Tom Cruise says he is ‘incredibly proud’ to be a Scientologist.
The 54-year-old, who is the most high profile member of the church, gave a rare public statement on the controversial organization founded by L. Ron Hubbard.
Speaking to ITV News in London, at the UK premiere of his latest film Jack Reacher 2: Never Go Back, the movie star talked about the impact Scientology has had on his life.
Cruise was asked about his thoughts on Louis Theroux’s documentary My Scientology Movie (due in 2017), which does not paint the church in the most positive light.
The actor, who first encountered Scientology in 1986, responded by talking about his personal experience with the philosophy and organization founded by Hubbard.
‘It’s something that has helped me incredibly in my life,’ he began. ‘I’ve been a Scientologist for over 30 years.’
‘It’s something, you know, without it, I wouldn’t be where I am,’ he continued. ‘So it’s a beautiful religion. I’m incredibly proud.’
Cruise has previously credited the methods developed by Hubbard, who before founding Scientology was a prolific science fiction writer, with helping him overcome his dyslexia.
Mimi Rogers, who was married to Cruise from 1987 to 1990, introduced the Top Gun star to The Church Of Scientology when he was a budding actor in 1986.
Cruise went on to marry Nicole Kidman in 1990 after meeting earlier that year on set of Days Of Thunder.
Before the actor filed for divorced in 2001 the couple adopted two children, Isabella and Conor.
In April 2005 the Vanilla Sky star began dating Katie Holmes. Later that same year they announced they were expecting a child together and in April 2006 Suri was born.
The pair married in November 2006 in a castle in Italy with a Scientology ceremony and a guest list packed with Hollywood stars.
The head of Scientology David Miscavige served as Cruise’s best man at the wedding.
In June of 2012 Holmes filed for divorce from Cruise and by the next month the former couple came to a legal settlement – the details of which have remained sealed under New York law.
The last time Cruise was photographed publicly with his daughter Suri was three years ago when he took her to Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon Water Park in Lake Buena Vista, Florida.
