Few things are as quintessentially British as cups of tea, strawberries at Wimbledon, Oasis and watching the footie.
But among them is All American action star Tom Cruise – who has been declared an ‘honorary Brit’ with a BFI fellowship awarded to the actor next month.
The cinematic legend, 62, has made his love for the UK clear over a whopping four decades, and is even reportedly impressive with his command of Cockney slang, after declaring himself an ‘Anglophile’.
But despite his allegiance to the Four Nations – and even his warm relationship with the Prince and Princess of Wales – the Hollywood A-lister is not among the Yanks who have been awarded honorary Knighthood by the Royal Family; a star-studded list that includes Bill and Melinda Gates, George H.W. Bush, and Angelina Jolie.
It’s an accolade that may well be on the horizon in light of Tom’s recognition by the British Film Institute.
And with how staunchly the stunt connoisseur has made his love for all things British ardent, it would come as no surprise.
His Belfast-born longtime friend Kenneth Branagh, who starred alongside the actor in 2008’s Valkyrie, told The Times: ‘He’s an honorary Brit now, with a handy line in Cockney rhyming slang, 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’.
Despite his allegiance to the Four Nations – and even his warm relationship with the Prince and Princess of Wales – the Hollywood A-lister is not among the Yanks who have been awarded honorary Knighthood by the Royal Family
He has been spotted at Wimbledon, Victoria Beckham‘s 50th, was apart of the King’s Coronation, Late Queen’s Platinum Jubilee with British friends including The Beckhams, Gordon Ramsay and Prince William and Princess Kate.
Tom also reportedly owns property in London, after making the move across the pond in 2020 for back-to-back Mission: Impossible films.
But it’s not just the capital he’s familiar with. The Top Gun star – who filmed in the countryside – also recently spoke to Derbyshire Life about how ‘brilliantly helpful’ both the local authorities to the people living in the area were.
‘There is no doubt that when a film crew arrives on location the whole place can be disrupted and I could not blame anyone for complaining. However, that didn’t happen when we were filming at Stoney Middleton, for instance,’ he explained.
‘Britain is trendy too and has a lot that other countries then copy… Seeing cows and sheep in the fields here is just so very British and just like we see in the movies in America. I always wondered whether it is really like that – It’s great to go back to the US and say yes, it really is.
‘I also like the fact that I am walking the same streets as Shakespeare, Dickens and even the Beatles. That is really cool and I love it.’
He has been spotted at Wimbledon , Victoria Beckham ‘s 50th, was apart of the King’s Coronation , Late Queen’s Platinum Jubilee with British friends including The Beckhams, Gordon Ramsay and Prince William and Princess Kate
Tom has also nurtured a friendship with British sports royalty over the years as well, and is known to be close with the Beckhams, with football icon David, who he has known for 20 years, said to ‘idolise’ the actor. Last year, he reportedly left guests at Victoria ‘s 50th birthday party in London slack jawed in astonishment after performing an incredible ‘breakdance’ routine
Tom has also been known to exercise his charm offensive on the British royals, too.
He has rubbed shoulders with the Prince and Princess of Wales, Her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth, and Princess Diana – and has even said King Charles can be his ‘wingman’.
In the late monarch’s final weeks at Windsor Castle before travelling to Balmoral where she died, she invited Tom for tea at the royal residence.
She was said to have been disappointed that she had not met the star during her Platinum Jubilee celebrations, which had taken place earlier that summer.
Despite not seeing the Queen during the week of celebrations, Cruise appeared in a segment of the at the Jubilee, and said of her: ‘She’s a woman I greatly admire. She has tremendous dignity and I admire her devotion. What she has accomplished has been historic.’
Insiders said the pair ‘really hit it off’ during their meeting and the late Queen ‘loved seeing him’ – and she even allowed him to land his helicopter on the lawn of the Castle.
Tom was even invited back for lunch – but the Queen sadly passed away before he could return.
The Hollywood star said: ‘She’s just a woman that I greatly admire. I think she is someone who has tremendous dignity and I admire her devotion.
In the late monarch’s final weeks at Windsor Castle before travelling to Balmoral where she died, she invited Tom for tea at the royal residence. Tom pictured at Wimbledon last year
‘What she has accomplished has been historic. I just remember always as a kid seeing photos of her.’
A source told The Times: ‘The Queen let it be known she was really disappointed not to have met Tom at the pageant.
‘So he was invited to have a special tour of Windsor Castle with everything laid on for him. Afterwards, just the two of them had tea together.
‘She loved seeing him and they really hit it off, so much so that she invited him back for lunch.’
Despite missing out on the Platinum Jubilee celebrations that June, Cruise flew to London later in the month for his Top Gun: Maverick premiere – and invited two very special royal guests along.
The star was accompanied by the Prince and Princess of Wales on the red carpet – and during the appearance, the Hollywood star noted he has ‘a lot in common’ with the royal.
Speaking about the royal couple, he praised ‘what they do for their country’.
He continued: ‘We have a lot in common. We love England, we’re both aviators, so it’s just going to be a really wonderful evening.’
In 1992, when he was married to Nicole Kidman, Tom invited the royal to another London premiere of Far and Away
Tom is also known to be friendly with British chef Gordon Ramsay. Both pictured at the British Grand Prix in 2022
Tom’s friendship with the Beckhams goes back several years. Tom and David pictured together in 2008
During the red carpet appearance, the actor even held out his hand for Kate in a gesture of chivalry as they ascended the steps to the stage.
Although naysayers may dismiss Tom’s association with the royals as a PR stunt, his connection to the family goes back a long way – and he was even friends with Princess Diana.
In 1992, when he was married to Nicole Kidman, Tom invited the royal to another London premiere of Far and Away.
However, it has been reported that Diana might not have been quite so enamored with the actor as he was with the royal family.
Former royal chef Darren McGrady once recalled how Princess Diana said Cruise was ‘off the list’ in terms of dating options because he was ‘too short’.
The royal had met with Tom again on the set of Mission: Impossible, and brought Prince Harry and Prince William along.
Despite the occasional reported ‘snub’, Tom’s love of the royals has endured – and he even made a cameo at the King’s Coronation Concert.
The Hollywood star appeared in a VT played during the concert from his fighter jet – where he delivered a special message for King Charles.
He said: ‘Pilot to pilot, Your Majesty. ‘You can be my wingman.’
Tom has also nurtured a friendship with British sports royalty over the years as well, and is known to be close with the Beckhams, with football icon David, who he has known for 20 years, said to ‘idolise’ the actor.
Last year, he reportedly left guests at Victoria‘s 50th birthday party in London slack jawed in astonishment after performing an incredible ‘breakdance’ routine – which culminated in the splits.
When it comes to his day to day life in the UK, Tom has often reportedly been spotted in his favourite restaurants, sipping his favourite Earl Grey tea.
He is also partial to a ‘proper’ cup of PG Tips, according to a Mission: Impossible crew member who also heard Cruise raving about a love of Guinness.
In London, he prefers to walk or go incognito in a black cab.
He also uses his matt-black Eurocopter AS50 helicopter ‘the way other people use a car’. The chopper is based at Battersea helipad and Cruise often flies it solo to Richmond Golf Club where he parks it next to the ninth hole and has lunch in the Grade I listed clubhouse.
In 2021, a family in Warwickshire were stunned when he landed in their garden because the local airport in Coventry was closed and he had a meeting nearby.
Mum Alison Webb said: ‘He arrived and got out and it was like, ‘Wow.’ He went straight over to the children for a chat, then came over and elbow-bumped us and said, “Thank you very much.”‘
Over the years, Tom has filmed some of his biggest films in in Pinewood, Leavesden and Shepperton studios, from 1985’s Legend to 1994’s Interview With A Vampire and Edge of Tomorrow in 2014.
‘I spend a lot of time in Britain and that’s not just for work reasons. I just love being here,’ he told The Mirror in 2022.
‘It’s a fantastic blend of old and new. I love seeing the sights, the Tower of London, Nelson’s Column, Buckingham Palace and all those fantastic places which are just full of history.’
The actor’s connection to the UK is made even stronger than to make-up artist daughter Isabella, 32, who lives in Croydon with her her British husband Max Parker.
A source who worked with the actor, previously told MailOnline: ‘[Tom has] fallen in love with everything about the UK, his daughter lives here, he enjoys a good cuppa and he loves the fact he can be himself‘.
Before adding: The biggest thing is he’s developed a proper circle of friends. He’s the happiest I’ve ever seen him.’
