Tom Cruise stands as one of Hollywood's most successful actors, renowned for his box office appeal and reputation for kindness toward fans. Despite being named People's Sexiest Man Alive and considered one of the world's most desirable men, the Top Gun star has struggled to maintain long-term romantic relationships throughout his career.
The Nicole Kidman Connection: Karma or Coincidence?
Recent reports suggest Cruise has been closely following news about his second wife Nicole Kidman's separation from Keith Urban, which was announced in September. Sources claim the Mission: Impossible actor views the split as 'karma' after feeling 'painted as the bad guy' when his own marriage to Kidman ended abruptly in 2001.
The Australian actress was reportedly left in 'utter shock' when Cruise filed for divorce after twelve years of marriage, citing irreconcilable differences. Their relationship began whirlwind-style after meeting on the set of Days of Thunder, leading to their Christmas Eve wedding in 1990.
Their two adopted children, Bella, 33, and Connor, 30, are believed to have followed their father into the Church of Scientology and no longer maintain contact with their mother. Kidman has remained largely silent about the estrangement, telling Australia's Who magazine in 2018: 'They are adults. They are able to make their own decisions. They have made choices to be Scientologists, and as a mother, it's my job to love them.'
From Cher to Katie Holmes: The Pattern Emerges
Cruise's romantic history reveals a pattern of high-profile relationships that ultimately falter, often amid speculation about Scientology's influence.
His first notable romance began with music icon Cher in 1985, despite their 16-year age gap. The pair met at Madonna and Sean Penn's Malibu wedding and reconnected later at a White House dyslexia awareness event. Cher recalled their 'hot and heavy' relationship in a 2018 Event magazine interview, noting the actor made such an impression he ranked among her 'top five all-time lovers' during a 2013 appearance on Watch What Happens Live.
Nevertheless, Cher admitted struggling to comprehend Cruise's religious beliefs, confessing: 'I don't get what he does, that whole Scientology thing. I can't understand it so I just... don't.'
Two years after his fling with Cher concluded, Cruise married his first wife, Mimi Rogers, on May 9, 1987. The actress introduced him to Scientology, having been raised within the controversial church. Despite initially describing Rogers as his 'best friend' and crediting her with making him a better actor, their marriage lasted just three years.
In a controversial 1993 Playboy interview, Rogers claimed Cruise considered becoming a monk and felt he needed celibacy to 'maintain the purity of his instrument.' She later retracted these comments, maintaining she'd been quoted out of context.
The Scientology Factor: Relationship Roadblock
Following his divorce from Kidman, Cruise began dating Penelope Cruz after meeting on the set of Vanilla Sky in 2000. The actor insisted they only became romantic after his separation finalized. Their 2004 split was described as 'amicable' by both parties, with Cruz telling The Guardian in 2006: 'Tom is a very good man, and I am close to his whole family, his children. I love his children, and his mum, and all of his family, and he's a great man.'
Perhaps Cruise's most publicized relationship began in April 2005 with Katie Holmes, quickly dubbed 'TomKat' by media outlets. Their romance became legendary after Cruise's exuberant couch-jumping declaration of love on The Oprah Winfrey Show.
The couple welcomed daughter Suri in April 2006 and married seven months later in Italy during a Scientologist ceremony. However, religious differences ultimately ended their union, with Holmes filing for divorce in June 2012 specifically to protect their daughter from Scientology.
Ron Miscavige, father of Scientology leader David Miscavige, revealed in a 2016 Daily Mail exclusive that Holmes feared Suri might eventually disconnect from her under the church's controversial policies. 'The big issue really was raising Suri as a Scientologist,' he explained. 'If that happened, some day it was a possibility that she would disconnect from Katie.'
Tragically, it's now Cruise who appears estranged from his daughter, with the pair not seen together publicly since 2013.
Throughout his romantic history, one pattern remains clear: despite his global fame and professional success, Tom Cruise's personal life continues to be shaped by the very beliefs that have both defined and complicated his relationships with some of Hollywood's most prominent women.
