Speaking to Sight and Sound magazine, the Top Gun: Maverick actor, now 62, reminisced about the making of the psychological drama and how he personally recommended Kidman for the role of Alice Hartford. “It was basically he [Kubrick] and I getting to know each other,” Cruise recalled. “And when we were doing that, I suggested Nicole play the role. Because obviously, she’s a great actress.”
Cruise and Kidman, who were married at the time, spent nearly two years filming the project. The actor described the process as uniquely immersive and constantly evolving. “We arrived in the summer and just started testing… constantly rewriting the scenes and shooting them,” he said, noting how small the crew was and how collaborative the atmosphere became.
Kidman, 57, had also reflected on that period in a 2020 interview with The New York Times, recalling how she and Cruise would decompress by racing go-karts at 3 a.m. after filming emotionally heavy scenes. The couple, who were raising their two adopted children, Isabella and Connor, often hosted family-style dinners with Kubrick on set. “We were living in a trailer on the lot, making spaghetti because Stanley liked to eat with us,” Kidman shared.
Although Cruise and Kidman divorced in 2001, their shared history—both on-screen and off—remains a fascinating chapter in their lives. Kidman later admitted it took years to fully heal from the split, while Cruise went on to marry Katie Holmes and have a daughter, Suri. Kidman has since found lasting happiness with country singer Keith Urban, with whom she shares two daughters.
Meanwhile, Cruise is making headlines again—this time for his rumored relationship with Blonde actress Ana de Armas. The two were recently photographed boarding a helicopter together in the UK and later seen exiting David Beckham’s 50th birthday bash, with paparazzi capturing de Armas ducking into a car beside Cruise.
As fans speculate about Cruise’s romantic future, his reflective comments on Kidman offer a rare glimpse into a complicated but creatively rich past.