
Tom Cruise, known for his larger-than-life persona and death-defying stunts, has become the subject of numerous rumors and urban legends. One of the most outlandish tales circulating about him is that he prohibits cast and crew members from making eye contact with him on set. However, in a recent conversation with his “Mission: Impossible” collaborators Christopher McQuarrie and Simon Pegg, Cruise debunked this rumor.
In an interview with The Times, McQuarrie asked Cruise to share the “weirdest” story he has heard about himself in Hollywood. To everyone’s surprise, Cruise expressed his confusion regarding the false notion that people were not allowed to look him in the eye. This revelation indicates that the rumor lacks any factual basis.
Pegg, another frequent collaborator with Cruise, echoed the sentiment that Cruise is far more normal than his intense public persona might suggest. Pegg stated, “I’ve been able to hack my way through all the bizarre mythology that surrounds him. On one side, he’s Tom Cruise – this enigmatic film star everyone wants to know about. And on the other, he’s just a guy. I like being normal with him.”
While Cruise’s perfectionism and alleged abrasive behavior have been the subject of speculation, his dedication to maintaining a safe working environment during the COVID-19 pandemic was widely recognized. Pegg recalled Cruise’s infamous outburst on the set of “Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning” in 2020, where he passionately admonished crew members for breaking COVID protocols. Although the leaked video revealed a side of Cruise rarely seen by the public, his commitment to on-set COVID safety and his determination to keep the film industry alive in the face of the pandemic were appreciated within the industry.
As “Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One” gears up for its theatrical release on Friday, July 14, it becomes evident that the rumors surrounding Cruise’s on-set behavior and the idea that he prohibits eye contact are baseless. While he may be a Hollywood icon and a master of spectacle, Cruise proves that he is, at the end of the day, just a person striving to do his job and ensure the success of his projects.