Tom Cruise is 'an underestimated actor', Sir Kenneth Branagh says
The 62-year-old star is set to be honoured with the BFI Fellowship - the most prestigious honour bestowed by the British Film Institute - and his 'Valkyrie' cast mate thinks that the Hollywood legend deserves to be thought of as more than just a "movie star".
Branagh told The Sunday Times newspaper: "If he ever tires of wowing the world with action, he's going to surprise those who view him as only a movie star.
"What he's done with 'Mission (Impossible)' and 'Top Gun' is unique - cinematic entertainment with a serious intent to give you a wonderful time at the movies. But he's an underestimated actor - for whom a golden age of performance beckons."
Cruise has made a number of blockbusters in the UK and Branagh revealed that the star enjoys getting to spend time in Britain.
The 64-year-old actor and filmmaker said: "He's a honorary Brit now - with a handy line in Cockney rhyming slang.
"In the UK he enjoys respect but a lack of fuss. I've been to the pub with him a few times. He finds a quiet corner, enjoys the atmosphere and is always gracious when he gets spotted.
"He's a natural giggler and just enjoys what he does so much and that's infectious. I have quietly observed his interactions with crew and he's always the same - direct, easy, upbeat, humble, the same fella at all times. This country responds to that."
Cruise described how he was "truly honoured" to be receiving the BFI accolade.
The 'Collateral' star said: "I'm truly honoured. I've been making films in the UK for over 40 years and have no plans to stop."
BFI chief executive Ben Roberts explained that the organisation wanted to acknowledge Cruise's "extraordinary contribution" to the British film industry with the honour.
He explained: "We want to recognise his extraordinary contribution to our industry, having made so many films here in the past 20 years.
"The sheer scale of the big-budget, complex productions he has brought to the UK is a major investment in the UK's craft. He demonstrates that we have the capability to make enormous movies here, against a backdrop of iconic landmarks and landscapes.
"The films he's made in the UK have spent hundreds of millions of pounds and created jobs."
Cruise will once again reprise his role as agent Ethan Hunt in the upcoming movie 'Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning' and his co-star Simon Pegg revealed that the high-octane stunts he does in the film "just beggar belief".
The 55-year-old actor, who returns as the technician Benji Dunn, said: "For me, it was my favourite of the six 'Missions' that I filmed. It was my favourite to shoot.
"We were in the Arctic; we were in South Africa. The stunts Tom is doing just beggar belief. I mean, really, really dumb s***."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Perth Now
16 hours ago
- Perth Now
Isla Fisher embracing her 'new identity' after divorce
Isla Fisher went thought a 'tough couple of years' but she's now embracing her 'new identity as somebody outside of a partnership'. The 49-year-old Australian actress is single again following the breakdown of her marriage to Sacha Baron Cohen and she's admitted her life has totally changed and she's trying to adapt by staying as 'as buoyant as possible'. She told Harper's Bazaar magazine: 'I've had a tough couple of years, but I'm making it through. I'm really excited for the next chapter. 'I'm refocusing on my career, because previously I was very much focused on my kids, which I still am, obviously, because they're my true love. But I'm enjoying tackling work again.' She added: 'That's been one of the benefits of a challenging situation: the luxury of asking myself, What would I like to do professionally and privately? ... 'I'm trying to remind myself of my new identity as somebody outside of a partnership and to stay as buoyant as possible. Any time there's change, it's hard to adapt. But hopefully I'm doing an okay job.' The former couple - who have three children together - announced their split in April and in May revealed their divorce had been finalised, allowing them both to move forward. In a joint statement posted on Instagram, the former Hollywood couple explained: 'Our divorce has now been finalised. We are proud of all we've achieved together and, continuing our great respect for each other, we remain friends and committed to co-parenting our wonderful children. 'We ask for the media to continue to respect our children's privacy.' Fisher previously called her divorce the 'most difficult thing' she's been through, but insisted at the time that she and the Borat star remained focused on their children. She told The Sunday Times newspaper: 'I've learned so much about myself in the process. I never imagined my family being separated, but we are committed and loving parents ... 'Kids are the most important thing, and you want them to really feel safe and loved. We are building a new, healthy version of what our family looks like and putting as much care and love into it as possible.'
The Advertiser
18 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Isla Fisher embracing her 'new identity' after divorce
Isla Fisher went thought a "tough couple of years" but she's now embracing her "new identity as somebody outside of a partnership". The 49-year-old Australian actress is single again following the breakdown of her marriage to Sacha Baron Cohen and she's admitted her life has totally changed and she's trying to adapt by staying as "as buoyant as possible". She told Harper's Bazaar magazine: "I've had a tough couple of years, but I'm making it through. I'm really excited for the next chapter. "I'm refocusing on my career, because previously I was very much focused on my kids, which I still am, obviously, because they're my true love. But I'm enjoying tackling work again." She added: "That's been one of the benefits of a challenging situation: the luxury of asking myself, What would I like to do professionally and privately? ... "I'm trying to remind myself of my new identity as somebody outside of a partnership and to stay as buoyant as possible. Any time there's change, it's hard to adapt. But hopefully I'm doing an okay job." The former couple - who have three children together - announced their split in April and in May revealed their divorce had been finalised, allowing them both to move forward. In a joint statement posted on Instagram, the former Hollywood couple explained: "Our divorce has now been finalised. We are proud of all we've achieved together and, continuing our great respect for each other, we remain friends and committed to co-parenting our wonderful children. Fisher previously called her divorce the "most difficult thing" she's been through, but insisted at the time that she and the Borat star remained focused on their children. She told The Sunday Times newspaper: "I've learned so much about myself in the process. I never imagined my family being separated, but we are committed and loving parents ... "Kids are the most important thing, and you want them to really feel safe and loved. We are building a new, healthy version of what our family looks like and putting as much care and love into it as possible." Isla Fisher went thought a "tough couple of years" but she's now embracing her "new identity as somebody outside of a partnership". The 49-year-old Australian actress is single again following the breakdown of her marriage to Sacha Baron Cohen and she's admitted her life has totally changed and she's trying to adapt by staying as "as buoyant as possible". She told Harper's Bazaar magazine: "I've had a tough couple of years, but I'm making it through. I'm really excited for the next chapter. "I'm refocusing on my career, because previously I was very much focused on my kids, which I still am, obviously, because they're my true love. But I'm enjoying tackling work again." She added: "That's been one of the benefits of a challenging situation: the luxury of asking myself, What would I like to do professionally and privately? ... "I'm trying to remind myself of my new identity as somebody outside of a partnership and to stay as buoyant as possible. Any time there's change, it's hard to adapt. But hopefully I'm doing an okay job." The former couple - who have three children together - announced their split in April and in May revealed their divorce had been finalised, allowing them both to move forward. In a joint statement posted on Instagram, the former Hollywood couple explained: "Our divorce has now been finalised. We are proud of all we've achieved together and, continuing our great respect for each other, we remain friends and committed to co-parenting our wonderful children. Fisher previously called her divorce the "most difficult thing" she's been through, but insisted at the time that she and the Borat star remained focused on their children. She told The Sunday Times newspaper: "I've learned so much about myself in the process. I never imagined my family being separated, but we are committed and loving parents ... "Kids are the most important thing, and you want them to really feel safe and loved. We are building a new, healthy version of what our family looks like and putting as much care and love into it as possible." Isla Fisher went thought a "tough couple of years" but she's now embracing her "new identity as somebody outside of a partnership". The 49-year-old Australian actress is single again following the breakdown of her marriage to Sacha Baron Cohen and she's admitted her life has totally changed and she's trying to adapt by staying as "as buoyant as possible". She told Harper's Bazaar magazine: "I've had a tough couple of years, but I'm making it through. I'm really excited for the next chapter. "I'm refocusing on my career, because previously I was very much focused on my kids, which I still am, obviously, because they're my true love. But I'm enjoying tackling work again." She added: "That's been one of the benefits of a challenging situation: the luxury of asking myself, What would I like to do professionally and privately? ... "I'm trying to remind myself of my new identity as somebody outside of a partnership and to stay as buoyant as possible. Any time there's change, it's hard to adapt. But hopefully I'm doing an okay job." The former couple - who have three children together - announced their split in April and in May revealed their divorce had been finalised, allowing them both to move forward. In a joint statement posted on Instagram, the former Hollywood couple explained: "Our divorce has now been finalised. We are proud of all we've achieved together and, continuing our great respect for each other, we remain friends and committed to co-parenting our wonderful children. Fisher previously called her divorce the "most difficult thing" she's been through, but insisted at the time that she and the Borat star remained focused on their children. She told The Sunday Times newspaper: "I've learned so much about myself in the process. I never imagined my family being separated, but we are committed and loving parents ... "Kids are the most important thing, and you want them to really feel safe and loved. We are building a new, healthy version of what our family looks like and putting as much care and love into it as possible."
Courier-Mail
2 days ago
- Courier-Mail
Jonesy and Amanda reveal their radio future
Don't miss out on the headlines from Entertainment. Followed categories will be added to My News. Longtime radio duo Brendan 'Jonesy' Jones and Amanda Keller have made a major announcement about their radio future. The pair, who host the Gold FM breakfast show in Sydney, have confirmed that from next year they will host a show in the afternoon instead. 'Brendan and I are going to go to the drive shift,' Keller said at the beginning of Friday's show. The hosts said they were hoping to keep the news quiet for a bit longer, but felt compelled to make the announcement on today's show because rumours of the move had been published in the press this week. 'Radio's about being authentic and real and that's what we are,' Jonesy said. Keller added, 'to be authentic and real, we could have stayed doing the breakfast hours for longer, but as long as you guys come with us and listen to us in drive … we're excited! 'To be given a chance after a 20-year-old show to try something new, I'm looking forward to that,' Keller said. Amanda and Jonesy. Christian O'Connell. Breakfast replacement It's all but confirmed that The Christian O'Connell Show, which airs on Gold FM in Melbourne, will be networked into Sydney breakfast as well from 2026 onwards. O'Connell was a huge radio star in the UK before he emigrated to Melbourne in 2018 to host the Gold 104.3 breakfast show. It didn't take long for listeners to warm to the Brit, and within 18 months his show was number one. His show, which features Patrina Jones and ex-Channel 9 presenter Alex Cullen, is currently rated the number two FM breakfast show in Melbourne behind Nova's Jase and Lauren. Former radio executive and host of the Game Changers podcast, Craig Bruce, told Media Week that O'Connell should be able to win over Sydney listeners. 'If anyone can come into a market and really embrace it, we've seen what Christian has been able to do in Melbourne, and I'm sure that will happen in Sydney,' he said. Originally published as Jonesy and Amanda reveal their radio future
