one of Tom Cruise's marriages

Those familiar with Tom Cruise's love life will likely know the couple ultimately couldn't move past their troubles and ended up getting divorced. Supposedly, this might not have been completely down to them, with outside forces allegedly trying to come between the pair. Rumors suggest that the Church of Scientology may have helped push Nicole Kidman out of the picture.

The alleged reason for this is that Nicole reportedly wasn't interested in joining the religion. So, the longer she and Tom were together, the greater the risk of her pulling him away from the church. Alex Gibney and Lawrence Wright claim that this was a cause of great concern for some Scientologists, given Cruise was their biggest celebrity.

The Church of Scientology allegedly tried and failed to make an ally in Nicole Kidman

Tom Cruise was seemingly devoted to the Church of Scientology, but also to his wife. With those two pulling him in separate directions, he had a tough time choosing between them. His faith allegedly tried to make things easier for him by trying to secure Nicole Kidman as an ally, a situation that would please everyone.

Unfortunately, things didn't work out. It probably didn't help that the church allegedly told the actress to denounce her father, who worked as a psychiatrist. It's perhaps no surprise that they asked this, given their views on mental health. However, Kidman wasn't about to push her family away for the Church of Scientology, no matter what anyone said.

Nicole Kidman became the second of Tom Cruise's wives to get divorced

Nicole Kidman played an essential role in the love life of Tom Cruise. However, with the actress fighting back against his faith, the Church of Scientology allegedly couldn't afford to have her around anymore. So, they supposedly started taping the actress' phone calls and manipulating Tom into siding with them over his wife. Eventually, it worked.

In 2001, after over a decade of being married, the pair's relationship officially came to an end. Nicole was now the second of Tom Cruise's wives to be divorced from the star, prompting questions over who would take her place. Would the actor replace Kidman as quickly as he did Mimi Rogers or wait years to tie the knot again?

Nicole Kidman saw less of her kids after the divorce, thanks to her workload

Tom Cruise's love life might have resulted in two divorces at this point, but there were some differences between those failed marriages. For one, the actor didn't have kids with Mimi Rogers, so it was a cleaner split when they parted ways. Tom and Nicole Kidman had to find a way to co-parent after their divorce.

Unfortunately, this was easier said than done, with both parties being Hollywood stars. In Kidman's case, she was apparently taking on a lot of demanding roles after the divorce, so she didn't have much time for her children. This meant they spent more time with Tom after the divorce, and wherever Cruise goes, the Church of Scientology goes with him.

Spending time with their dad caused a rift between the kids and their mom

The more time that Connor and Isabella spent with their father, the likelier they were to be influenced by the Church of Scientology. Given Nicole Kidman's issues with the religion during her marriage, this was likely something she didn't approve of. However, there seemingly wasn't much Nicole could do when she spent so much time away from the children.

Over the years, this seemingly put a strain on her relationship with the kids. For instance, according to Page Six, when Isabella got married, Nicole wasn't included on the guest list. What's more, when Kidman's father passed away, the Daily Mail says that neither of her children attended the funeral. There was evidently a rift within the family.

Age might have meant Tom Cruise's second marriage was doomed from the start

It's been over twenty years now since Nicole Kidman became the second of Tom Cruise's marriages to fall apart. The actress has had plenty of time to think about what went wrong and whether there was anything she could have done differently, assuming she'd wanted to. It seems nothing would have helped, though, because it was doomed from the start.

The issue lay in how old Nicole was when she became one of Tom Cruise's wives. She was only 23 when she tied the knot, which Kidman now believes was too young. She feels she needed to grow up more before finding a husband, telling Marie Claire that being married is “hard when you're young.”

Nicole Kidman waited years to reveal why her marriage to Tom Cruise broke down

By the time the couple divorced, they were both big names. So, when another of Tom Cruise's relationships fell apart, people were eager to know what caused them to split up. Of course, not everyone wants to talk about the breakdown of a marriage after it happens. So, Nicole didn't spill the tea until ten years later.

According to her interview with Marie Claire, their marriage simply "ran its course." She claimed that the two of them had a "great relationship," but things aren't always meant to work out. Many felt like this wasn't the whole story, especially given all the rumors about the Church of Scientology's involvement. However, it was all Kidman was willing to offer.

Whenever Tom Cruise comes up, Nicole Kidman apparently avoids talking about him

Much like with Mimi Rogers, questions about Tom Cruise still come up occasionally during interviews with Nicole Kidman. However, the actress generally prefers not to discuss her first marriage, no matter what might have happened between them. She says she prefers to stay silent on the matter "out of respect" for the man she once loved.

That's not the only reason either. While Nicole might be one of the failed marriages of Tom Cruise, she's found great success as the wife of another big name. Kidman has been married to Keith Urban since 2006, and their love story seems to be flourishing far more than her relationship with Cruise ever did.

Being one of Tom Cruise's wives might have hurt Nicole Kidman's confidence

Nowadays, people wouldn't typically categorize Tom Cruise as being more famous than Nicole Kidman, or vice versa. However, when the two married, there was definitely a difference between who was more well-known. As a result, it seems that Kidman's confidence might have been negatively affected during her time with Cruise. It seems she reportedly felt overshadowed quite often.

Fortunately, it seems that Nicole’s confidence has grown since the marriage ended, with her career following the same trajectory. Nicole apparently no longer feels like she's "a star only by association" or that her job at red carpet events is just to look good for her partner. She knows she's a big deal, and rightly so.

Tom Cruise allegedly wanted to propose to Penélope Cruz during their relationship

The love life of Tom Cruise didn't end after he and Nicole Kidman got divorced. He's been linked to plenty of names over the last two decades, including Penélope Cruz. The pair have worked together before, appearing in the thriller film 'Vanilla Sky.' They actually ended up dating for three years, but Cruz never became one of Tom Cruises' wives.

That doesn't mean the actor didn't consider it, though. According to Radar Online, he was inclined to ask Penélope to marry him. However, the Church of Scientology supposedly got in the way. She supposedly didn't want anything to do with the religion, so the pair ended up parting ways without ever walking down the aisle.

Sofia Vergara wouldn't renounce her faith just to be with Tom Cruise

It seems that Cruz wasn't the only Latin lady that Tom Cruise had his eye on. Another woman who's been linked to the Hollywood star in the past is Sofia Vergara. According to the New York Post, the Church of Scientology shortlisted her as a suitable candidate for Cruise's next girlfriend. So, she was reportedly introduced with Will Smith's help.

However, things didn't work out. When Smith invited Vergara to a party, she didn't know it would be at the Scientology Celebrity Center. She also didn't know that leader David Miscavige would be there and allegedly ask her to renounce her faith in favor of Cruise's. That wasn't going to happen, so a relationship with Tom was off the table.

Jennifer Garner was supposedly a favorite to be the next of Tom Cruise's wives

The list of Tom Cruise's relationships isn't a short one, but he's hardly the only celebrity with a notable love life. Ben Affleck has also attracted headlines for his dating history, and it seems the pair nearly had one woman in common. Supposedly the Church of Scientology was interested in making Jennifer Garner Tom's next wife after Nicole Kidman.

That's what Andrew Morton claimed in his unauthorized biography of the actor's life anyway. Supposedly, Tom left her voicemails asking if she knew "what true freedom is" and even sent her a Bengal tiger. If that's true, though, it didn't win the actress over. Garner ended up with Affleck, and the church called Morton's book a “bigoted, defamatory assault.”

Jessica Alba was once linked to Tom Cruise, but this may have just been rumors

Many women have been linked to Tom Cruise over the years. It's hard to know if all of them ever dated the actor or if their association with him was simply invented by the media. Jessica Alba's connection to Cruise is one that seems to fall in the latter category as nothing has ever been confirmed.

Supposedly, she was invited to the Scientology Celebrity Center with the potential to be auditioned as a future partner for Tom. However, she never showed up, and the Church of Scientology has supposedly remained adamant that the audition didn't exist. Even if she was in the running to marry Cruise at one point, Jessica's been Cash Warren's wife since 2008.

Nazanin Boniadi was misled and underwent a makeover to become suitable for Tom Cruise

If all these women were romantically involved with the actor at some point, then no one could easily accuse Tom Cruise’s personal life of being boring. Another person who's supposedly been close with the Hollywood star is Nazanin Boniadi. She had what a lot of these other women didn't - a legitimate connection and appreciation for the Church of Scientology.

It's supposedly through the religion that Nazanin and Tom became an item. That wasn't before the actress underwent quite the makeover, though. She reportedly had to remove her braces and dye her hair, as well as break up with her boyfriend. All this for what Nazanin thought was a humanitarian mission, not to become the next Mrs. Cruise.

Nazanin Boniadi moved in with Tom Cruise before a meeting caused trouble

Director Alex Gibney has spoken about Nazanin's alleged ordeal of being lined up to become Tom Cruise's next wife. Supposedly, she went through a month of interviews, audits, and security checks before separating from her loved ones. She received her makeover, was told her boyfriend had cheated on her, then was flown to New York to be with Cruise.

It was at this point that Nazanin realized what her "humanitarian mission" was. Unfortunately, it wasn't meant to be. After a month of allegedly living with Cruise, the couple received a visit from David Miscavige. Boniadi reportedly had a headache at the time and struggled to understand the church's leader, which apparently upset him and, consequently, Tom.

After Nazanin Boniadi spoke about her ordeal with Tom Cruise, she was reportedly punished

Several weeks after this happened, the relationship was apparently over. Tom Cruise had allegedly been furious about his partner's behavior, supposedly screaming at Nazanin Boniadi for insulting the church's leader. Soon enough, it was like the relationship never happened. Sometime after this, the young woman reportedly told a friend about the ordeal, which proved to be a big mistake.

That friend apparently told members of the church what Nazanin said, resulting in the women being punished. This apparently included having to clean the public bathroom of the Church of Scientology on her hands and knees using just a toothbrush. It was likely a humiliating situation and one that ensured Boniadi would never talk about her time with Cruise again.

The Church of Scientology might have pushed Tom Cruise toward Katie Holmes

If Nazanin Boniadi hadn't had a headache that day, things might have turned out very differently for her and Tom Cruise. Who knows, she might have been the next woman to become his wife. Instead, though, that honor went to Katie Holmes, to whom Cruise made one of the biggest declarations of love that the world has ever seen.

It's hard to forget the actor jumping up and down on Oprah's couch, telling her - and millions of viewers - just how much he loved her. His infatuation might make sense, given the rumors that the Church of Scientology supposedly hand-picked Katie for Tom. It seems they approved of her telling Seventeen magazine that she'd dreamed of marrying him.

Katie Holmes had supposedly been into Tom Cruise since she was 15 years old

It's not uncommon for people to have celebrity crushes when they're younger. Very rarely, though, do they ever become a real-life relationship. Fortunately for Katie Holmes, she was one of the lucky few. She ended up becoming one of Tom Cruise's wives, something she'd apparently been wanting to do since she was 15 years old.

Mary Beth Peil, who starred with Holmes in the teen drama 'Dawson's Creek,' apparently knew all about her co-star's feelings for Cruise when they were younger. According to Mary's interview with the Daily Beast, Katie had posters of Tom on her walls and knew everything there was to know about him. No wonder the Church of Scientology allegedly wanted her.

Katie Holmes was supposedly interested in the Church of Scientology at first

The Church of Scientology has often stood in the way of Tom Cruise's love life. With Katie Holmes, though, it supposedly wasn't an issue. In fact, in the early days, the actress was allegedly excited by the religion. She reportedly began exploring the Church of Scientology after her relationship with Cruise started and apparently liked what she saw.

Despite this, she never became a fully-fledged member of the religion, although Katie did reportedly have a "Scientology assistant" at one point. What's more, she even allegedly turned down a film role because it didn't align with the church's view on psychiatry. The film was the 2006 biographical movie 'Factory Girl,' in which Holmes was meant to play the lead.

Tom Cruise and Katie Homles were engaged and pregnant within months

We've seen that with some of Tom Cruise's relationships, he doesn't hang around. He already had someone else he wanted to marry before he'd finalized his divorce with Mimi Rogers, and he was similarly hasty with Katie Holmes. Within a few months of meeting, the pair were engaged. Cruise chose to pop the question on the Eiffel tower.

Although it was over a year before the couple eventually tied the knot, it was clear they were eager to go all in on their relationship. After all, four months after getting engaged, they revealed that they were expecting a child together. This would be Cruise's first biological child after the struggles Nicole Kidman faced with getting pregnant.

Tom Cruise married Katie Holmes in an expensive ceremony that started later than planned

At this point, Tom Cruise's relationships had produced two marriages, neither of which had worked out. Some grooms probably wouldn't pump tons of money into a third wedding that could potentially end the same way. However, Cruise isn't like other people. So, when he and Katie Holmes got married, he spared no expense to make it an extravagant affair.

Supposedly, $3.5 million went into the ceremony, which was allegedly nearly derailed after Katie Holmes reportedly turned up late. According to Leah Remini, Tom stood at the altar for twenty minutes, waiting for his bride to turn up. It seems that issues with her parents refusing to attend the wedding might have been to blame.

Katie Holmes supposedly used secret tactics to divorce Tom Cruise

You typically wouldn't spend millions of dollars on a wedding unless you expected the marriage to last forever. Unfortunately, as we've seen with the love life of Tom Cruise, him and marriages never seem to work out. His divorce from Katie Holmes was finalized in 2012, with some claiming that she might have intended to blindside Cruise with the divorce.

Katie was apparently the one who filed to end things in 2012, quietly enlisting her dad's help to get out of the marriage. She supposedly used disposable cell phones and laptops while arranging the split to avoid raising the attention of her husband and the Church of Scientology. As a result, the divorce was allegedly completed in several weeks.

Katie Holmes might have turned to Nicole Kidman when she divorced Tom Cruise

Marrying someone with two ex-wives probably feels a little strange. However, once Katie Holmes' marriage was beyond repair, she was likely grateful that she wasn't the first one to be in this position. After all, it potentially meant she had people to turn to for advice on how to end her marriage without being hurt in the process.

Supposedly, Katie asked for advice from Nicole Kidman on the best way to leave Tom Cruise. They had something of a relationship, given that Holmes was a stepmom to Kidman's children during the marriage. So, it wasn't out of the question that she might seek help from the actress, who knew firsthand how difficult a divorce like this could be.

All of Tom Cruise's marriages ended when the women were 33

The marriages of Tom Cruise all seem to end up in the same place. Perhaps that's why the Hollywood star has yet to tie the knot again since things ended with Katie Homles? He might be afraid that none of his relationships will ever work out, no matter what he tries. There may be another reason, though.

It's possible that he simply hasn't found someone who's the right age to get married yet. A surprising trend in all of Tom Cruise's marriages is that all of the women were 33 when they separated from the actor. That's quite a coincidence, especially considering it's happened three times now. It's prompted some people to believe in the ‘33 Theory.’

There doesn't appear to be an official reason for why another of Tom Cruise's marriages ended

To some, Katie Holmes being 33 was enough explanation for why her marriage to Tom Cruise ended. Most people, though, wanted more of a reason for why things hadn't worked out between them. Was the Church of Scientology to blame? That appears to be the most prevailing claim of them all, although neither party has really spoken about it.

Perhaps they're not allowed to divulge what went wrong, or maybe they simply don't want to focus on the negativity? What we do know is that Holmes was reportedly granted full custody of their daughter, Suri, after the divorce. It was a contrast to how Tom's previous marriage ended, with Nicole spending less time with the kids after their split.

Tom Cruise's relationship with Suri might have been influenced by his religion

When looking through the dating history of Tom Cruise, there's a recurring presence - the Church of Scientology. The actor's faith seems to have played some role in the outcome of most of his relationships, including those he has with his kids. While Connor and Isabella seem to have taken to the church, it might be a different situation with Suri.

While the father and daughter were once together a lot, more recent years have seen reports of the pair becoming distant. He supposedly doesn't play as significant a role in her life as he does with his other kids because she's not involved with the Church of Scientology. The church itself denies this, but are they just covering their tracks?

Tom Cruise supposedly didn't see his youngest daughter for over 1,000 days

Of course, just because Tom Cruise hasn't been seen with his daughter much in recent years, that doesn't mean he's not in her life. Not every second of a celebrity's life is in front of the cameras, so they can still do things without being spotted constantly. Unfortunately, it's not just a lack of sightings that indicate a strained relationship.

In 2016, a source told InTouch that Cruise hadn't seen his daughter for more than 1,000 days. Although they used to talk often, the two were now practically strangers because of the supposed distance between them. The source blamed the Church of Scientology for the situation, stating that Tom dedicates his life to the religion.

It's unlikely that Tom Cruise will ever leave the Church of Scientology

Given that Tom Cruise's relationships and everything else in his life seems to play second fiddle to the Church of Scientology, it's hard to imagine him ever changing religions. He has now become synonymous with Scientology, something that the church presumably doesn't ever want to lose. They can't really afford it with all the bad press about them.

Of course, if the rumors going around are true, then the church likely doesn't need to worry about Tom going anywhere. They've supposedly got such a strong hold over him that they lived in his house during his marriage to Katie Holmes. It would explain the actress' need for secrecy while trying to arrange her divorce from the Hollywood star.

Tom Cruise always puts his all into acting, and it's paid off for his career

Fortunately, no matter all the troubles in Tom Cruise's love life, there's something he can always rely on - his career. Since getting his big break, he's proven time and again that he still has the talent and star power to attract audiences. Even now, the action-adventure film 'Top Gun: Maverick' is one of the biggest hits of 2022.

It helps that Cruise reportedly gives it his all whenever he takes on a new role. He's so devoted to bringing his characters to life that he'll even do most of his own stunts. Unfortunately, that sometimes comes back to bite him, like when he broke his ankle doing a stunt for the action spy film ‘Mission: Impossible - Fallout.’

Tom Cruise is a different man from the ones that he portrays in movies

Luckily, in Tom Cruise's eyes, a few injuries here and there are worth creating one great film after another. So many people have fallen in love with the characters he's portrayed, so much so that they sometimes forget that they're not real. As compelling as Tom might be, his life is different from those that he's starred as.

It can sometimes be hard to know what the man behind those characters is like, given he's usually pretty closed off about his personal life. That's understandable, given the rollercoaster ride that has been some aspects. With his relationships and beliefs already generating so much conversation, the last thing he probably wants is to share too much.

Being the life of the party apparently comes naturally to Tom Cruise

If the real Tom Cruise isn't like the characters he portrays in movies, what is he like? Some people assume he's a very positive, energetic person based on what they've seen of him away from his films. He always seems to be smiling whenever there's a camera around, and his behavior with Oprah proved he's got plenty of energy.

This impression of him seems to match what others have said about Tom in the past. He's apparently someone who’s always good to have at a party, with his own birthday celebrations in 2008 allegedly proving as much. He was supposedly a real hit on the dancefloor, which matches what Heather Locklear experienced when they went on a date.

Tom Cruise allegedly takes parts of his life incredibly seriously

Judging by what people have said about Tom Cruise and seen of him over the years, he seems to be a pretty easy-going guy. However, that might not actually be the case. At the very least, there's still a part of him that can be quite serious, both with his work and his personal life.

This corresponds to things like Tom allegedly going through various rituals when he's looking for a new girlfriend. He'll supposedly inundate a woman with calls and messages when they show an interest in him, which can scare some people off. Anette Iren Johansen reportedly admitted to being screen-tested by the Church of Scientology, just like several other potential partners.

Tom Cruise and Brooke Shields previously clashed regarding her postpartum disorder treatment

It's not out of the ordinary for celebrities to have public feuds, even stars as big as Tom Cruise. One person who he's disagreed with in the past is Brooke Shields, and it all relates to what she said about overcoming her postpartum disorder. It seems Cruise believed that Brooke resorting to medical help was "irresponsible."

According to him, women battling mental illness should only rely on "vitamins and exercise," something that understandably didn't sit well with everyone. His claims that there's "no such thing as a chemical imbalance" might have aligned with the Church of Scientology's views on everything. However, it didn't sit right with Shields or plenty of other people who supported her.

A 2020 outburst from Tom Cruise divided people on his behavior 

Like many others, Tom Cruise was affected when the world was hit by the global health crisis in 2020. Luckily for him, he was eventually able to return to work filming his action movie 'Mission: Impossible 7,' albeit with many new rules in place. Cruise was very adamant about following those rules and wasn't happy when people broke them.

Tom was apparently so upset by people ignoring the guidelines that he lost his cool and started shouting at the crew. He apparently had no idea that he was being filmed telling them how he was keeping the industry alive and devoting his time to getting them insurance. Tom’s behavior divided viewers, with some highly critical of his outburst.

Tom Cruise has supposedly utilized "slave labor" in the Church of Scientology

Outbursts like this, along with his continued devotion to the Church of Scientology, have sometimes done Tom Cruise's reputation more bad than good. It probably doesn't help that some of the rumors about the Hollywood star have been pretty serious, like the claims about him enlisting slave labor. These first emerged in 2011 when Mark Rathbun spoke to Radar Online.

According to him, the Church of Scientology had hidden emails that proved the existence of a "slave labor force." Several years later, over a dozen Scientology members allegedly came forward, saying the actor paid them $1 an hour to do all manner of jobs. There were also claims David Miscavige used his own power to make people do Cruise's bidding.

Leah Remini claims that Tom Cruise sometimes punishes people within the Church of Scientology

If those rumors are true, Tom Cruise has a lot of explaining to do. Unfortunately, it seems this isn't the end of the accusations that he's faced. Following her departure from the Church of Scientology, Leah Remini has spoken out against the religion quite a lot. Some of what she's said hasn't shown Cruise in the best light.

For instance, Tom supposedly punishes members within the church, to the point that he's now allegedly used as a threat against those who don't do what they're told. According to a 2018 interview with the Daily Beast, Tom is apparently viewed as a godly figure who is "saving the world single-handedly." The Church of Scientology denies all of this.

Scarlett Johanssen reportedly refused to audition to become one of Tom Cruise's wives

It seems like many women in Hollywood have been considered as potential wife material for Tom Cruise at some point. Someone else who the Church of Scientology supposedly contemplated becoming the next addition to Tom Cruise's love life is Scarlett Johansson. Several publications shared rumors of her being on the church's shortlist for the honor.

Johansson has adamantly denied that she ever went through with any sort of audition to be with Cruise, though. Supposedly, the extent of their connection was that she was invited to an audition but then discovered it was at the Scientology Center. Once she realized that, she steered clear because she reportedly wasn't interested in joining the church.

Rumors of Tom Cruise and Yolanda Pecoraro conflict with her current personal situation

Another name that's reportedly been linked to the love life of Tom Cruise is Yolanda Pecoraro. Like Nazanin Boniadi, she apparently has ties to the church, which is how she apparently met the actor. They allegedly first crossed paths in 2004, when she was 19 and less than half his age. Tom was supposedly "head over heels" for her.

However, things didn't work out between them, even though Tom allegedly paid for Yolanda to complete some of her courses within the church. Rumors were floating around semi-recently about her being the next woman to start a family with Cruise. However, Pecoraro is seemingly happy with Christopher Masterson, with whom she welcomed a child in 2021.

Tom Cruise apparently immediately hit if off with his co-star Hayley Atwell

For a while, it didn't seem like Tom Cruise needed the Church of Scientology to help him find someone to potentially become his fourth wife. After working with Hayley Atwell on 'Mission Impossible 7,' the actor reportedly developed an interest in his co-star, and the two began dating. This was back in December 2020, according to The Sun.

The publication claims that the pair actually "hit it off from day one," suggesting that Tom might have finally found the right woman to tie the knot with after his last divorce. Of course, relationships between co-stars can be tricky. More often than not, they tend to be whirlwind romances, with the spark fizzing out before too long.

Tom Cruise and Hayley Atwell reportedly split up in September 2021

If Tom Cruise wanted him and Hayley Atwell to be one of those co-star couples who do go the distance, he had another thing coming. That's because reports of the two going their separate ways emerged in September 2021. OK! Magazine reportedly broke the news about the two of them not managing to make things work.

Luckily for the pair, principal photography on 'Mission Impossible 7’ reportedly wrapped around this time, too. So, although they would still see one another somewhat frequently until after the movie's release, they wouldn't have to worry about filming scenes so much. That would hopefully make it easier for Cruise to get over the breakdown of another relationship.

They reportedly gave their relationship another go in early 2022

With Tom Cruise's dating history, there hasn't really been much evidence of him reuniting with someone after their relationship ended. However, Hayley Atwell is apparently an exception to the rule. Despite allegedly parting ways in September 2021, the duo reportedly put any past differences aside and reunited sometime in early 2022. Would things work out better the second time around?

Well, there was certainly a chance. After all, they already knew about one another's highs and lows, given they'd dated before. If both parties were aware of those and still wanted to give their relationship another chance, there was definitely hope for their reunion. Unfortunately, Tom Cruise's love life rarely seems to play out the way he wants.

Tom Cruise and Hayley Atwell split up again but reportedly stayed as friends

Despite being optimistic about their future together, these two simply weren't meant to be. For a second time in less than a year, Tom Cruise and Hayley Atwell reportedly went their separate ways. News of the split emerged in June 2022 when the Daily Mail shared that being boyfriend and girlfriend simply wasn't working for the two of them.

Thankfully, the news isn't all doom and gloom. While another of Tom Cruise's relationships might have come to an end, the source told the Daily Mail that they still wanted to be friends. That suggests they parted on good terms, which is more than can be said for some of the women in Tom Cruise's love life.

A deepfake video had some believing that Tom Cruise and Paris Hilton were an item

With Hayley Atwell now out of the picture in terms of Tom Cruise's love life, people are wondering who might catch his eye next. Some were recently fooled into believing that the Hollywood star and Paris Hilton were an item following a viral video on TikTok. The social media post appeared to show the pair looking very cozy.

However, while it might have appeared as though Tom Cruise had his hands around Hilton, it wasn't him in the video. It was apparently Miles Fisher, who was made to look like the actor through deepfake technology. Given Paris only recently got married, not everyone was fooled by her calling them a couple. However, some were definitely caught off guard.