“It opened my imagination to the possibility that life could expand far beyond the boundaries that I then perceived,” he said. Known for doing his own stunts, he joked that he hopes to keep supporting cinema “without too many more broken bones.”
Earlier this year, Cruise reportedly declined recognition from President Donald Trump as part of the Kennedy Center Honors because of scheduling conflicts. Tom Cruise has finally taken home his first Oscar — an honorary statuette awarded at this year’s Governors Awards in Hollywood. The 63-year-old superstar accepted the honour alongside Dolly Parton, choreographer Debbie Allen, and production designer Wynn Thomas. “Making films is not what I do, it’s who I am,” Cruise said, reflecting on his decades-long career during a warm and emotional acceptance speech. He spoke about his love of movies, the people he’s worked with over 45 years, and the power of cinema to bring people together. Cruise received a long-standing ovation as he walked on stage, greeted by applause from Hollywood heavyweights like Steven Spielberg, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Jerry Bruckheimer.
The award was presented by director Alejandro G. Iñárritu, who is currently working with Cruise on an upcoming film. In his speech, Cruise talked about how cinema had shaped his life, allowing him to travel the world and understand people from different backgrounds. “No matter where we come from, in that theatre, we laugh together, we feel together, we hope together, we dream together,” he said. “That is the power of this art form.” Cruise, who debuted on screen in 1981, has been nominated for four Oscars in the past — for Born on the Fourth of July, Jerry Maguire, Magnolia, and for producing Top Gun: Maverick. The Academy’s Board of Governors praised his commitment to the theatrical experience, the filmmaking community, and the stunt world. He also spoke about how movies expanded his worldview as a child.
