There is something magnetic about the big screen that turns mere mortals into legends, and one of the hottest actors of the 80s, Tom Cruise, embodies that journey like no other. Audiences first discovered him in smaller roles in films such as Endless love.
But it was his breakthrough in the 1983 film Risky business This was the beginning of his rapid career. From then on, Cruise made his way through Hollywood and played in timeless classics such as Rain Man, Top Gun, And Jerry Maguire. Although he tried his hand at dramatic roles, he soon transformed into an indomitable action star and played the leading role in the action-packed Mission: Impossible Franchise.
But who would have thought that behind the fast-paced stunts and blockbuster films there is a romantic side that many fans know little about? Take, for example, his relationship with his Vanilla Heaven Co-star Penelope Cruz.
From Co-Stars to Companions: The Untold Story of Tom Cruise and Penélope Cruz
Love is a battlefield and Tom Cruise knows this all too well. As a Hollywood heartthrob, his romantic entanglements have been the talk of the town for years. From his romance with Penélope Cruz to his passionate relationship with Nicole Kidman, Cruise has certainly had his fair share of ups and downs when it comes to love.
After his divorce from Kidman, Cruise didn’t waste much time trying to ingratiate himself with Cruz on the set. Vanilla Heaven. Although he was still married to Kidman when his paths crossed with Cruz, Vanilla Heaven Stars insisted that their romantic spark was only ignited after Cruise’s divorce was finalized in 2001. Cruz reflects on her evolving relationship with the Super shooter Star noted (via The Telegraph):
I’ve never fallen in love with anyone I work with. When something turns into a friendship, months later it can turn into something else, but you never know.
As soon as his divorce from Kidman was finalized, Cruise and Cruz made a big appearance together at the premiere of Corelli’s Mandolin (see The Guardian). However, their romance burned fast and brightly; they ended the relationship in January 2004 after three years together (via People). A source close to the couple noted that their relationship had simply run its course, explaining:
They decided to no longer be boyfriend and girlfriend.
Unfortunately, like many Hollywood love stories, their love story did not last.
The other side of Tom Cruise: Romantic gestures that melt hearts
There has been speculation that Scientology may have played a role in their split, as Penélope Cruz reportedly did not meet the religious expectations of Tom Cruise’s inner circle (according to Vanity Fair).
But even after their romance went up in smoke, Cruise’s romantic flair is a gem we can’t ignore – a side that even the most devoted Mission: Impossible fans.
During their time together, Cruise charmed Cruz with thoughtful gestures that were the icing on the cake of their relationship. His loving acts, from cooking her favorite meals to running a soothing bath, showed that sometimes it’s the little things that hit the nail on the head and leave a lasting impression.
According to EW, Cruise said:
I surprise Penelope with different things. She comes home and I make her favorite meal and run a bath. I like doing things like that. She likes my food so I cook for her. It’s always the little things that I like in a relationship.
Meanwhile, Cruz also acknowledged Cruise’s talent and good nature, praising him to The Guardian:
Tom is a very good man and I am very close to his whole family and his children. I love his children, his mother and his whole family and he is a great man.
After her time with Cruise, Cruz began a new chapter in her personal life and eventually married Spanish actor Javier Bardem. Rain Man took the step into the unknown and married Katie Holmes in 2006, but their love story did not have a fairytale ending. The couple divorced in 2012.
