11 Fascinating Facts About Tom Cruise

Beyond his dazzling on-screen presence, Tom Cruise's life has been one wild ride. Unbeknownst to many, his birth name is Thomas Cruise Mapother IV, but he opted to drop his last name when he entered showbiz. Alongside his stellar career, Cruise earned an Honorary Palme d’Or for Achievement in Film at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival. Acting talent runs in the family, with his cousin William Mapother also carving a path in the industry. Surprisingly, Cruise once contemplated becoming a priest! Read on to discover 11 facts you never knew about the star of Mission: Impossible.

1. Cruise Is His Middle Name

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Cruise is one of many actors who changed his name for Hollywood. However, he decided to drop his actual last name. Cruise was born Thomas Cruise Mapother IV. He was named after his father.

2. He Has An Honorary Palme d’Or

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Cruise has been nominated for and won many awards. Last year, he received an Honorary Palme d’Or for Achievement in Film. Cruise was given the award at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival, when his film Top Gun: Maverick was debuted. Cruise received the award along with Forest Whitaker.

3. His Cousin Is Also An Actor

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Acting runs in Cruise’s family. His cousin is actor, William Mapother, who is best known for his role on the TV show Lost. Mapother also worked alongside Cruise in the films Mission: Impossible 2, Magnolia, and Minority Report.

4. He Wanted To Be A Priest

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After his mother and stepfather married, Cruise attended the St. Francis Seminary School on a scholarship. Cruise wanted to become a priest, but decided to leave after a year. However, a classmate said he was kicked out after being caught with alcohol.

5. He Inspired Aladdin

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Cruise was used as an inspiration for the Disney character Aladdin. They decided to use Cruise as an inspiration as it would make the character look more likeable.

6. He Saved Ray-Ban

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In the early ‘80s, the Ray-Ban sunglasses company was in trouble. However, Cruise managed to save the company. After wearing the glasses in his iconic role in Risky Business, sales shot up. Cruise would then wear the brand in Top Gun, further improving sales.

7. He Loves Underwater Scenes

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Cruise is known for doing his own stunts. He is particularly good at underwater stunts. In Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation, Cruise was able to be underwater for six minutes. "I have done a lot of underwater sequences,” he told USA Today. “But we wanted to create a suspense underwater sequence without cuts. So doing that sequence was really interesting.”

8. He Has Dyslexia

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Cruise has dyslexia. In 2003, he opened up about growing up with it to People. "All through school and well into my career, I felt like I had a secret. When I'd go to a new school, I wouldn't want the other kids to know about my learning disability, but then I'd be sent off to remedial reading."

9. His First Wife Was Mimi Rogers

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Cruise has had a lot of high-profile relationships. He dated people like Cher, Rebecca DeMornay, and Penelope Cruz. He notably was married to both Nicole Kidman from 1990 to 2001, and Katie Holmes from 2006 and 2012. However, Cruise was also previously married to actress Mimi Rogers from 1987 to 1990.

10. He’s Won Three Golden Globes

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Cruise has been nominated for several different awards. He has won a Golden Globe three times. In 1990, he won Best Actor - Motion Picture Drama for Born On The First Of July. In 1997, he won Best Actor - Motion Picture Musical or Comedy for his role in Jerry Maguire. Lastly, he won Best Supporting Picture - Motion Picture for Magnolia in 2000.

11. He’s Never Won An Oscar

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While Cruise has won several awards, he hasn’t yet captured the elusive Oscar. Cruise has been nominated four times. Coincidentally, three of his nominations were for the roles he won Golden Globes for. He was nominated for Best Actor for his roles in Born On The First Of July and Jerry Maguire, and Best Supporting Actor for Magnolia. Cruise’s film, Top Gun: Maverick was also a Best Picture nominee.

As Mission: Impossible—Dead Recoking Part One hits theaters, get ready to be inspired by the incredible fitness journeys of the stars behind the high-octane action of Mission: Impossible. From the age-defying Tom Cruise's diverse outdoor pursuits to Rebecca Ferguson's rigorous preparation for fight sequences, this article unveils the secrets of 13 phenomenal bodies. Henry Cavill's thirst for knowledge in staying healthy, Michelle Monaghan's devotion to SoulCycle, and Angela Bassett's accountability approach will motivate you to take charge of your own wellness. Join us as we delve into the exercise regimes and wellness philosophies of these remarkable Mission: Impossible stars that keep them at the top of their game.

1. Tom Cruise

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Tom Cruise is still in amazing shape, despite being in his 60s. He does a variety of things to stay in shape. In particular, Cruise likes to do a lot of outdoor activities. He shared some of his favorites with MAartial.com. “Sea-kayaking, caving … fencing, treadmill, weights … rock-climbing, hiking. I jog. I do so many different activities.”

2. Rebecca Ferguson

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Rebecca Ferguson shared how she gets in shape for Mission Impossible films in a 2015 interview with Vogue. “Pilates was the ground floor. It’s such a good way of keeping your body safe. There is so much technique in fighting—how do you hold your fist, where does the motion come from. I had to learn to run fast—so we did a lot of explosive running. When we started filming, we kept the training up as much as possible. When you see a sequence that is 30 seconds long, it has taken weeks of preparation.”

3. Henry Cavill

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For Henry Cavill, staying healthy means learning new things. “Over the past couple of years, I've been trying to quiz my trainer, Dave Rienzi, more and more about the why of everything,” he told GQ. “‘Why is that going in? Why this rather than that? Aren't they both carbohydrates? Why this protein versus that protein? What does it mean when you do this before or afterwards?’ And so my journey is still very much in process.”

4. Michelle Monaghan

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Michelle Monaghan shared her favorite workout in an interview with Byrdie. “Soulcycle is my religion,” she revealed. “I started working out after I had my first daughter and I’ve really taken to it. I’m in better shape now than I was in my 20s!”

5. Jeremy Renner

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In an interview with The Gentleman’s Journal, Jeremy Renner talked about his support for the Me Too movement. “I always try to take something positive, even out of the worst things,” he said. “And, in this case, it’s got to be this courage. The courage women have had to stand up, and not wallow or be taken hold of by all this awful news. They knew that they couldn’t start a crusade alone, but they built one anyway — one brick at a time. And that shows great strength — a strength that I see it as my place to encourage.”

6. Thandie Newton

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Thandie Newton’s trainer, Liston Wingate-Dayes, talked to Healthista about how she stays in shape. “Her routines vary; she combines the routines we do, involving strength training, self-defense, light weights and stretching, with her yoga. We normally train two or three times a week when she is in London, but it’s tricky – celebrities are always working, and they don’t have much time. I might see her twice in one day, or some weeks we book five sessions, but she may cancel a couple of times and do things on her own.”

7. Vanessa Kirby

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Vanessa Kirby broke down how she got in shape for the Mission Impossible films to Harper’s Bazaar. She says that working out for her is about how she feels. “I think all of us really learned that exercise, training, and regime is more about how it makes you feel. If it makes you feel good, then do it.”

8. Jonathan Rhys Meyers

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In an interview with The Guardian, Jonathan Rhys Meyers opened up about his life and what he’s learned. One thing he shared was the biggest lesson he’s learned. “That if you really want to do something, you have to do it yourself,” he answered. “But nobody achieves anything on their own. Ask for help.”

9. Maggie Q

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Maggie Q shared some of her wellness secrets in an interview with InStyle. In it, she shared her favorite workouts. Q says that she likes going to classes, and cites OmStar.com as a favorite, specifically their yoga classes. “I've always been more inspired by crowd energy. You are more inspired when you feed off other people in class."

10. Dougray Scott

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Dougray Scott shared some of his diet and exercise secrets in an interview with Coachweb.com. “I have a trainer who lives in my pocket,” he says. “He’s my mate and he owns the gym in LA that I train at. He trains me three times a week and I also do Pilates because my back gets stiff, and Pilates is good for that.”

11. Paula Patton

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Patton said this about what she's looking for in a partner: “You know what the biggest thing is for me? Somebody who really likes to have fun,” said Patton. I want a man, but I want a man that also wants to embrace his inner child. You know? Laugh. Have fun. Enjoy the moment….I just, I want to be happy. Life is too short," she said, according to Essence.

12. Keri Russell

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Keri Russell opened up about her wellness secrets in an interview with Shape. In it, she says that she values time to herself. "Comfort for me is a bike ride. It can be simple: When I'm the one in the morning who gets Matthew and me coffee, alone on my bike. I don't care how cold it is. It could be 23 degrees outside. I need those little bits of time to myself.”

13. Angela Bassett

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Angela Bassett shared some of her workout secrets with BlackDoctor.org. She says that she likes to make plans with others, as it keeps her accountable. “Recently, I got a couple of my girlfriends together and we walked the Rose Bowl. It’s maybe a three-mile thing. It’s about showing up and accountability. You have to say, ‘Everyone will meet at 8:15 a.m.’ I know when I have a real plan then I’m there. If my friends are waiting, that puts a pressure on me not to disappoint them.”

Discover the awe-inspiring physical transformations of 20 beloved sci-fi movie stars! From Chris Pratt's NFL-level training to Daisy Ridley's kickboxing prowess, these stars go above and beyond to embody their on-screen roles. Uncover the secrets behind their incredible bodies as their trainers and experts share their regimens. Whether it's Keanu Reeves' unparalleled focus or Charlize Theron's tenacity, each story unveils the dedication and hard work behind the glamorous façade. Get inspired by their fitness journeys as we delve into the fitness routines and wellness hacks of Hollywood's finest.

1. Chris Pratt

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Chris Pratt’s trainer, Duffy Gaver, talked about working with the actor to Muscle and Fitness. “He isn’t the client you have to push; he’s the type of client you have to pull down. If you were to walk into the gym when he was training, you would have thought for sure you’ve got a guy getting ready for the NFL Combine.”

2. Daisy Ridley

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Daisy Ridley opened up about getting in shape to film the Star Wars movies to The Guardian. “I’m the strongest and healthiest I’ve ever been. I didn’t get injured once [on set]. I actually got my kickboxing green belt during filming, which really felt like something.”

3. John Boyega

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John Boyega opened up about his workout and diet in an interview with Men’s Health. He says that he had to work on cutting out junk food, and took himself off of sugar. “That’s my enemy. Doughnuts, chocolate, candy, pie, sodas… the stuff that kills you. I had to get rid of that habit.”

4. Charlize Theron

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Charlize Theron works with trainer, Fedele De Santis, to keep herself in shape. De Santis talked about working with Theron in an interview. “Charlize is an extremely serious, focused, professional, no-B.S. client.She’s so tenacious, my nickname for her is Thundercat!”

5. Keanu Reeves

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Keanu Reeves’ works with trainer, Patrick Murphy, to help him stay in shape. Murphy tells GQ, “Keanu is second to none when it comes to focus and effort for a physical role. He 110% gives it his all, day in and day out. It’s one of the many reasons why he is respected by so many who work with him.”

6. Robert Pattinson

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In an interview with The Evening Standard, Robert Pattinson talked about his approach to diet and exercise. He says that he doesn’t want to obsess over his diet and calories. “Watching your calorie intake is extraordinarily addictive — you don’t quite realise how insidious it is.”

7. Zoe Saldana

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Zoe Saldana opened up about her approach to wellness in an interview with Shape. “I can't work out regularly, so I compensate by eating a lot healthier than I might otherwise,” she explains. “Once you have relatively healthy eating habits, your workout can become playing with your kids, strolling around the neighbourhood, playing airplane, or just changing diapers.”

8. Emily Blunt

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Emily Blunt shared one of her biggest wellness hacks with Glamour. "I would say if you feel yourself coming down with a cold, which I'm like the worst person to nominate this because I sound horrible today - tail end of laryngitis. But... oil of oregano. You sort of just throw a few drops down there. It's disgusting, you burn your throat but I do tend to find it shortens the cold."

9. Chris Pine

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Chris Pine opened up about his life and career to Men’s Journal. He says that he has reached a point of comfort in his career. “I realized after Star Trek that I’d achieved a lot, I was financially independent; but something about my way of going about life wasn’t satisfying me. So I made a decision that my main objective is to be happier, as opposed to more successful. That’s what I want.”

10. Harrison Ford

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In an interview with Esquire, Harrison Ford opened up about what he’s learned in life. “We look for ourselves, and we look for useful information to help us navigate our fucking lives and the world that we’re living in,” he says. “We don’t realize we’re looking for that. But we’re looking to pull out of a fantasy something that’s useful to us. And what’s useful to us is to emotionally participate in things outside of our own lives.”

11. Matt Damon

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Matt Damon’s trainer, Jason Walsh, opened up about how the actor got in shape to Thrillist. Damon was a fan of using the VersaClimber. "On the VersaClimber, he would end up averaging 4,000ft or 4,500ft, which we would do in 30 minutes. Which is really, really good. That's a lot of work in a very, very short amount of time."

12. Jude Law

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Jude Law works with trainer, Johnny Silmon, to help him stay in shape. “Jude always puts a good shift in,” Silmon tells Men’s Journal. In addition to their five sessions a week, Law does an additional two or three on his own. “For the project it wasn’t about hitting a number, it was about making him feel comfortable as an enforcer.”

13. Ryan Gosling

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Ryan Gosling works with trainer, Arin Babaian, to help him stay in shape. He opened up about how Gosling prepped for La La Land to Men’s Journal. “I used our days to build up his legs, core, and back,” says Babaian. “Those were the elements that were going to allow him to carry his own bodyweight and have complete control over his movements. If you are going to be picking people up over your head, you had better be pretty strong.”

14. Jake Gyllenhaal

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In an interview with TODAY, Jake Gyllenhaal opened up about how he got into eating a plant based diet. “My father was already healthy going up and trying different things. he was the first person to introduce me to soy milk. He cooked things with tofu. When you have models like that, it influences you. I think that's been passed onto me."

15. Amy Adams

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Amy Adams is a big fan of Pilates. She works with instructor, Nonna Gleyzer, to help her stay in shape. Gleyzer has several celebrity clients, and opened up about how she approaches working them with E! News. "The goal with them was to make sure they all looked good on film, so we did a lot of elongating posture-focused exercises.”

16. Michael Fassbender

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To help him get in shape for Assassin’s Creed, Michael Fassbender worked with trainer David Kingsbury. He talked about working with Fassbender to Men’s Journal. “If we had a long day, we would transition at some point into Muay Thai or boxing, because it helped get the right look aesthetically, not to mention that it was also helpful for their combat work in the movie.”

17. Milla Jovovich

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Milla Jovovich opened up about her diet in an interview with People. She says that she makes sure that her way of eating is sustainable, and shared her approach. “To be honest, I just found that making sure that 80 percent of my diet during the week is vegetable-based and everything else is just smaller portions, helped my skin, helped my energy levels, just helped everything.”

18. Adam Driver

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Adam Driver works with trainer, Simon Waterson, to help him stay in shape for the Star Wars movies. He shared some of Driver’s workouts and approach to fitness with Men’s Journal. “These workouts were all about the tempo and transitions,” says Waterson. “The movements should be fluid, like one continuous exercise without sacrificing form.”

19. Sam Worthington

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In an interview with Variety, Sam Worthington talked about how his sobriety has affected his life and career. He says that this comes into play with picking roles. “If I can’t bring anything to it, I’m not going to go and be involved in it,” he says. “I don’t want to do that again. I don’t want to just be the action figure standing in the front. And that’s OK. It takes a lot to understand what you do want from this industry.”

20. Sandra Bullock

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Sandra Bullock’s facialist, Georgia Louise, talked about the actress’ skincare routine to People. "I wanted to give [Bullock] something that would transform her skin without the need to undergo lasers, so I loaded up her bespoke facial with something that would give her long-lasting results. I have text threads which would blow your mind from celebrities, asking for the 'penis treatment' all the time now!"

Star Trek stars have captivated audiences with their compelling performances and memorable characters (and pointy ears). Beyond the starships and interstellar adventures, these actors also share their personal journeys toward physical and emotional well-being. From Chris Pine's insights on healthy prepping for roles to Zachary Quinto's reflections on the evolving landscape for LGBTQ+ individuals, this article delves into the multifaceted lives of these talented individuals. Join us as we explore how actors like Karl Urban, Sonequa Martin-Green, and Michelle Yeoh strike a balance between maintaining incredible bodies, supporting charitable causes, and embracing their authentic selves in the ever-evolving realm of showbiz.

1. Chris Pine

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Chris Pine opened up about his career in an interview with Men’s Journal. In it, he says that he avoids those calorie rich diets when prepping for roles. “You’ve got Thor, you’ve got Captain America. These guys are eating 5,000, 7,000 calories, waking up just to eat food, eating 15 meals a day. For your liver, I don’t think that’s healthy.”

2. Karl Urban

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Karl Urban opened up about how he got in shape for his role in The Boys to Men’s Journal. “I made sure I was consistently putting work in the gym. I wanted to make sure I was meeting the requirements of what people had in their heads when they thought of him. There's also an importance on staying healthy when you're coming up on a big shoot like The Boys, because it can take a lot out of you. I put a program together based on a few other regimes I had built for other film projects and it worked. The goal was to add mass to all of the muscle groups, and hit them all. I wanted something that was just as much about fitness as it was about aesthetic.”

3. Zachary Quinto

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In an interview with Time, Zachary Quinto opened up about growing up as a gay man. “I feel grateful to have grown up at a time when all my experiences as a kid in learning to perform and growing up was based on the people that came before me. I spent a lot of time charting the journeys of the people who weren't allowed to be openly gay and had to live their lives in terrible self-oppression and torture and lies just to succeed. Kids today don't have to think about that, because so many of those people died. Now you can do what you want to do. That came at a cost. Honoring that cost is the only thing we owe each other.”

4. Chris Hemsworth

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Chris Hemsworth’s stuntman Bobby Holland Hanton, opened up about the way he and the actor get in shape for roles to Page Six. “Chris says to me, ‘We want to be the strongest, healthiest versions of ourselves for this next “Thor.” We want to take it to the next level.’ As you know, every single ‘Thor’ and ‘Avengers,’ he’s always in incredible shape. For him to want to take it to that next level, it was another huge challenge.”

5. Jason Isaacs

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Jason Isaacs shares his fitness secrets with GQ. "I have one of the many seven-minute workout apps. It’s star jumps; wall-sits; squats; crunches; push-ups with rotation; step-ups; planks; side planks as well. All the other actors and various crew members were initially interested, and one by all they’ve all dropped off. There’s a couple of die-hards that still do it with me but I am so much better at exercising when I’ve got a workout partner.”

6. Sonequa Martin-Green

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Sonequa Martin Green is open about supporting cancer charities. “What appealed to me about Stand Up To Cancer was the unity,” she told WebMD. “There is something so powerful about community, to know there are so many people from so many different disciplines in science coming together, shedding their egos, and combining their research. They’re world-changers and they’re doing it all as one, and I’m so honored to support this work.”

7. Michelle Yeoh

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Michelle Yeoh’s trainer, Andy Le, talked about working with her in an interview with GQ. “Her extensive background in martial arts films definitely had a great impact on how we worked together. Michelle brings a presence when the cameras are on her. You can take anyone else and teach them the same choreography and they would never be able to do it like her, she brings an X factor to her performance.”

8. Terry Farrell

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Terry Farrell opened up about working on Star Trek and what she’s learned in a 2015 interview with Woman At Warp. “I think that living in the moment is important – for myself, I strive to live in the moment, challenge myself to be a better person, and challenge myself to be my authentic self. And hopefully, whenever I get the feeling that I’m a little scared to deal with something, that instead I think ‘that’s how being brave feels’ and that motivates me to deal with it and confront it. I’ve had a lot of practice this year.”

9. Gates McFadden

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Gates McFadden opened up about her diet in this Tweet. “My diet does not include dairy or gluten. There are terrific crackers that are gf, most bread sucks so I bake biscuits that taste great. tofu salads, I occasionally eat fish, and am currently craving and scarfing down mochi that are made with coconut milk and are dairy & gf!”

10. Zoe Saldana

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In 2016, Zoe Saldana talked to Coveteur about getting in shape for Star Trek: Beyond. “The physical side of [filming] wasn’t demanding at all for me—I asked if it was okay for me to not try to be a hero in this installment of the films. I have my sons who are six months old. But with that being said I still have a fighting scene, and I’m so happy about it. I was already in my process of slowly getting back to my normal routine with my body, so I just started doing some power yoga and a lot of floor work—breathing has been helping me a great deal. I just love it, so that’s what I was doing in my spare time.”

11. Alison Pill

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Alison Pill opened up about the impact of Star Trek: Picard to Inverse.com. “I think we definitely all understand that humans are social animals and many animals are social,” Pill says. “So how do we organize ourselves by these principles that don't put us in these individual black and white boxes and get stuck in the binary way of thinking? Of good vs. bad? Or with us or against us? How, how could we operate in society if those weren't the only options? That’s what our show is about.”

12. Rebecca Romijn

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Rebecca Romijn is all about self-acceptance. She talked about this in an interview with People. “I think life is a whole game of acceptance. I think when you, especially as you get older, you just have to accept certain things and accepting your looks to a certain extent is part of that, just growing up, maturity.”

13. Anson Mount

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In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Anson Mount opened up about the impact of the Star Trek franchise, and honoring it in Strange New Worlds. “To me, it’s super important because I grew up watching the original series when it was in syndication. That is how I discovered Star Trek. And that was the only Star Trek I had until The Next Generation. So, for me, that’s everything. And that is what we really wanted to do, something that was a throwback and homage to the original series. And almost everything we do, that consideration goes into it.”

14. Jack Quaid

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Jack Quaid opened up about his life and career to GQ. He says that he wants to respect the people he works with. “I very much have a sorry to bother you attitude in my life. I don’t want to involve anyone else. But whatever people's processes are, as long as you're not actively hurting anyone, I think it's okay.”

15. Ella Purnell

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Ella Purnell talked about how she plays characters in an interview with TheFace.com. “It doesn’t matter to me if the character is likeable or not likeable. What matters to me is compelling storytelling. And if you lose the audience at episode three or four because your character is annoying, they’re not going to give a shit if you [PLOT DETAIL REDACTED] in episode 10.”

16. Wil Wheaton

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Wil Wheaton talked about the changes he was making to his diet in this 2016 post on his website. In it, he talked about how he was eating healthy and approaching food. “My only vice left is ice cream, and I have ice cream almost every night. I’m not going to feel bad or apologize for it, or make any excuses. All my other meals are really good, and we are cooking our own food at least three nights a week. I track my calories in and out, and I’m staying right around 1300 calories every day, which I guess is good for a guy my age and activity level and all that stuff.”

17. Christina Chong

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Christina Chong revealed in this interview that she likes to meditate. According to the Mayo Clinic, meditation has a lot of benefits. “During meditation, you focus your attention and eliminate the stream of jumbled thoughts that may be crowding your mind and causing stress. This process may result in enhanced physical and emotional well-being.”