In all his years of stardom, Tom Cruise has not only starred in some of the most iconic films of all time but has dated some of Hollywood's A-list celebs! Here's who the Top Gun star has been getting cozy with.
Tom Cruise
The Mission: Impossible star is no stranger to the spotlight. Between his award-winning movies, high-profile relationships, and dedication to Scientology, Tom Cruise has done it all.
Tom Cruise is one of Hollywood's most sought-after celebs, not only for his A-list acting skills but for his beloved persona! From Katie Holmes to Cher and Heather Locklear, it's no wonder he's dated (and married) some of the most exceptional women in Hollywood.
Early Days
Born in New York, Cruise was one of four siblings, but his childhood was a challenging one. The actor grew up in a rather poor, chaotic household with a Catholic upbringing. Their family was constantly moving around, and in 14 years years, Cruise attended 14 schools!
Growing up, Cruise knew he was destined for great success, and at age 18, he moved to New York City to pursue an acting career. After working multiple jobs, Cruise was finally signed with CAA and started landing roles in major films, such as Taps, The Outsiders, and Risky Business.
Hollywood's Biggest Star
By 1986 his superstar status had been secured with his leading role in Top Gun. The actor followed up the action movie with The Color of Money, starring alongside Paul Newman, and from there, Cruise continued to land leading role after leading role. Cruise quickly became the most wanted actor in Hollywood.
In the '90s, he starred in the reboot of Mission: Impossible, which he too produced, and since then has started in seven of the movies franchise. After hitting such success, the actor opened up his own production company and was considered "one of the most powerful, and richest, forces in Hollywood," according to Hollywood economist Edward Jay Epstein.
Looking for a Leading Lady
Cruise had cemented his spot as one of Hollywood's most wanted actors, but what about his personal relationships? Over the years, Cruise has been linked to some of the hottest names in Hollywood, including Melissa Gilbert. But as it turns out, the couple dated when he was just a "struggling, starving actor."
The Little House on the Prairie star shared on Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen that they dated when she was "16 maybe or 17" and "he was Tom Mapother still." That's right! His full name is Tom Cruise Mapother IV, but he dropped the last half of his name when he hit Hollywood. However, the two didn't last too long.
Heather Locklear
On an episode of Chelsea Lately, Locklear revealed she and Cruise went on one date back in the 80s, when Cruise was new to Los Angeles. He just moved to the city and "didn't have any friends," so they went out, according to the Dynasty actress. However, his dance moves proved to be too much for her to handle.
She told Handler, "You know in Risky Business where he does that dance in his underwear? We were dancing in a club, and he went into that," referring to Cruise's 1983 film. Locklear admitted she had no idea what to do and just stood there wandering, "Do you dance around him?" She told the comedian, "It was weird. I just sat down."
Rebecca De Mornay
Thiry years later and Risky Business is considered a classic! The film follows Cruise, a high school student whose parents go away on vacation, and he uses the opportunity to have some fun. He quickly finds himself living the teen dream, meeting Lana, played by Rebecca De Mornay, and well, the rest is history.
The couple eventually decided to take their on-screen relationship off-screen, although neither of them ever admitted to it. However, the actor's co-star Curtis Armstrong revealed in his autobiography, Revenge of the Nerd, that Cruise and De Mornay had an "intense affair" on set.
Patti Scialfa
Before she was married to Bruce Springsteen, Patti Scialfa briefly dated the Top Gun actor! In 1985, Scialfa and Cruise were spotted together in New York a few times, but it was around the same time she was also seen dating multiple well-known musicians.
However, their relationship was just a fling, and eventually, she would go on to marry her E Street counterpart, Bruce Springsteen. Although her relationship with Cruise didn't quite pan out, Scialfa and Springsteen tied the knot in 1991 and have been married ever since!
Cher
This is a huge one. Despite their 16-year age gap, the two had a "connection" after meeting at Sean Penn and Madonna's wedding, and although they didn't "go out till way later," according to Cher, there was something there. Cher even shared with James Corden that Cruise was among her "top five lovers." Okay, Cruise!
Cher later shared with Oprah Winfrey that she believed there could have been a "great big romance" there, but their busy schedules got in the way, making it impossible for them to last. However, the I Got You Babe singer admitted they spent a lot of time together and that she practically "lived in his apartment."
Mimi Rogers
The couple met in the '80s while Cruise was developing Top Gun, fell madly in love, and by 1987 tied the knot. However, their relationship ended after just three years. The Risky Business star shared with Rolling Stone in 1990, just days before their split, that their relationship has only helped him open up and become a "better actor."
Cruise told the publication, "I care about my wife more than anything in the world. She's my best friend. I just really like being with her, you know? I love her." And Rogers was all in at the time, telling the Chicago Tribune that she "highly recommends" marriage. So what happened?
"Tom Cruise's Wife"
The Full Body Massage actress and her superstar husband seemed to be stealing hearts everywhere as the ideal married couple. However, things were challenging behind the scenes. By the end of 1989, Cruise had filed for divorce, claiming there were "some issues which could not be resolved even after working on them for a period of time."
A few years after their split, Rogers gave People more of an insight into their relationship, explaining that she felt overshadowed by Cruise and his uprise in fame. "You cease to be an individual," she said. "No matter what the article is, it's 'Tom Cruise's wife.'"
The Final Straw
A few years following their divorce, Rogers sat down with Playboy, explaining more about why they decided to go their separate ways. "Tom was seriously thinking of becoming a monk," she said. "At least for that period of time, it looked as though marriage wouldn't fit into his overall spiritual need."
She continued, "he thought he had to be celibate to maintain the purity of his instrument." Rogers couldn't be bothered by her relationship with her ex, explaining to People that she is still "waiting for the moment when I don't have to talk about that [blankety-blank] name anymore."
Meeting Nicole Kidman
Cruise met his next wife, Nicole Kidman, on the set of Days of Thunder, and they were married by the end of 1990. "I remember being so nervous and seeing Tom Cruise drive up in a Porsche," Kidman said on The Jess Cagle Show. "He got out of the car and walked through the door, and I was like, 'Ah.' My jaw dropped."
Cruise later recalled their first meeting as "instant lust," and the pair immediately fell head over heels for one another. The couple continued both their personal and professional relationship and would star together in four successful films, including Far and Away and Eyes Wide Shut.
Love at First Sight
After less than a year of meeting, the couple married in a private ceremony. The Australian actress told Vanity Fair, "he basically swept me off my feet." They began making red-carpet appearances together and were considered Hollywood's newest "it couple."
Kidman told Vanity Fair in an interview in 2002, "I fell madly, passionately in love." Adding, "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.' I was consumed by it, willingly."
Starting a Family
A year after saying their 'I do's, Cruise and Kidman adopted their first child together, Isabella Jane. Cruise later joked to Vanity Fair, that he "was scared to death" over being a father, admitting he "didn't know what the hell I [he] was doing," when it came down to changing diapers!
However, the fear didn't stop them, and in 1995, the couple adopted their second child, Connor. Tom opened up to Vanity Fair explaining more about his marriage to Kidman. "It was that special connection when you recognize your soul mate," he said. "She is a person who understands. It was as if a whole new life had started for me."
Filing for Divorce
Although things were looking shiny from a distance, after ten years, the couple decided to separate. Cruise filed for divorce from her husband, citing "irreconcilable differences" as the reason for their split. Fans were shocked by the decision, but apparently, Tom's belief in Scientology had something to do with it.
Over twenty years after their divorce, former Scientologist Mike Rinder came out explaining that the church played a part in the couple's breakup, as it caused "distance" between them. Rinder claimed that Kidman's phone was rigged in order to watch her influence on Cruise.
Scientology Beliefs
However, the church came out with a statement following Rinder's claims, denying any possibility that they participated in "any illegal wiretapping," claiming Rinder was looking for a payday. However, this wouldn't be the last time Cruise's belief in the region would affect his relationships.
According to the official website of Scientology, the religion "addresses the spirit-not the body or mind-and believes that Man is far more than a product of his environment, or his genes." Cruise has become of the most notable members of the religion.
The Miscarriage
Years after their divorce was finalized, Kidman clarified some rumors that went around back when they were married. She told Marie Claire that she did not have a miscarriage at the beginning of her marriage to Cruise and clarified what really happened.
"It was wrongly reported," she said. "I had a miscarriage at the end of my marriage, but I had an ectopic pregnancy at the beginning of my marriage. It was incredibly traumatic for me. Sometimes you share your grief." In 2008, Kidman gave birth to her daughter, Sunday Rose, and two years later, she welcomed Faith in 2010 via surrogacy.
Cruz and Cruise
As Cruise's relationship with Kidman was coming to an end, the actor was lined up to star in Mission: Impossible 2 and the romantic thriller Vanilla Sky with Cameron Diaz and Penélope Cruz. And well, that's where he would meet his next beau. Cruz and Cruise met on the Vanilla Sky set and dated for about three years!
Rumors quickly circulated the town claiming Cruise's new relationship was the reason behind his divorce from Nicole, but both stars denied the speculations. When they split in 2004, a source told People the relationship "ran its course" and that their break up was due to their complicated schedules.
Nazanin Boniadi
During the HBO tell-all documentary, Going Clear on Scientology, tons of scandalous allegations were made against the religion, one of which centered around its shining crown-Tom Cruise. Apparently, after his most recent break-up, the church stepped in to hand-select and groom one of their members to date the Hollywood superstar.
The documentary explained that Scientology leader, David Miscavige, gave Nazanin Boniadi, a young Scientologist pre-med student, a "special assignment" that would ultimately lead her to dating Cruise. The two ended up dating for a few months, and Bodiani ended up also joining the entertainment business.
Katie Holmes
His most recent marriage to Katie Holmes quickly became one of Hollywood's most high-profile relationships (and divorces). The Dawson's Creek star was engaged to Chris Klein from 2003 to 2005, and just one month after their split, she was spotted getting cozy with Cruise on vacation.
A few months into their relationship, Cruise declared his love to Katie on The Oprah Winfrey Show by jumping up and down on the couch and yelling, "I'm in love. I'm in love, and it's one of those things where you want to be cool, like, 'Yeah I like her," but "That's not how I feel. I wanted to meet this person, and I met her, and she's extraordinary."
TomKat
The couple got engaged in 2005, just a few months after dating, and the following year, Holmes and Cruise welcomed their first daughter, Suri. The couple tied the knot in Italy in a gorgeous star-studded Scientologist wedding, scoring the title TomKat from fans.
A few years into their relationship, things were looking bright for Cruise. In an interview with Playboy, he called Holmes "an extraordinary person," saying, "If you spent five minutes with her, you'd see it." He told the publication, "Im just happy, and I have been since the moment I met her," calling their relationship "very special."
Six Years Later
Despite the "happy" feeling Cruise and Holmes were feeling at one point in their relationship, the First Daughter star filed for divorce in 2012 after six years of marriage. Despite their highly publicized divorce, the couple remained tight-lipped regarding the reason for their split; but there is one dominating rumor.
A statement from the pair said, "We are committed to working together as parents to accomplish what is in our daughter Suri's best interests." However, rumors suggested that Homles wanted to "protect Suri from Scientology," which is why she petitioned (and won) for sole custody over their daughter.
Cruise's Children
During his 2013 deposition, the actor revealed that his seven-year-old daughter Suri was no longer a practicing member of Scientology, which seemed to shock many. Although, their divorce settlement included an "ironclad" ruling stating that their daughter would "not be exposed to anything Scientology related," per the Mirror.
Years later, Cruise doesn't have a relationship with Suri, as she lives in NYC with her mother. But what about his first two children? They both keep a private profile and are rarely seen with either of their parents. However, after much speculation of a broken relationship with Tom and Nicole, Isabella confirmed the opposite.
Rogers, Kidman and Holmes
As we learned earlier, Rogers is patiently awaiting the day she doesn't have to talk about Cruise, but what are his relationships like with his other ex-wives? In a recent interview with the Daily Mail, Kidman confessed she was "naive" to think Cruise was her fairytale ending, and the two haven't spoken in over ten years.
As for Holmes, the two seem to have no interaction whatsoever. A source told RadarOnline she "signed a clause in her quickie divorce settlement" that prevented her from talking about him or Scientology or publicly dating anyone for five years. She allegedly began dating Jamie Foxx in 2013 but didn't make it public until 2019.
Hayley Atwell
After taking a long break from the dating scene, Cruise made headlines when he began dating his Mission: Impossible 7 costar, Hayley Atwell, in 2020. Although their romance was never officially confirmed at the time, they were said to have "hit it off from day one" and were "fairly inseparable" on set.
Despite Atwell supporting Cruise at the Top Gun: Maverick premiere in London, they "decided they are better as friends." The couple first split in 2021 but decided to try their relationship once again. However, the "fanfare around them as a couple exploded," and they found their relationship was not working.
Insert Shakira
We know her; we love her; she is Shakira! The Latin pop star recently moved to Miami with her two children, making it their full-time home, after leaving her ex of 11 years, Gerard Piqué, in Barcelona. The Waka Waka singer has been welcomed back into Miami's social scene after a long hiatus from the vibrant city.
The singer announced her move on Instagram, saying she is beginning a "new chapter in search of happiness" after calling her breakup "the darkest hour of my life." She decided to move to Miami in order to take care of her family and continue to pursue her music career. So what exactly is Shakira getting into in The Magic City?
Chatting With Cruise
Shakira is single and ready to mingle! During the Formula 1 Grand Prix in Miami, the Hips Don't Lie singer was spotted hanging out with Tom Cruise, immediately sparking rumors that the two had a little fling going. An inside source told Page Six Cruise "is extremely interested in pursuing her," and they have "chemistry."
The source explained, "Shakira needs a soft pillow to fall on, and that could be Tom." The source also added that Cruise has the benefit of being "a nice-looking guy, and he is talented," joking that "she isn't taller than him." All three of his ex-wives have been taller than Cruise, who is 5-foot-7.
Just Friends
A source shared that the Top Gun star was so smitten by the singer that he supposedly sent her flowers! But is there really something romantic there? Cruise and Shakira were seen chatting in a private box during the F1 race, but in reality, they are just friends.
A close family friend of Shakira's, Ana Lourdes Martinez, confirmed that they are, in fact, just friends, and when friends come to Miami, "they get together." She said, "The press wants to create a romance, but she's known Tom for a long time," and right now, "she's focused on her family."
A Tumultuous Divorce
After going through a highly publicized divorce, Shakira is just looking to settle down and take care of her family. "It’s been tough not only for me but also for my kids. Incredibly difficult," she told Elle. "I can only say that I put everything I had into this relationship and my family."
The couple announced their breakup last year, and since then, Shakira has been dropping some obvious hints as to why. In October 2022, the singer released a song, Monotonía, about their breakup, and a few months later dropped another song addressing her ex's infidelity and name-dropping his new beau, Clara Chia Marti.
What’s Next for Cruise?
So now that it's been confirmed Shakira and Cruise aren't getting together anytime soon, fans are wondering who the Jerry Maguire star will date next. After taking a closer look at his dating history, it could be possible that the superstar actor might just take a step back from the dating scene and focus on his career.
Following the incredible success of Top Gun: Maverick in 2022, which was the highest-grossing film of his entire career, the 60 year-old-actor is starring in the seventh installment of the Mission: Impossible franchise, releasing this summer. However, he will be starring alongside his ex-Hayley Atwell, so let's stay tuned.
