Tom Cruise has always been a dreamer, and never rests.
That was some of the insights the movie star shared with More FM host Simon Barnett when the pair talked on the red carpet at the Asian premiere of Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning in South Korea.
The movie will screen in cinemas nationwide on Saturday.
Barnett, who grew up in Ashburton and now lives in Christchurch, was there with his More FM Breakfast Club co-host Lana Searle.
Barnett and Searle told listeners they were thrilled to get almost four minutes with Barnett’s childhood hero, when many other media on the red carpet got only one minute.
Talking to Cruise was a moment Barnett had wanted his whole life. In 2017 he was devastated to be pranked in an on-air interview with a fake Cruise.
He and Searle aired the interview yesterday after an embargo on media from last week’s premiere expired.
At the start it looked as though Cruise might move on after telling Barnett in response to his questions how much he loved New Zealand and that he wants to come back.
But Barnett managed to engage him further.
“I just respect your work so much. What you bring to the world and Hollywood.”
“It means a lot to me,” Cruise responded.
Barnett said he noticed at a press conference Cruise said he was comfortable with being afraid.
“I’m not a person that lives in fear or afraid to feel nervous, or afraid to feel emotions,” Cruise said.
He would climb the tallest trees and sneak out of his room as a two-year-old, climb on to the roof to look at the stars.
“I have always been a dreamer, and had a great sense of adventure, and I like that feeling.”
Barnett said he sensed Cruise had an incredible drive, and asked if he ever rested.
“No I don’t,” Cruise said.
“I never have. I’m someone who’s constantly studying, constantly learning, I’m just very, very interested in life. It’s a passion for people, humanity, movies. I just don’t rest, ever.”
Barnett asked Cruise what was next as the star strived to always be competent, with tasks such as flying jets, racing motorcycles and cars, and parachuting.
“There’s always another level, you can always get better,” Cruise said.
“In all of these things, I’m constantly striving to improve myself.
“The thing about making movies, it’s all encompassing, and it’s really a magical thing to be able to do.”
Cruise said he loved it now more than ever.
“There’s always another mountain to climb.”
- Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning will screen at the Regent Cinema Ashburton from Saturday onwards. Opening times on Saturday are 1.20pm, 4.30pm and 7.40pm; and Cinema Paradiso Methven at 6.45pm.
