Tom Cruise recently reflected on his experience working with the legendary Stanley Kubrick on the 1999 erotic thriller, "Eyes Wide Shut," and fondly recalled his collaboration with ex-wife Nicole Kidman on the film. Cruise, who was married to Kidman from 1990 to 2001, shared his insights with Sight and Sound magazine, emphasizing the unique nature of the project and Kidman’s involvement.
Cruise revealed that the idea of casting Kidman in the role of Alice, the wife of his character Dr. William Harford, was his own suggestion. He highlighted Kidman’s exceptional talent as an actress and believed she was the perfect fit for the complex character.
"It was a great experience," Cruise told the outlet, according to Deadline. "I was very excited to do it. I knew Stanley’s movies very well, and I was introduced to him through [ The Firm director] Sydney Pollack. So, Stanley called Sydney ’cause he wanted me to make a movie. He sent me a fax."
Cruise recounted the initial stages of his involvement, detailing how he flew to Kubrick’s house after receiving a fax inviting him to participate. He spent the day discussing the script with Kubrick, demonstrating his extensive knowledge of the director’s filmography and his understanding of Kubrick’s unique working style. Cruise also consulted with Martin Scorsese and Sydney Pollack to gather further insights into Kubrick’s methods.
The actor emphasized the collaborative nature of the filmmaking process, noting that the script was constantly evolving throughout the production. "We [were] constantly rewriting the scenes and shooting the scenes and then reshooting the scenes to really find the tone of the film," he explained. This iterative approach allowed Kubrick to meticulously craft the film’s atmosphere and explore the complex themes of sexuality, jealousy, and deception.
Cruise and Kidman’s on-screen chemistry in "Eyes Wide Shut" was undoubtedly enhanced by their real-life marriage at the time. The film delves into the intimate lives of a couple grappling with their desires and insecurities, blurring the lines between reality and fiction. The experience of working together on such a psychologically intense project likely had a profound impact on their relationship.
Cruise and Kidman first met while filming "Days of Thunder." During their marriage, they adopted two children, Isabella and Connor.
After Cruise filed for divorce in 2001, citing irreconcilable differences, Kidman married country star Keith Urban in 2006. They are still together and have two daughters. Cruise also remarried in 2006 to actress Katie Holmes. They welcomed one daughter, Suri, before divorcing in 2012.
In other news, Cruise has been recently linked romantically to actress Ana de Armas. The two have been spotted together multiple times in recent months, including in London on de Armas’ birthday.
In a photo and video captured by a bystander and shared on X, Cruise was seen wearing a white polo T-shirt with dark blue jeans while de Armas sported a light-colored T-shirt with jeans, white sneakers and a brown cross-body bag.
The day before de Armas’ birthday, Cruise and the Cuba native were photographed as they disembarked a helicopter flown by the Mission Impossible star.
Two weeks earlier, the pair were spotted after another helicopter ride. On April 13, Cruise and de Armas exited the actor’s helicopter in London that took off from Madrid, Spain.
At the time, a source told People that the pair were not romantically involved and were accompanied on the trip by director Doug Liman. The group is reportedly working on a new project, but no additional information was provided.
Rumors of a romance began to swirl when de Armas and Cruise were photographed together for the first time the night before Valentine’s Day in London.
