Tom Cruise’s First Comment On Nicole Kidman Since Their Split

Tom Cruise is usually the king of saying nothing, especially when it comes to his personal life. But the minute Nicole Kidman’s name comes up in connection to Stanley Kubrick’s Eyes Wide Shut, he suddenly gets unusually direct.

In the middle of talk about how he and Kubrick worked, Cruise dropped a rare, specific praise line about Kidman, telling Kubrick he suggested she play the role because “she’s a great actress.” It’s complicated, because this is the same couple whose real-life relationship was already a headline, and the movie itself plays out like a slow-motion unraveling of trust and desire.

And the wild part is how the production process, and Kidman’s own description of how it dragged, turned their on-screen chemistry into a long, tense waiting game.

Renowned screenwriter Stanley Kubrick, photographed in 1971.

“Then it was basically he and I getting to know each other,” Cruise recalled. “And while we were doing that, I suggested Nicole play the role. Because, obviously, she’s a great actress.”

That kind of direct praise from Cruise about his ex-wife isn’t common. He's famously private and rarely comments on his relationships, even when they’re central to the work he’s discussing.

But in this case, he didn’t hold back. He even told Kubrick, “Whatever it’s going to take [to make the movie], we’re going to do this.”

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Nicole Kidman and Tom Cruise, in 1999, promoted Eyes Wide Shut.

The film follows Bill and Alice Harford, a married couple, as their relationship unravels after Alice makes a late-night confession. What follows is a surreal journey through secrecy, desire, and trust. It was provocative then and remains a talking point today, not least because of the real-life couple playing the leads.

Cruise said he was drawn to the story and the chance to work with Kubrick, but he approached the project with deep preparation, as he does with every movie.

“When I go to make a movie, I do a lot of detailed investigation and spend a lot of time with the people before I commit,” he said. “So that I understand what they need and want, and they understand me and how we can work together to really create something very special.”Pexels

Cruise’s “we’re going to do this” comment lands harder when you remember he was talking to Kubrick about casting Kidman, not just making a film.

Kidman has also spoken about the experience over the years. In a 25th anniversary interview with the Los Angeles Times, she described the start of production as unusually slow.

“When Tom and I first started with Stanley, it was at his home, and we didn’t even go over to the sets at Pinewood [Studios],” she said. “Six, eight weeks passed, and we’re wondering, ‘Are we ever going to start?’”

That uncertainty turned into a marathon. What was meant to be a six-month shoot dragged on, keeping both actors tied to the project for nearly two years.

“We had a home 10 minutes away, but we lived in that trailer,” she said. “Tom and I shared it because Stanley would say, ‘You’re not each getting a trailer. We can’t afford it.’”

While the story follows Bill and Alice’s secrets and late-night confession, Cruise’s careful prep makes it feel like he was building something more controlled than chaos.

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"Eyes Wide Shut (1999) Official Trailer - Tom Cruise, Nicole Kidman Movie HD "

Then Kidman reveals the start of production was painfully slow, with weeks passing at Kubrick’s home before Pinewood even entered the picture.

Despite the long hours, constant delays, and emotionally demanding material, both actors have consistently stated that the experience was worth it. While divisive when it was released, the film has gained more appreciation over time, and so has the story behind it.

Now, decades later, Cruise’s brief but thoughtful words about his ex-wife show that, at least professionally, he still respects what they built together. The marriage may not have lasted, but the work left a mark.

By the time that six-month shoot stretched toward nearly two years, being “in the trailer” stopped being a set detail and started sounding like a test of patience for everyone involved.

Communication is a cornerstone in any relationship, and it becomes even more crucial in the public eye.

Tom Cruise's recent comments about Nicole Kidman shed light on the intricate dynamics of celebrity relationships.

Nobody waits that long for a project like Eyes Wide Shut unless the stakes feel personal.

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