Entertainment
Tom Cruise Praises Ex-Wife Nicole Kidman After 24 Years of Silence
Los Angeles, May 12, 2025 – Tom Cruise has broken his decades-long silence about ex-wife Nicole Kidman, offering rare praise for her talent while promoting Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning. The comments, made in a recent interview, have reignited interest in one of Hollywood’s most iconic splits from 2001. Here’s what went down and why it’s making waves.
Cruise’s Rare Remarks
In an interview with Sight and Sound magazine, published May 9, Cruise reflected on casting Kidman as his wife, Alice, in Stanley Kubrick’s 1999 film Eyes Wide Shut. “I suggested Nicole play the role,” the 62-year-old said. “Because obviously she’s a great actress,” per E! News. The compliment marks his first public mention of Kidman in over 20 years, since their 2001 divorce, per Times Now. Cruise didn’t delve into their personal history, focusing instead on their professional collaboration, per The New Daily.
The 1990–2001 Marriage
Cruise and Kidman met on the set of Days of Thunder in 1990, marrying that Christmas Eve in Telluride, Colorado, per Hollywood Life. They adopted two children, Isabella (1992) and Connor (1995), and starred together in Far and Away (1992) and Eyes Wide Shut (1999). Their February 2001 divorce, initiated by Cruise citing “irreconcilable differences,” shocked fans, per Yahoo. Kidman later called the split a “surprise,” saying it took years to heal, per Vanity Fair.
Rumors have long swirled that Cruise’s deep ties to the Church of Scientology strained their marriage. Former Scientologist Mike Rinder claimed in his 2022 book, A Billion Years, that the church viewed Kidman as a “negative influence” and worked to distance Cruise from her, per Us Weekly. Neither Cruise nor Kidman has confirmed these claims, and the church denied related allegations, per Page Six.
Where Are They Now?
Kidman, 57, won an Oscar for The Hours (2003) and has four nominations, per IMDb. Married to Keith Urban since 2006, she has two daughters, Sunday and Faith, and continues to shine in projects like The Undoing, per Hollywood Life. Cruise, a three-time Oscar nominee, remains a box-office titan with the Mission: Impossible franchise, unmarried since his 2012 divorce from Katie Holmes, per Yahoo.
Isabella, 32, and Connor, 30, live with Cruise and practice Scientology, per E! News. Kidman has said she respects their choices, telling Australia’s Who in 2018, “They are adults. They have made choices to be Scientologists, and as a mother, it’s my job to love them,” per Vogue.
Why the Comments Matter
Cruise’s praise comes as Eyes Wide Shut marks its 25th anniversary and Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning hits Cannes, per mercurynews.com. The timing has sparked buzz, with X users expressing surprise. “Tom mentioning Nicole after all these years? Wild,” one post read, per @WIONShowbiz. Others called it a “classy move,” per @moviesndtv. The remarks contrast Cruise’s usual privacy about his personal life, especially post-divorce, per Times Now.
What’s Next?
Kidman hasn’t responded to Cruise’s comments, staying focused on her career, per Vogue. Fans are eager for more insights, but Cruise’s brief nod to their past suggests he’s keeping the door slightly ajar.
