Tom Cruise's rare praise of ex-wife Nicole Kidman

Tom Cruise has made a rare comment on his ex-wife, Australian actress Nicole Kidman, 24 years after their split.

The Mission Impossible actor spoke to Sight and Sound Magazine, reminiscing about filming late director Stanley Kubrick's last project before his death, Eyes Wide Shut.

In the 1999 erotic thriller, Cruise and Kidman starred as a couple who are unsatisfied in their marriage, with Cruise's character seeking out dangerous ways to fix their relationship.

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As per The Independent, Cruise told the outlet about meeting Kubrick before the film's production even began.

"I flew out to his house, and I landed in his backyard. I read the script the day before and we spent the day talking about it. I knew all of his films," the 62-year-old recalled

"Then it was basically he and I getting to know each other. And when we were doing that, I suggested Nicole play the role [of Alice]. Because, obviously, she's a great actress."

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He then told Kubrick that "whatever it's going to take [to make the movie], we're going to do this."

At the time of filming Cruise and Kidman were happily married, unlike their characters. However, it didn't stop speculation about their marriage

Kidman, 57, also previously recalled the experience of filming, telling The New York Times in 2020 that the idea that the film's subject matter impacted their union, "fits the narrative that people came up with, but I definitely didn't see it like that... We were happily married."

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The pair had been married since 1990 and divorced in 2001, two years after the film premiered. Since then, they have rarely spoken about each other in the press.

Together they had adopted two children – Bella, now 32, and Connor, now 30. Both children were raised by Cruise after the split.

Kidman went on to marry country singer Keith urban in 2006, having since welcomed daughters Sunday Rose, 16 and Faith Margaret, 14.

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Cruise also remarried in 2006 to Katie Holmes, together welcoming daughter Suri, who is now aged 18.

The actor is now rumoured to be dating actress Ana de Armas, 37, after being spotted together on multiple occasions.

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