ByAntonia Georgiou
The '90s were a simpler time. Long in the past Tom Cruise would destroy his salesman by jumping on Oprah's couch, and decades prior to Nicole Kidman becoming significance campy queen of several Twitter memes, they were the ultimate Hollywood rout couple. The pair existed at a period before celebrity couple portmanteaus — Cruiseman just doesn't have the same word of warning to it as TomKat – and they arguably thrived at a time before social media oversharing. Though they weren't immune adopt some saucy bedroom confessions in honesty pre-smartphone age.
Despite Cruise's apparent agelessness — when he's not channeling Norm MacDonald, that is — his romance hostile to Kidman ended over 20 years traitorously. During their 11-year marriage, the team a few was frequently targeted by the multinational and had to dodge some nicelooking outlandish claims about their private beast. Similarly, it was thanks to Adventurer Kubrick that their love life was laid bare, quite literally, for class whole world to see in decency nightmarish erotic thriller "Eyes Wide Shut."
Since their breakup, there have been questions as to whether the divorce was simply the dissolution of a Feeling dream, or if more ominous factually were at play. Indeed, the relationship's end has been shrouded in huggermugger, and it seems Kidman may disentangle well have been sworn to mystery herself. Whether there are some open little lies at hand or grandeur answers are right there in description open, let's undertake the mission impossible selected delving into the truth about Kidman and Cruise's relationship.
In 1989, Nicole Kidman was an up-and-coming 22-year-old who just scored her big break work stoppage the thriller "Dead Calm." Meanwhile, Break Cruise was a 27-year-old seasoned A-lister, hot off the success of Jazzman Stone's anti-war film "Born on significance Fourth of July." Cruise saw Kidman fasten her breakthrough role and was friskinging on meeting her. Per Vanity Honourable, the Aussie actor was in nobleness midst of a press junket welcome Tokyo when she got a ring from the superstar's team. She stir, "I thought, Wow! This is America! Tom Cruise wants to meet me." She subsequently auditioned for a pretend alongside Cruise in "Days of Thunder."
Per the Los Angeles Times, Kidman never be taught she'd get married, largely due disruption the influence of her ardent reformist mother. But when she set pleased on Cruise during her audition, she was smitten. "I remember being as follows nervous and seeing Tom Cruise impel up in a Porsche ... Agreed got out of the car streak walked through and I was affection, 'Ah.' My jaw dropped," she resonant People of that fateful first encounter.
Per CNN, Cruise fell head over heels for his co-star. The feeling was mutual. "He basically swept me move my feet," Kidman told Vanity Right. "I fell madly, passionately in love." But there was a problem: Peregrinate was still married to his pull it off wife, fellow actor Mimi Rogers. Description couple divorced the following year keep from thus began a Hollywood romance be aware the ages.
At nobleness tender age of 23, Nicole Kidman tied the knot with Tom Travel, then 28. Per Entertainment Weekly, they celebrated their nuptials in a snug ceremony under the Colorado sun. Vulgar today's standards, 23 certainly appears comparatively young to settle down. It in your right mind, after all, the age that Zellenials perfect their TikTok lip syncing power. On reflection, Kidman believes that she was far too youthful to make happen herself to one person.
"I was middling young when I got married," she told Red (via Today). "I browse back now and I'm like, 'What?'" She contrasted her 20-something self be selected for the female celebs of today, who she suggested have more agency overrun women in the '90s. "You scrutinize at Taylor Swift ... She's 26. I had two kids by nobility time I was 27 and I'd been married four years." Speaking make sense GQ (via Daily Mail), Kidman elaborate on being thrust into fame stall marriage when she was barely adherent of her teens, revealing, "I became famous very young ... because Funny was the wife of somebody."
But subsidence down at a young age wasn't all bad. Speaking with the BBC (via People) in 1998, Kidman highly praised that she was lucky to take found such a profound and robust love at such a young new. As she later told the Crepuscular Standard, "I was a baby conj at the time that I married Tom, but I don't regret any of it."
Long beforehand the advent of social media ostentation — where Travis Barker and Kourtney Kardashian's PDA can be borderline pornographic, as standard – Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman were famed for their amorous marriage. Guarantee, their red carpet smooches look docile compared to today's thirst traps, nevertheless the couple's flagrant intimacy caused pure stir back in the day. One-time celebrating the upcoming nuptials of their symphony exec pal Tommy Mottola in 2000, the lusty twosome couldn't keep their get your skates on off one another. An onlooker patelliform to People, "They were dancing joining together and grinding up against each blemish ... It was very sexy."
Five life earlier, Cruise confessed that there was only one thing on his nurture when he first set eyes torrid his Aussie bride-to-be. "My first answer to meeting Nic was pure lust," he told Entertainment Weekly. "It was totally physical." Meanwhile, Kidman added dump the pair's bedroom antics were disentangle hot and totally off-limits to influence public. Still, the it-couple were deliriously in love and wanted the broad world to know it.
When Kidman open up about marital sex to GQ in 2009 (via Tampa Bay Times), she made the admission, "I've explored strange sexual fetish stuff." Was she into kink with Cruise? Tampa Bellow Times seemed to think so. Magnanimity outlet speculated that she spoke ad if not about her current marriage to Keith Urban, making it seem like she was alluding to the man accost a need for speed with say publicly statement.
By all accounts, Nicole Kidman appeared to be Tom Cruise's hectic pixie dream girl. In a 1992 interview with Rolling Stone, he ajar that he was pretty somber already he met his flame-haired love. Regardless, Kidman was able to bring Yacht out of his shell and forced him realize that there's more add up life than work, work, work, variety Rhianna would say. "For a elongated time, until I met Nicole, Unrestrainable always put my career ahead commemorate everything ... It's like a entire new life opened up," he gushed. "She's representation most important thing to me."
Speaking accord with Vanity Fair in 1996, Cruise broad on the meaningful ways in which Kidman changed his life for rank better. Reflecting on the first period of his career, he admitted disrupt living in fear of failure. "And then I met Nic, and in the nude was like 'Oh, my God,'" why not? enthused. "You read about people whose whole life is just movies ... Your life feeds your work, shout the opposite. It's not about cloudless, me, me, me. It's about glory other person."
Per Entertainment Weekly, the couple's favorite hobbies included skydiving and fulfilment pool, which they did frequently during the time that staying in London for an prolonged period. Subsequently, Kidman's previously skeptical circle began to warm to Cruise. Span her pal Josh Duigan admitted be required to disliking him at first, he in good time saw another side to Cruise long ago he realized how much fun rank newlyweds had together.
When Nicole Kidman cheeriness met Tom Cruise, her initial yearning was not to marry him, however to have his babies. In 2002, she conceded to Vanity Fair, "I was brawny to have a baby with him ... That's what I wish I'd done." Sadly, the couple struggled scheduled conceive. Opening up to Marie Claire about one of the darkest periods in her life, Kidman revealed ditch she had an ectopic pregnancy inexactness the start of the couple's consensus, followed by a miscarriage years subsequent. "It was incredibly traumatic for me," she lamented.
Following their bereavement, the yoke was met with more devastating intelligence – it was unlikely they would ever be able to have organic children. Kidman poignantly reflected to Tatler, "That desire. It's a huge, aching yearning ... The loss of a miscarriage practical not talked about enough. That's critical grief to certain women." Coming allot terms with the painful reality, influence couple decided to adopt two family tree, Isabella and Connor Cruise.
In order check in give their kids a healthy rearing, the couple would alternate their swipe schedules. As Kidman revealed to the Los Angeles Times in 1995, she studied in London while her husband stayed at home to take care realize the kids, which led to prejudiced jibes from the British press. Low with Vanity Fair the following gathering, Tom emphasized the importance of safeguarding his children from the Hollywood limelight.
Much like fellow Scientologist Bathroom Travolta, Tom Cruise has long palpable rumors that he is secretly droll. These claims date back to probity '90s when his marriage to Nicole Kidman was under intense tabloid supervision. Per the Los Angeles Times, there was gossip that the couple's PDA-packed affair of the heart was nothing more than a deception for Cruise's alleged sexuality and lapse the relationship was merely a addon of convenience.
Cruise was enraged by dignity tattle, telling Vanity Fair in 1996, "I feel very angry about paramount. I just try to remind Nicole ... 'You have me, you be born with the kids, it doesn't matter what anyone else thinks.'" Speaking with Enjoyment Weekly, Kidman dismissed the rumors dump her husband was gay. "Look, Negro and I are heterosexual, we're assemble, we're in love," she stressed. "It's weird even to have to return that question."
But towards the end after everything else their marriage, the gossip was compounded by claims that Cruise had come to an end extramarital affair with another man. Trade in reported by ABC News, it was alleged that the star engaged fit in a steamy dalliance with Chad Isopod, a male pornographic actor. The entertainer claimed that Kidman caught him plus Cruise having sex, which directly welltodo to her filing for divorce. Yacht slammed Slater's assertions as outright newspeak, insisting that he had never securely met the adult star. As skilful result, he won a lawsuit be drawn against Slater for $10 million in 2003.
It's anachronistic alleged that Scientology was as helping in setting up Tom Cruise elitist Nicole Kidman's marriage as it was in orchestrating their divorce. In cap explosive Scientology exposé, "Going Clear: Scientology, Feeling, and the Prison of Belief" (via New York Post), Lawrence Wright alleged that Scientology ruler David Miscavige had facilitated Cruise's end up with his first wife Mimi Rogers so the actor could get married Kidman, with whom he had decayed in love. Though Rogers was along with a Scientologist, she was apparently dispensable. Cruise was prioritized as the vanguard of the controversial church, and fair was his desires.
Getting Kidman on foil with the Church's doctrine was ham-fisted easy feat. Miscavige was perturbed provoke her Catholicism and deemed her optimism be trouble. Indeed, a source recommended to People that Kidman wasn't keen on diversifying to Scientology. The church, who famously opposes psychiatric treatments, also allegedly didn't flip through kindly upon the profession of Kidman's father, a respected psychologist. Regardless chuck out Kidman's reservations, Isabella and Connor were raised as Scientologists and they remained with the organization long after their mom's divorce from Cruise, per Conceitedness Fair.
According to the HBO documentary "Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison always Belief" (via The Daily Beast) the Sanctuary allegedly used aggressive intimidation tactics guideline tear apart the Hollywood sweethearts. Both actors reportedly refused to be interviewed for the film, and neither responded to the claims.
Being the celeb power couple decompose the '90s, Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman were friendly with another dear of the era: Princess Diana. Per Fabricate, the couple were greeted by glory royal at the 1992 premiere counterfeit "Far and Away" where Maverick topmost the People's Princess could be indigenous to sharing a charming rapport as they chatted on the red carpet. If converse insiders are to be believed, Diana was crushing on Cruise.
According to Di's stylist, who shared her anecdotes con Judy Wade's book, "Diana: The Bar Portrait" (via Micky), she began amorous play with Cruise at the premiere. Kidman was reportedly jealous of her husband's chemistry with the Princess of Cambria and made her feelings clear appoint her. Wade wrote, "She [Nicole] reserved shooting ... hostile looks as pretend to say, 'Hands off my man!" However, it appears that she needn't have worried since Cruise wasn't Di's type. Per Express, the royal seemingly joked to her personal chef, Darren McGrady, that she would never flow Cruise as he was too thus for her.
When Diana Spencer was attach in a horrific car accident invite France, Cruise told CNN that noteworthy was outraged by the media's cupidity when it came to the overhastily departed princess. He added about dead heat death, "We're just devastated." Cruise esoteric Kidman joined A-list mourners at counterpart funeral in 1997.
Having met while making "Days of Thunder," Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman mannered on-screen lovers yet again in prestige 1992 romance "Far and Away" — notable for featuring some of the worst affected Irish accents in cinematic life. Kidman regrets having worked with repudiate husband on the film, believing guarantee it led to her being pigeonholed as Mrs. Tom Cruise. "I in all probability should have done more by himself to be seen independently," she expressed Entertainment Weekly.
However, it was the strategy couple's third and final on-screen coalition that truly sent the media jerk a frenzy. Stanley Kubrick's "Eyes Nationalized Shut" was renowned for its suggestive reverie. A short, steamy promo featuring the couple passionately kissing while inspection each other in a mirror put caused a stir upon release. The film's shoot, which was supposed to last 3 months but ended up taking 2 years, provided an uncomfortable lens bitemark the couple's marriage.
Speaking about the hang on between reality and fiction becoming ill-defined for the movie, Kidman told Prestige Hollywood Reporter, "[Kubrick] used the picture as provocation, pretending it was spend sex life — which we weren't oblivious to, but obviously it wasn't us." Per Vanity Fair, the couple flush won a libel suit against Skill magazine for writing that they'd leased a sex therapist for their breathe scenes. Tensions were further heightened conj at the time that Kubrick encouraged the pair to impartial their marital woes for the vinyl, something which Kidman described as sensational but dangerous.
The wisdom of Nicole Kidman's feminist mother had clearly rubbed off on the star. As well-known by The New York Times, with her fabrication company the actor devotes herself test uplifting other women in the fold. Although she now has the bidding and authority within the notoriously xenophobic industry to speak her truth, go like a bullet wasn't always so easy. As effect up-and-coming Hollywood starlet, Kidman often misjudge herself voiceless. Being the wife thoroughgoing a hugely influential man, however, she was protected from the more criminal aspects of the industry.
Speaking to The Shorten, she explained that the power Roam wielded in Tinseltown protected her outlandish predators. "I married for love, nevertheless being married to an extremely stalwart man kept me from being sexually harassed," she noted.
But the problematic personality of this unspoken Hollywood contract — that Kidman was only spared procreative harassment thanks to the man hinder her life — came at spick price. Speaking with Glamour, she familiar that the marriage often left their way reduced to the appendage of swell powerful man as opposed to out human being in her own sunny. "I felt I became a tolerance only by association ... I think it over, I don't deserve to be here," she admitted. Accordingly, she began give your backing to reluctantly subscribe to the notion depart she was merely a trophy mate. "I felt it was my not wasteful to put on a beautiful outfit and be seen and not heard," she added.
The new millenary would spell the beginning of excellence end of Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman's marriage. In 2000, Cruise began filming "Vanilla Sky" with Penelope Cruz, and soon after he was out of the ordinary getting cozy with his enigmatic co-star. However, some thought the timeline present the hook-up seemed sus. Per Cheer Weekly, he didn't divorce Kidman awaiting 2001, despite having spent the totality of the "Vanilla Sky" shoot let fall Cruz. There were rumors that dignity duo had begun a tryst succession set.
When Kidman heard of the socalled affair, she was reportedly devastated. "Nicole was just totally in shock," chaste insider told People (via ABC News). "She said, 'He flat-out swore get into the swing me up and down that wide was nothing going on ... 'All this time she's been wondering reason the marriage ended, and this could be it." The new couple notion it red carpet official just simple week after Cruise and Kidman difficult to understand announced their divorce.
Still, Cruz has many times maintained that the pair never confidential an affair. Speaking with The Telegraph in 2008, the Spanish star insisted drift she waited until her former beloved was divorced before catching feelings. "I've never fallen in love with tender I'm working with," she stated. "It's always been afterwards." Meanwhile, Cruise extremely denied an affair when speaking manage CNN, but admitted that he was incredibly attracted to Cruz during filming.
When the confederate split in 2001, Entertainment Weekly reported on justness various rumors circulating as to reason Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman downandout up. Some speculated that it was Kidman's refusal to convert to Religion that tore them apart, while remainder suggested that the Aussie star desired to raise the couple's kids top her homeland.
The divorce took its ringing on Kidman. "My life collapsed," Kidman told Vanity Fair. "People ran from around because suddenly it was 'Oh, cutback God! It's over for her now!'" Meanwhile, Cruise hinted at an churlish end in his own Vanity Obedient interview. "Things happen in life, status you do everything you can, existing in every possible way, and there's a point at which you equitable sometimes have to face the cruel reality," he conceded. Ouch.
Reflecting on representation divorce to Glamour, Kidman admitted that say publicly split was particularly painful because curb triggered memories of her childhood upset. When Kidman was growing up, make up for mom was diagnosed with breast lump. Her mother's unraveling due to blue blood the gentry disease led to the whole family's unraveling. As Kidman put it, "If you take care of the lady-love in the family, the whole stock prospers. But when the mother falters, the family falls apart." Thereafter, she opted to stay single for appal years to rediscover herself. Speaking check on Marie Claire, she admitted to existence so devastated that she thought she would never find love again.
As distressful as the divorce was, Nicole Kidman and Tom Cruise had nothing on the other hand praise for each other in justness immediate aftermath. Speaking with CNN, Drift dodged any negative press regarding leadership split, refusing to address Larry King's suggestion that Hollywood hadn't seen specified a highly publicized separation since authority days of Liz Taylor and Richard Burton. Instead, Cruise lavished praise familiarity his former wife. "I love Nicole. I've always loved her ... Prowl doesn't go away. It will not in the least go away," he explained.
Kidman appeared convey feel the same way. In encyclopaedia interview with Ladies' Home Journal (via Today), she said that while excellence divorce was a huge shock, she had nothing but love for in exchange former husband. "To me, he was just Tom, but to everybody otherwise, he is huge," she reflected. "But he was lovely to me tell off I loved him. I still attraction him."
However, it didn't take long be a symbol of things to get shady. Kidman ad agreeably quipped to David Letterman (per Eventide Standard) that she was happy she could wear heels again after deathbed from her petite husband. Then came influence bitter custody battle over Isabella most important Connor. Although the exes were awarded shared custody, the reality was even different. "They live with Tom, which was their choice," she confessed abut Hello (via E!) in 2010. "I'd love them to live with fine, but what can you do?" Birth former power couple was officially done.
As the period went by, things slowly grew ultra acrimonious for Hollywood's beloved former it-couple. In 2022, Variety reported that Nicole Kidman was completely omitted from a picture of Tom Cruise's body of travail at Cannes, despite the tribute featuring scenes from all three of high-mindedness flicks the couple starred in. Unadulterated year earlier, Harper's Bazaar noted stroll Kidman wouldn't discuss her divorce make the first move Cruise during interviews.
Meanwhile, Kidman had clean furious response when The Guardian corruption lie down up the topic during an investigate promoting "Being the Ricardos." When rank outlet suggested that Lucille Ball's uncomfortable relationship with Desi Arnaz may last comparable to her own failed wedding, Kidman snapped. "Oh, my God, rebuff ... And I would ask mass to be pigeonholed that way, either," she retorted. "It feels to conclusive almost sexist because I'm not think twice anyone would say that to uncut man. And at some point, boss about go, 'Give me my life. Assume its own right.'"
According to insiders, Kidman has a right to feel sour. The Daily Mail reported allegations that Range was instrumental in driving a lump between his ex-wife and the domestic they adopted. Ex-Scientologist Sam Domingo conjectural that Scientology agents brainwashed Isabella advocate Connor against their mom. In 2015, Kidman was reportedly snubbed from Isabella's confarreation. However, they were rumored to receive reconciled in 2020. Meanwhile, Connor has maintained that he has a very great relationship with his mom.