This Is What All Of Tom Cruise’s Ex-Wives Have In Common
When you're a Hollywood celebrity, your life is never your own. Fans and haters alike love finding out every single detail of a celebrity's personal life. Unfortunately, this level of public attention has often been part of the demise of many Hollywood relationships.
Tom Cruise once said, "Nothing ends nicely, that's why it ends." He's had three very different marriages to Mimi Rogers, Nicole Kidman, and Katie Holmes, yet besides ending in divorce, there's another strange commonality between the three.
He Was A Bonafide Ladies Man
Tom Cruise is one man in Hollywood who has had no problems with the ladies, finding it easy to get close to them. Since his breakout role in Risky Business at just 19-years-old, Cruise has established his reputation as a ladies man.
Risky Business co-star Curtis Armstrong reportedly recalled there being a line of ladies waiting outside of Cruise's hotel room. Cruise once said, "They smell good. They look pretty. I love women. I do."
When You Spend Too Much Time Together
Co-stars spend a lot of time together on set while making a movie and when two of them are attractive people, it's not surprising that they end up in a relationship. One of the rumors from the Risky Business set is that Cruise had an affair with co-star Rebecca De Mornay.
This affair raised many eyebrows. Cruise was three years De Mornay's junior and not only that, but she was already known to be in a relationship with Harry Dean Stanton.
Exceptions To The Rules
There's no doubt that Tom Cruise is a religious man. He grew up Catholic and while filming Risky Business, he self-identified as a born-again Christian, co-star Curtis Armstrong revealed for The Hollywood Reporter.
If there was something going on between him and Rebecca De Mornay at the time, then he certainly wasn't living as a man of God. She was with another man at the time and had something happened between them, then they technically committed adultery.
Before He Was A Ladies Man
Cruise may not always have been at the top of his game, however. Just before Risky Business, he was still a struggling actor in Los Angeles. At this time, he reportedly had a fling with Little House on the Prairie star Melissa Gilbert.
Gilbert told Andy Cohen on Watch What Happens Live! that she dated Cruise when he was known by his birth name Tom Mapother. "He was a struggling starving actor, and I was working. I actually bought him his first set of dishes," she recalled.
His First Wife Introduced Him To Scientology
Tom Cruise's fling with Cher didn't last long, but it's probably because he met and married Mimi Rogers – who is six years older than him – in a super-secret ceremony in upstate New York in 1987. They met at a dinner party while Cruise was developing Top Gun.
For her part, Rogers was previously married to Scientology counselor Jim Rogers and it is widely believed that she is the one who turned him onto the religion.
She Held His Hand Through The Church Doors
As it turned out, Mimi Rogers's father, Phil Spickler, was close with Scientology's founding father L. Ron Hubbard back in the day. As a result of her parentage and former husband, Rogers was a well-respected auditor for the church, which is someone who asks parishioners a series of questions to "cleanse" them of negativity.
The Church of Scientology, of course, was happy to have an A-list celebrity under their wing and it wasn't long before they got too involved.
The Awkward Divorce
Three years after tying the knot, Rogers and Cruise got a divorce. "[There] were some issues which could not be resolved even after working on them for a period of time," the couple said in a statement.
Things turned sour when Rogers joked to Playboy in 1993 that Cruise wanted to be a monk. "[He] thought he had to be celibate to maintain the purity of his instrument... My instrument needed tuning," she said.
He Has A Thing For Older Women – Much Older
For a brief moment in the '80s, Cruise surprisingly dated Cher, who is 16 years his senior. The singer famously admitted that Tom Cruise was one of the best lovers she's ever had.
She opened up more about in 2018, telling Mail on Sunday that they met in '85 at a wedding and then reunited at a White House event. "We didn't go out 'til way later, but there definitely was a connection there," she said.
Tom Moved On Pretty Quick
Tom Cruise didn't lament the loss for long because the same year he got divorced in 1990, he also met and married Nicole Kidman. They met on the set of Days of Thunder and as soon as his divorce from Rogers was finalized, Cruise proposed to then-23-year-old Kidman.
They instantly became one of the hottest Hollywood couples of the time. But this new relationship for Cruise would be unlike any of his previous relationships.
They Sealed The Deal
At first, Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman's relationship was seamless. Kidman was swept off her feet and those who were around them reported that Cruise was obsessed with her. The couple married at the end of 1990.
Kidman later would say of that time, "I fell madly, passionately in love. And as happens when you fall in love, my whole plan in terms of what I wanted for my life – I was like, 'Forget it. This is it.'"
Scientology Played A Big Role
By this time, Tom Cruise's affiliation with the Church of Scientology had only grown stronger. In fact, it's widely believed that the Church of Scientology played a big role in getting Cruise and Kidman together.
Kidman herself started studying the religion, but red flags arose for her once they started trying to convince her that her father, who was a well-known Australian psychologist, was a "Suppressive Person." Soon, Kidman publicly announced she wasn't practicing Scientology anymore.
Things Fall Apart
In the early '90s, they starred in two more films together (Far and Away and Eyes Wide Shut) and they adopted two kids, Isabella and Connor. But things started falling apart once Kidman began distancing herself from Scientology. By 2001, Cruise filed for divorce.
Among the shocking announcement was the revelation that Kidman suffered an ectopic pregnancy (wrongly reported as a miscarriage), coupled with their inability to conceive. But the Church of Scientology played its part in breaking them up, too.
She Couldn't Take Her Kids With Her
Many people believed that Cruise and Kidman divorced due to her inability to conceive but also because of the Church of Scientology. Their marriage was reportedly strained, since Kidman didn't want to raise Isabella and Connor as Scientologists.
But after the divorce, the kids stayed with Cruise and grew up with the religion. Kidman's relationship with her adoptive children has been strained ever since, due to the Church supposedly labeling her a "Suppressive Person."
Cruise Bounced Back With Cruz
Despite the abrupt end to his 11-year-marriage with Kidman, Cruise rebounded pretty quick. In 2001, Cruise began dating Vanilla Sky co-star Penélope Cruz. The couple made their public debut at the premiere of Cruz's film Captain Corelli's Mandolin.
The relationship didn't amount to anything and they broke up by 2004. By then there were rumors that the Church of Scientology was already looking for Cruise's next flame, wanting to find him a wife within their religion.
They Tried To Make Her His New Wife
After Penélope Cruz didn't work out, it is widely believed that the Church of Scientology began looking for Cruise's next flame. But it wasn't long before Cruise was pushed in the direction of Iranian-born British actress Nazanin Boniadi.
They dated for mere months before Cruise decided that it wasn't going to work out between them. When asked about it, Boniadi merely said, "I'd rather not talk about that." She has since left the religion and of course, Cruise moved on.
She Couldn't Be Blindsided
Sofia Vergara was another up-and-coming actress that Tom Cruise pursued for a short time. The two reportedly met at a party thrown by Will Smith, but little did Vergara know, the meeting was premeditated by the Church who was looking for Cruise's next wife.
Vergara, who later went on to star in Modern Family, couldn't be swayed from her Catholic beliefs. When asked about the fling, Vergara told Daily Beast with a "hysterical" laugh, "I don't want to talk about that!"
He Was Very Much In Love Again
It seemed Tom Cruise's search for love ended again in April 2005 after he entered a relationship with Katie Holmes, who was 16 years his junior. Cruise went public with the relationship during his infamous appearance on The Oprah Winfrey Show.
He declared that he was in love while literally jumping up and down on the sofa in the bizarre TV appearance. Within weeks, Hollywood and the press dubbed the new couple "TomKat" and they got engaged.
Third Time's The Charm
Later that year, the couple announced that they were expecting and in April 2006, their daughter Suri was born. In November 2006, Cruise and Holmes made things official by tying the knot in a Scientologist ceremony at the 15th-century Odescalchi Castle in Italy.
Though Holmes grew up Catholic, she reportedly started taking Scientology classes when her relationship with Tom Cruise started. After the wedding, people were worried that she didn't know what she was getting into.
He's Now Three-Times A Divorcé
It seemed that Tom Cruise finally met "the one," but almost six years into the marriage in 2012, they announced their divorce. Everything seemed perfect on the outside, but rumors raged over what was going on behind closed doors.
Luckily, Holmes's divorce-lawyer father had written a prenuptial agreement and the divorce was settled within two weeks, with Holmes winning full custody of Suri. It was then that information regarding the split started to unravel.
Saving Suri From The Church
News of the divorce was unsurprising to many and it wasn't long before Scientology was blamed for the marriage's breakdown. Holmes was reportedly worried about Suri growing up with Scientology and that they'd force Suri to "disconnect" with her mother – just like what many believe happened with Nicole Kidman and her adoptive kids with Cruise.
Sources said that Cruise wanted Suri to devote herself entirely to Scientology like he has, but Holmes wasn't going to let that happen.
Katie Was Ostracized From The Church
During Cruise and Holmes's marriage, members of the Church reportedly moved into their home with them, making Scientology's presence ever more apparent. The divorce that ensued had Holmes labeled a "Suppressive Person" and an "anti-social individual," which meant she was to be cut out of Scientologists' lives.
There were reports that Holmes even reached out to Nicole Kidman during this time for support, as she had gone through something similar years earlier.
What All Three Ex-Wives Had In Common
When Cruise and Holmes divorced, the latter was just 33 years old. They say age is just a number, but in this case it might have meant something more. In fact, if you look back at all of Tom Cruise's marriages, you'll notice that he divorced his ex-wives when they were all 33 years old.
It might seem like a strange coincidence, but in Cruise's case, many believe it has something to do with Scientology.
33 And Scientology
The number 33 has a significance within the Church of Scientology. The first Church of Scientology was founded in Phoenix, Arizona, which is precisely located on the 33rd-parallel. Additionally, the number 33 is regarded as the "Master Teacher."
"It represents altruism and increasing your positive energy. It's associated with healing powers through love," one former Scientologist told Huffington Post in 2012. Cruise might have gone through his first two divorces because of his religion, but there is a slight difference in the third.
It Could Really Just Be A Coincidence
Tom Cruise was the one who filed for divorce from Mimi Rogers and Nicole Kidman. But the third time around, it was Katie Holmes who supposedly blindsided Cruise with a divorce, which many believe adds no weight to the "33" theory.
The former Scientologist told Huffington Post that it's just a coincidence saying, "Unless [Katie] plans to continue to study [Scientology], then the number 33 significance has nothing to do with the split."
The Church Will Always Come First
Regardless of the age coincidence between his three ex-wives, it's clear that Tom Cruise will always put his faith in Scientology before his relationships. At the very least, the Church of Scientology will somehow always have a hand in Cruise's personal life.
In fact, many former members of the Church have come forward alleging that Cruise's relationships with Kidman and Holmes were the Church's doing. They've been integral in making those relationships happen but also breaking them apart.
Tom Cruise Goes All The Way
The Church of Scientology has quite a few celebrity members, but none hold more weight as an advocate than Tom Cruise. Cruise and the Church's current leader David Miscavige are reportedly very close. Many defectors of the Church claim that Miscavige would do anything to keep Cruise reeled in – even going so far as to "audition" girlfriends for the actor.
And while the Church denied all allegations against them, Cruise was there to come to their defense.
Behind The Church Doors
Cruise is so tangled up with the Church of Scientology that many of its defectors insist he is a completely different person behind the Church doors. King of Queens actress Leah Remini is currently notorious for her public renouncing of Scientology.
"[Tom] is very aware of the abuses that go on in Scientology. He's been part of it... He's best friends with David Miscavige, so he's privy to the punishments that [Miscavige] doles out," Remini told The Daily Beast.
What Is This Church Really About?
Many people on the outside claim that Scientology is a cult, rather than a religion. Leah Remini, as well as many other members who've managed to make it out, have advocated for the Church's ban.
They claim that the Church of Scientology is just one big money-making scheme that requires its members to fork over hefty donations – all while it passes as a tax-exempt church. The organization is constantly accused of fraud, harassment, and abuse.
The Secret Organization Within
One integral component of the Church of Scientology is its Sea Organization. The secret organization has been at the heart of many of the Church's controversies. Former Church and Sea Org members have accused officers of abuse.
Sea Org members are also reported to work long hours for very little pay, all while living in cramped communal quarters. Cruise reportedly paid Sea Org members just 40 cents an hour to customize his cars and motorcycles.
Cruise Comes To The Defense
Tom Cruise comes off as a friendly guy on the red carpet and in interviews, but there was one instance in which people saw some red flags. In a notorious interview with Matt Lauer back in 2005, Cruise lashed out at the former television host when it came to Scientology.
Lauer seemed to push Cruise's buttons with is questions, with Cruise eventually telling him, "It's something you don't understand... It is a religion in that it deals with the spirit, you as a spiritual being."
People Thought He Moved On Again
Tom Cruise ostensibly went back on the market following his split from Katie Holmes and it wasn't long before people started speculating about a new woman in his life. In 2012, reports came out that Cruise had already moved on to a new flame, unknown actress Yolanda Pecoraro.
At the time, she was said to be the perfect match because she was a devout Scientologist. Though she admitted to knowing Cruise, nothing really came of the rumors.
People Made Up Rumors
In 2014, there was a rumor that Cruise was seeing Orange is the New Black star Laura Prepon, who is also a Scientologist.
"It's just so funny that when people don't know, they just make stuff up, [like], apparently I'm dating Tom Cruise right now. And apparently he doesn't want me doing the show because I portray a lesbian and I'm a Scientologist... This is false; where are they even getting this stuff?" Prepon told SheKnows.
Scarlett Never Happened
In between marriages two and three, when the Church was apparently tasked with finding Cruise a new wife, there were claims that one of the women who "auditioned" for Cruise was Scarlett Johansson.
Though Cruise and Johansson have been pictured together on multiple occasions, there was little evidence to show that they have ever dated. In 2018, Johansson said, "The very idea of any person auditioning to be in a relationship is so demeaning."
It Was Never Cameron Diaz
Following his split from Holmes, another rumor that Cruise "abandoned" his daughter Suri caused the actor to sue Life & Style. In the $50 million libel lawsuit, the publication's lawyers argued that Cruise was with Cameron Diaz at her 40th birthday party, which he denied despite them being pictured together that night.
Diaz later said in an interview, "I happened to bump into... Tom and his son in a hotel and joined them for dinner. At midnight I said, 'I'm 40' so we took pictures... and I haven't seen him since."
She Has No Time For The Rumors
More recently, people have still been trying to speculate over whether Cruise has moved on yet. They've even connected the actor to fellow actress Elisabeth Moss. Though it might have made sense, since she was a Scientologist and her career was on the rise after starring in The Handmaid's Tale, Moss denied the rumors.
Sources say that she was simply too busy to be in a relationship. She even said, "It's actually a problem. But I'm very focused on my work."
There Is A Mystery Woman
We can only assume that Tom Cruise has remained single since his third divorce, but in 2016 reports started surfacing about a "mystery woman" that Cruise was allegedly seeing for a few months.
This was happening while filming the most recent installment of Mission Impossible. Sources said that Cruise's mystery woman was British and that she was "very normal and pretty." Soon, it wasn't long before the public started to put the pieces together.
Where There's Smoke There's Fire
Eventually, people deduced that the alleged mystery woman was none other than Cruise's co-star from Mission Impossible: Fallout, Vanessa Kirby. Kirby, at the time, was an actress on the rise herself, having become popular for her role as Princess Margaret in The Crown.
Surprisingly, Kirby said in an interview at the time that she was secretly dating someone. Soon, people saw photos of Kirby and Cruise together on set that made it hard to believe their mystery lovers weren't each other.
They Never Talked About It
With all the clues out in the open, many people were certain that Cruise and Kirby were dating. That is, until a source told E! News otherwise. Kirby herself even made a statement to quell the rumors.
"We didn't talk about it. Stuff is written about everybody all the time but it isn't true. It just went away because it was so ridiculous... We didn't talk about it because we just need to ignore stuff. And I am sure Tom does too," she said.
Nobody Believed This One For A Second
Of course, there's always one rumor out there that just seems absolutely ridiculous to everyone. One rumor alleged that Tom Cruise was seeing Angelina Jolie in 2017. This came on the heels of Jolie and Brad Pitt's shocking split, with the rumor saying Jolie was dating Cruise to get back at her ex.
Of course, this report was from the National Enquirer and it was in direct conflict with another report that said Jolie wasn't looking to date at the time.
He Works Hard For His Money
Aside from all the marital and religious drama surrounding Tom Cruise's personal life, it should also be noted how hard he works as an actor. Over the span of 38 years, Cruise has starred in a staggering 52 movies! That's gotta be a busy work schedule for any actor and it's a wonder if Cruise gets any free time.
While Scientology certainly is the biggest wedge between Cruise and his relationships, it wouldn't be wrong to assume that his career is part of it too.
