It’s worth wondering if Tom Cruise actually has friends in the strictest sense of the word, seeing as he’s been one of the most powerful, influential, and successful stars in Hollywood for nigh-on 40 years. There’s also the whole Scientology thing, but it does create questions as to whether or not he ever kicks back and shoots the breeze like us mere mortals.
One person that’s grown very close to the Top Gun: Maverick star over the years is Simon Pegg, who first crossed paths with the A-list megastar in Mission: Impossible III and has remained part of his inner circle – or at least the closest version of whatever that is in Cruise’s world – ever since. To put it in simple terms; he’s on the cake list, and that’s all you need to know.
However, during an interview with BBC Radio’s Desert Island Discs show, Pegg was questioned about his longtime association with the industry’s foremost on-camera daredevil, and he went about describing it in a way that no normal person would ever talk about somebody they’ve known for close to 20 years.
“We joke about it. I mean, I always make fun of him for it, you know, about the things that he can access… he kind of appreciates the ridiculousness of it sometimes. My relationship with him is just very simple and amiable. It’s always been a very easy relationship. I think you realize, when you meet the person rather than the thicket of mythology that’s built up around them, it’s a different experience. I mean, he loves [the fame] and he really relishes it, it’s all he knows. It energizes him and spurs him on.”
That being said, no matter how buddy-buddy they’ve become, asking about his faith is off-limits, with Pegg admitting that questioning Scientology would “abuse my privileged access that I get to him.” Just remember the next time you hang out with one of your nearest and dearest, make sure to relish every second of the privileged access that you get to them, because life is short.