Tom Cruise has described the Prince and Princess of Wales as “charismatic” following their attendance at the premiere of his new film, Digger.
William and Kate were present at the screening in central London on Tuesday, an event that also served as a royal film performance – an exclusive occasion highlighting the achievements of those working behind the scenes in the UK film and TV industry.
Cruise on the royal attendance
The 64-year-old Hollywood star was joined on the black carpet by Sir David Beckham and actor Riz Ahmed. Speaking on The Graham Norton Show about having the royals at the event, Cruise said he had enjoyed their presence.
“They are amazing – very charismatic. I had such a good time,” he said.
During the premiere, a smiling Cruise remarked “great jacket” as William approached him wearing a tuxedo with a striking, double-breasted, velvet jacket and bow tie. Kate wore a purple, floor-sweeping, Jenny Packham dress, accessorised with Diana, Princess of Wales’s earrings and the Queen Mother’s amethyst sautoir necklace.
Transformation for Digger
On the season return of Norton’s talk show, Cruise also detailed the extensive prosthetics transformation he underwent for Digger.
“Let me make it clear – none of that is me,” he said.
“The make-up was taking so long that I decided to get it down from six hours to one – it was like a ballet getting everything in place. It was just like Formula 1. I had someone else hold the stopwatch.”
In the film, Cruise stars opposite Ahmed, Sandra Huller and Jesse Plemons, playing an oil tycoon whose company triggers an ecological disaster before he is tasked with a mission to save humanity from his own mess.
Story and career notes
Cruise continued: “My character is outrageous and unpredictable. He says things that others may be thinking and never say. It’s a timeless story about power, greed, and ego framed in a very timely manner by Alejandro G Inarritu – one of the greatest filmmakers of all time.
“I’ve never read a script like it, and I have never seen a character like Digger.”
Cruise also told Norton about his childhood dream to have an “adventurous life”.
He said: “I am always doing something, learning something new which I can add to characters. I want to push every artform. I love the challenge of doing one thing while working on another. To create is life.”
Inarritu has previously won two Oscars for best director for Birdman and The Revenant. This will be Cruise’s first film since the 2025 release of Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning. Digger will be released in cinemas on October 2. The Graham Norton Show airs at 10.40pm on Friday on BBC One.
