Tom Cruise has openly acknowledged and confirmed long-standing rumors about his intense approach to filmmaking. In a recent interview with GQ, the actor stated, "Even when I was a kid, they were like, ‘Oh, come on, Tom. You’re so intense.’ I’m like, ‘I don’t know what to say. I am intense.’"
Cruise explained that his intensity is a direct result of his profound dedication to his craft. "I work hard, and people that work with me, they know. I expect a lot and I’m up-front about it," he told the publication. "It’s like: ‘The rumors are true. And do you want this?’"
Despite the perception of intensity, Cruise emphasized that he feels a significant sense of responsibility towards his colleagues on set. "I’m like, ‘Trust me, the rumors are true. I’ll be here before you. What experience do you want?’ And I’m very open. It’s not like we don’t have a plan. We have scripts, we have plans, we’re going through it. But I also feel that level of responsibility for — I guess, for everyone."
The actor, known for performing his own stunts, articulated that his dedication goes beyond the immediate production. "Making films is not what I do. It is who I am," he stated. "I got a very good sense of humor about it. When I’m interested in something, I want to learn it. I want to understand it. And you want to blast through the confusion and kind of build up that ability."
Cruise also shared that his preparation for films is a continuous process, with little distinction between his professional and personal life when not actively shooting. "I’m always studying something. I’m always learning something, always. Movies don’t just start when you’re shooting it and on a movie set. There’s sometimes years of preparation."
He elaborated on this lengthy preparation for his upcoming film, "Digger," directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu. Cruise noted that Iñárritu had been preparing the project for a decade and introduced it to him around 2018. In the film, Cruise undergoes a significant transformation, portraying an eccentric billionaire named Digger Rockwell.
The trailer for "Digger" revealed Cruise with gray hair and prosthetics, designed to make him appear older and heavier, a departure from his typical appearance. He detailed the transformation process in July, explaining, "My process is: I’m absorbing, I’m absorbing, I’m absorbing... With the body, we’re communicating a story... I want people to be immersed in a story."
Cruise mentioned that the character's false teeth were instrumental in his immersion into the role. "I put the teeth on, and it’s like, ‘Let’s f–kin’ go,’" he said, mimicking Digger's accent. "Digger" is slated for release on October 2.