July 3rd: The Day Tom's Mission (Impossible) Began

Today is Tom Cruise's 50th birthday! As one of the most successful actors and producers in the film industry, Tom has certainly earned his stripes throughout his three-decade, award-winning career. Despite his Hollywood movie star appearance (and being only 5ft 7 tall!), Mr Cruise continues to be one of the most interesting actors of the lot, from his exciting love life to his surprising cult interest in the Church of Scientology.

Cool guy Cruise

   Born in Syracuse New York as Thomas Cruise Mapother IV, Tom experienced a lot in his early years, and had numerous aspirations. Would you have believed that he was bullied at school, and consequently attended 15 different schools in only 12 years! Cruise began his acting interest in school plays, but it took until 1981 for his first supporting role in a movie to appear on the screen. Before this he had dabbled with the idea of becoming a Catholic priest, after he had spent a short while in a Franciscan seminary in Cincinnati. Probably for the best, since Father Cruise doesn't sound anywhere near as good as Tom Cruise...
   Silver screen success for Cruise includes well-known titles such as Endless Love (1981), Top Gun (1986), Rain Man (1988), Interview with a Vampire (1994), The Last Samurai (2003), Tropic Thunder (2008), and the Mission Impossible series (2000s). All these pieces and more made him a three-time Academy Award winner, and a three-time Golden Globe Award winner...and extremely rich. So far all these films, awards and money is making Tom seem like your average guy. Well think again!
   First wife and fellow actress Mimi Rogers is believed to have initially introduced Mr Cruise to the church of Scientology in 1990. This is the religion/cult that teaches the belief that all humans are immortal spiritual beings who have forgotten their true nature (in a nutshell). Cruise is famous for his outspoken support of these beliefs, and has even campaigned for the acceptance and acknowledgement of Scientology as a religion in Europe. Other celebrity scientologists include John Travolta, Juliette Lewis and Lisa Marie Presley.
   Tom's 50th year sees the release of his new film Rock of Ages, a painful divorce from five and half years of marriage with Katie Holmes, and hopefully more success on its way!