Cruise control

One of the first things you notice about Tom Cruise is the intense way in which he engages you.

Even if he’s only making eye contact you feel like you have his full attention, however fleeting. For that moment you’re in his world. There’s something almost unnerving about it.

Conversely if you suggest something he doesn’t agree with he can cut you off without mercy.

Perhaps that’s what Nicole Kidman was talking about last year when she said that Cruise’s filing for divorce ‘was a big shock for me’.

Even a Hollywood heavyweight like Steven Spielberg comments on Cruise’s intensity. The pair have just made the sci-fi thriller Minority Report together.

"A stranger can talk to Tom and for the time he’s talking to him Tom is in that stranger’s life," says the veteran film-maker. "I’ve seen that same agreeable, in-your-face presence as an actor. He makes you feel like no-one’s ever said those lines before."

Perhaps it has something to do with the fact he looks so good and he knows it. Or perhaps it has to do with being from a broken home who battled through problems reading to where he’s now the most powerful actor in Hollywood.

Whatever the reason, there’s no denying that he knows exactly what he’s doing and how to control things.

Interestingly this plays into Minority Report because the dark thriller also deals with how much of our lives can we determine ourselves and how much is fated.

Based on sci-fi writer Philip Dick’s short story, Cruise plays a supercop in Washington in 2054, when mutant precognitives can predict when people plan to commit murder. Thus murderers can be picked up before they commit the crime.

In Minority Report Cruise’s character is devoted to the system, until he is fingered as a would-be murderer himself.

The actor says that while he doesn’t believe our lives are destined by fate, he found the premise of the movie fascinating. "I believe you make your own fate, but I think it would be interesting if we did have precognitives and they were able to predict the future," he says.

"Of course if somebody had predicted 20 years ago that I’d be where I am today, I’d say they were out of their mind."

The basis of the conflict in the film became destiny versus self-determination says Spielberg. "Is there something in the stars? Can you reconfigure them to either survive or write your own ending?"

What reverberates through the movie is the fear of losing control. Cruise says: "In 50 years they’ll be able to see into your homes. I’m not afraid of technology, but I am concerned about the future."

For an actor, albeit at 20 million dollars plus a role, Cruise is often very hands-on in all the facets of the projects he’s involved in. It was Cruise who got Spielberg interested in shooting Minority Report, just as he got Vanilla Sky off the ground which co-starred his now girlfriend, sultry Spanish star Penelope Cruz.

"This is something I take very seriously and I enjoy taking it seriously,’’ he says of film making. ‘‘The process is very difficult and what’s really rewarding is helping projects like this get made."

He’s known for working hard. After making Vanilla Sky he shaved his head and went straight to work on Minority Report. He has been training with swords for his next role, playing a 19th Century American mercenary in Japan in The Last Samurai to be made in the autumn.

"For myself, I’ve always thought ‘Can I do this? Is this going to work?’ I try to set the bar for myself so

it’s interesting to me,’’ he enthuses. ‘‘I admire the samurai spirit, your honour is more important than your body."

Minority Report producer Bonnie Curtis saw his famous work ethic first-hand. "He’s not just interested in the pre-production phase, or while you’re shooting, but across the board. You just can’t slow him down," she says.

Where he is more reticent is when it comes to talking about his private life. "I just don’t waste much time on that stuff," he explains. "Personally I’ve never been one to be interested in gossip."

But he also realises that stardom has a public-interest price. "A lot of people are interested (in gossip), they like to know. I’m happy to share and help them where I can, but I think ‘To what

extent?’."

He still maintains relations are cordial with Kidman. They are sharing custody of their two adopted children, seven-year-old Connor and nine-year-old Isabella.

"We’re still friends, absolutely. I’m excited by Nic’s success. I will always love her, that hasn’t changed," he insists.

There are no wedding bells on the horizon with Cruz, he adds. "We have no plans, despite what everyone says. Oh course I’m in love with her, she’s a lovely person and I’m enjoying the time we have together."

Cruise, who turns 40 on July 3, is wearing braces on his amazingly white teeth. He has had them on since January.

"I was having trouble biting down. This orthodontist said I should fix it because I was fracturing the lower teeth," he explains. "Now when it comes time for my kids to have braces I can say ‘Don’t whine about it."