As a kid when I was growing up, I remember vividly being on the roof of my family's station wagon, and across the street was the Sahara Desert. I always wanted to see other places and learn about how other people lived. I began to travel and saw different cultures even within America.
Even the scenes where you don't have the action, I've got to pace myself. At the end of the day, you know, you might be doing a close-up and working on this scene and you got to be prepared, you got to have it available. So I think of that when I'm preparing for a film, so I prepare very hard.
Have you ever gotten the feeling that you aren't completely embarassed yet, but you glimpse tomorrow's embarrassment?
I always look for a challenge and something that's different.
I didn't become an actor to have power, but it just happens that I have it and so I have a lot of opportunities.
I disagree with people who think you learn more from getting beat up than you do from winning.
I do it because it's fun. I'm not a great mountain climber but things like that excite me. I think a lot of people are going to think that stuff is special effects, but it's not. I'm on the mountain. Throughout the fight scenes, when things come dangerously close, that's all real.
I find that, especially with children, they want to contribute. Even my kids, when they come in and they mess up the work and I'm busy, but they are just trying to help out, so I always say, 'Thank you.' That's how I am with them and I find that they're happier and I'm happier as a result.
I look at the Samurai because they were the artists of their time. What I think struck me when I read Bushido is compassion. 'If there's no one there to help, go out and find someone to help.' That hit me, because I try to lead my life like that.
I love kids. I was a kid myself, once.
I love what I do. I take great pride in what I do. And I can't do something halfway, three-quarters, nine-tenths. If I'm going to do something, I go all the way.
I want a world without war, a world without insanity. I want to see people do well. I don't even think it's as much as what I want for myself. It's more what I want for the people around me. That's what I want.
I've gotten very good at scheduling my life, scheduling the scene and preparing myself for knowing, saving the energy, consuming the energy, knowing when to go for it and having the available reserves to be able to do that. You have to think about that, because it's endurance.
I've learned to relax more. Everybody feels pressure in what they do, maybe mine is just a little different because there doesn't seem to be enough hours in the day to accomplish what I want to.
I've never done work for money ever. If your choices are based on grosses and the film doesn't do well, what does that mean? It leaves you with nothing.
I've never made a film that I didn't believe in, you know? However the picture turns out, I've always given everything to it. That's kind of how I approach life. I can't help it. There's no part-way with me on anything in any area of my life.
It's well known I'm a Scientologist, and that has helped me to find that inner peace in my life and it's something that has given me great stability and tools that I use.
Nothing ends nicely, that's why it ends.
Saddam has committed many crimes against humanity and against his own people.
Talk is over-rated as a means of settling disputes.
The exciting part of acting, I don't know how else to explain it, are those moments when you surprise yourself.
The thing about film-making is I give it everything, that's why I work so hard. I always tell young actors to take charge. It's not that hard. Sign your own cheques, be responsible.
What I find sometimes that is tricky is if actors are using too much of their own life in a picture, in a scene, they get locked into a particular way to play the scene, and it lacks an immediacy.
When I first started out all the attention could be a bit unnerving, especially when people stared. Now I find the best thing is to just relax. Being recognized is just something you have to get used to.
When I work, I work very hard. So I look to work with people who have that level of dedication. And I depend on that from everyone. From the director to my crews that I work with.
Identical psychic twins Terry and Linda Jamison, who made headlines when they foresaw the events of 2001's 9/11 terrorist attacks, have announced that Tom & Katie’s marriage will be short lived, but they will have a second child together before splitting.
Tom was ranked #1 on Entertainment Tonight's Hot List of 2006.
Tom has been voted the Hollywood star Americans least want to see on the big screen. 34 per cent of those quizzed said they would "avoid" seeing anything featuring him. Angelina Jolie was next, on 18 per cent. Mel Gibson scored 15 per cent in the Gallup survey, reported by Editor and Publisher.
Tom is mentioned in Bowling For Soup's song "High School Never Ends."
Tom has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, at 6912 Hollywood Blvd.
Some movie roles that Tom Cruise has reportedly turned down include such blockbusters as Alexander, Footloose, The Talented Mr. Ripley, Enemy of the State, and Cold Mountain.
Tom earned his pilot's license in 1994 and owns a WWII P-51 Mustang and Pitts Special S-2B stunt plane.
As reported in Australian newspapers in June 2006, Tom is planning something special for the premiere of Mission Impossible 111 in Japan. He will head a $24 million promotional campaign which will see him arrive at the Tokyo premiere in a speedboat chased under the city’s Rainbow Bridge by a helicopter. He will then board a private bullet train which will take him and 150 fans to Osaka, and has promised to speak to each passenger individually.
In December 2003, he told Marie Claire that he had "never been into extravagant gifts." But after he started dating Katie, he bought her a jet!
He has a daughter with actress Katie Holmes named Suri.
Katie Holmes' parents are disappointed that Tom and Katie are not yet married, even though Katie is pregnant. Her father has asked them to set a date--the sooner, the better.
Tom's adopted son Connor is half-black, half-white.
Since Tom's appearance on the Oprah Winfrey Show, when he jumped on her sofa to proclaim his love for actress Katie Holmes, Tom has been under much criticism from the press.
Tom has been diagnosed as having ADHD.
Tom's relationship with Katie Holmes is widely thought to be staged.
Tom and Katie reportedly want their child to have old-fashioned, mid-western values.
Tom took up acting after he lost his place on the high school wrestling team because due to an injured knee.
Tom, always an animal lover, has two dogs called Basil and Murray and a cat called Harvey.
Tom dated actress Pen?lope Cruz from 2001 to January 2004. She is now dating actor Matthew McConaughey.
Tom was married to actress Mimi Rogers from 5/9/87 to 2/4/90. His second wife was actress Nicole Kidman from 12/24/90 to 8/8/01. Together, they adopted two children named Isabella and Connor. Tom is now currently engaged to actress Katie Holmes.
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