Tom Cruise: He praises Nicole Kidman's acting skills with warm words

Action star Tom Cruise (62) is receiving a special honor in England. The renowned British Film Institute (BFI) will make the "Mission: Impossible" and "Top Gun: Maverick" star a prestigious BFI Fellow in just a few days—a select group that already includes unforgettable filmmakers and current film greats such as Orson Welles, Martin Scorsese, and Christopher Nolan.

Tom Cruise calls Nicole Kidman "a great actress"

As part of the BFI Fellowship award, Cruise also spoke to the institute's "Sight and Sound" film magazine and praised his ex-wife, Nicole Kidman, highly. The then-married couple famously starred together in Stanley Kubrick's (1928-1999) final film, the psychological erotic drama "Eyes Wide Shut."

According to Deadline, Cruise describes in the June issue of the film magazine how he began working with legendary director Kubrick to prepare "Eyes Wide Shut." As part of this process, he says he suggested his wife, Nicole Kidman, to Kubrick for the female lead role of Alice, "because obviously she's a great actress."

"Iceman" Val Kilmer was "on fire" during the "Top Gun" shoot

Cruise also has warm words for his now-deceased "Top Gun" co-star Val Kilmer (who played the character Iceman in Tony Scott's film) in the exclusive interview. "You can just see what a great actor and charismatic guy he was," Cruise says.

He remembers "those scenes like it was yesterday." The four-time Oscar nominee continues, referring to Kilmer: "When you're acting with someone and you just see that they're on fire. That's exhilarating. I love it when the scene reaches another level."

Even during his brief, highly emotional return for the 2022 mega-hit "Top Gun: Maverick," he was deeply impressed by Kilmer, who died in April 2025. Here, the mime, who had lost the ability to speak after suffering from throat cancer, also "became Iceman. And he didn't even have to speak. He's capable of it. Beautiful, truly beautiful," Cruise enthuses.

The big Hollywood star himself will present the eighth and possibly final "Mission: Impossible" installment, "The Final Reckoning," at the Cannes Film Festival on May 14.

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