What is the 'weirdest' Tom Cruise conspiracy theory? 'MI:7' co-star Simon Pegg says he can be 'normal' around megastar
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Tom Cruise recently sat down with 'Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One' director Chris McQuarrie for a press interview to promote the film. When asked about the “weirdest story” he has heard about himself, Cruise did not have to think long. The Hollywood superstar has long been the subject of many conspiracy theories, especially for his longtime association with the Church of Scientology.
Speaking to The Times, Cruise laughed while recalling the time a rumor had spread that the actor did not want people on set "to look me in the eye." However, Cruise's 'MI: 7' costar Simon Pegg was quick to denounce the myth, saying that despite Cruise being one of the biggest stars of all time, he was able to be "normal" with the actor when they worked together for the seventh installment of the 'Mission: Impossible' franchise.
What do Tom Cruise' 'MI: 7' costars say about him?
While Cruise denied the "no eye contact" on set rumor, his costar Pegg jumped to his defence, saying, "I’ve been able to hack my way through all the bizarre mythology that surrounds him." He further added, "On one side he’s Tom Cruise – this enigmatic film star everyone wants to know about. And on the other, he’s just a guy. I like being normal with him."
Another of Cruise's 'MI: 7' costars Hayley Atwell also confirmed the actor's normalcy on set. "I truly feel you could meet him and go: 'He’s nice; he’s charming; he’s charismatic; he knows how to make people feel good about themselves.' So that’s just a tactic for total manipulation, because he’s probably just an 'egocentric' or whatever bulls*** people want to make up about people," the actress said.
"But over time, you’re just watching him, going: he really works hard, he really cares, he’s really interested in people and wants to engage with them, and he believes in the power of cinema as much as he did when he was five years old," she further added.
How did the Tom Cruise 'no eye contact' myth start?
The rumor about Cruise having a 'no eye contact' clause for people on set has long made the rounds online. Back in 2011, a New York Post article titled "Stare Wars" alleged that Cruise "supposedly" order extras on the set of 'Magnolia' to avert their gazes. However, the rumor was never proven to be true.
An user of a thread at Data Lounge once claimed, Cruise forbid eye contact "on the set of (aptly) Eyes Wide Shut." A 2005 E! Online article further explored the claims. "I've heard that stars like Tom Cruise and Sylvester Stallone "forbid" people on the sets of their movies to look them in the eye. Is that true?" writer Leslie Gornstein asked.
At the time, Hollywood manager Thomas Ingrassia rubbished off the claims saying, "I have never personally encountered any celebrity who requires that employees, stagehands, extras, etc., do not look them in the eye or address them directly."