Tom Cruise makes rare Nicole Kidman comment 23 years after revealing reason for split

Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman were married from 1990 to 2001(Picture: Getty Images) Tom Cruise has hailed his ex-wife Nicole Kidman in a rare comment about his former partner. The Top Gun actor, who is reportedly now dating actress Ana de Armas, has recalled how he recommended Nicole – whom he was married to from 1990 until 2001 – to star alongside him as Alice Harford in Stanley Kubrick’s 1999 movie Eyes Wide Shut because he felt she had the talent to take on the role. The couple met on the set of the 1990 Tony Scott directed drama Days of Thunder. The duo also stunned film fans when they appeared in the erotically charged drama Eyes Wide Shut in 1999. In an interview with the British Film Institute’s (BFI) Sight and Sound magazine, Cruise said of making the film: ‘I flew out to his (Kubrick’s) house and I landed in his backyard. I read the script the day before and we spent the day taking about it. I knew all of his films. Cruise hailed his ex as a ‘great actress’ (Picture: Getty Images) Cruise last spoke about his split from Kidman in 2022 (Picture: Getty) ‘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.’ The production of Eyes Wide Shut lasted 400 days and Cruise recalled how he informed Kubrick, who passed away from a heart attack aged 70 before the movie was released, that he was willing to do whatever it took to get the film made. The 62-year-old actor said: ‘I knew it was going to be a long shoot. He was like, “No, no, no. We’ll finish in three or four months.” And I said, “Stanley, look, I’m here for you. Whatever it’s going to take we’re going to do this.”’ Cruise continued: ‘I thought the film was very interesting, and I wanted to have that experience. When I go to make a movie, I do a lot of detailed investigation and a lot of time with the people before I commit so that I understand what they need and want and they understand me and how we can work together and really create something very special.’ The actor had last spoken publicly about Kidman—with whom he raised daughter Bella Cruise, 32, and son Connor Cruise, 30—in 2002 while reflecting on the reason behind their breakup. Cruise and Kidman in a scene from the film Eyes Wide Shut in 1999. (Picture: Warner Brothers/Getty Images) Cruise and Kidman filed for divorce in February 2001 (Picture: Getty) ‘She knows why, and I know why,’ Cruise told Vanity Fair at the time. ‘She’s the mother of my children, and I wish her well.’ Cruise had filed for divorce from Kidman in February 2001. At the time, their rep told multiple outlets in a statement: ‘Citing the difficulties inherent in divergent careers, which constantly keep them apart, they concluded that an amicable separation seems best for both of them at this time.’ Kidman went on marry Keith Urban in 2006 and welcome with him daughters Sunday Rose, 16, and Faith Margaret, 14. While Cruise married Dawson’s Creek star Katie Holmes in 2005 before the pair welcomed their daughter, Suri, in April 2006. Meanwhile, Cruise also opened up on how he found it ‘exhilarating’ to work with Val Kilmer, who died at the age of 65 last month, on the Top Gun movies. Cruise opened up on working with the late Val Kilmer (Picture: Getty) He recalled: ‘I felt so grateful that he decided to make the film. We did a lot to get him in the movie. Originally, he just didn’t want to make the movie, “I don’t want to be a supporting, I want to star in films.” ‘I was calling his agent, and Tony Scott was hunting him down and meeting in an elevator with Val, and he was like, “Please, Val, please.” ‘You just see what a great actor, charismatic guy he was. And in that scene, what I love about what he did and how he played it, he just knew that tone to hit. He had to play it so you wanted these guys to be friends in the end. Do you know what I’m saying?  ‘And I remember those scenes like they were yesterday, acting with him, where he did the bite thing. You know when you’re acting with somebody and you just see they’re just on fire. It’s exhilarating. I love when the scene just goes to a different place. If you look at Top Gun, I think he’s in the movie maybe ten minutes. That’s the impact of an artist like that.’ Got a story? If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us [email protected], calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.