Hannah Waddingham Defends Tom Cruise From Critics

Tom Cruise‘s career has been filled with incredible success with box-office hits like Top Gun and The Mummy, but he also has a rather controversial side due to his long-standing relationship with the Church of Scientology. But one Hollywood actress refuses to listen to any bad stories about her Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning co-star because she just had the best time working with the 61-year-old actor.

Hannah Waddingham, best known for her Emmy-Award winning turn as Rebecca Welton on Ted Lasso, appeared on the ITV series James Martin’s Saturday Morning on Christmas Day, where she defended the movie star. The dynamic acting duo spent “five intense days” working together on the USS George HW Bush United States Navy supercarrier. She gushed, “He is, without doubt, one of the loveliest and encouraging, positive and inspiring human beings I have ever met. Isn’t he gorgeous? I have no time for anyone saying anything about him.” Related story Tom Cruise's Reported Rivalry With Brad Pitt Is Revived Amid His British Grand Prix Absence

In 2020, Cruise caught some heat for his three-minute-long rant to the crew of Mission: Impossible 7 after they broke the strict on-set COVID-19 rules. “They’re back there in Hollywood making movies right now because of us. We are creating thousands of jobs, you motherf—ers,” he yelled in the clip in audio obtained by The Sun. “I don’t ever want to see it again! Ever! If I see you do it again, you’re f—ing gone.”

While the angry behavior caught many fans off-guard, Cruise also got support from actors in Hollywood for keeping the movie safely shooting during a very difficult time. The Jerry Maguire star has a usually solid reputation for being kind, generous, and friendly on the set. However, it’s his belief in Scientology that draws quite a bit of criticism since there are allegations that it is a cult. 

Waddingham may not want to hear about that side of Cruise because she had a great experience with him on Mission Impossible. There are plenty of former Scientologists, including Leah Remini, who has a civil suit against the church for trying to “utterly destroy” her life after she left the religion. While Cruise is not a part of that legal action, he is considered the second in command at Scientology under David Miscavige. It’s a complicated part of Cruise’s personal life and it conflicts with his public image that Waddingham is willing to defend.

Before you go, click here to see celebrities who have left the Church of Scientology. Related story Tom Cruise's Reported Rivalry With Brad Pitt Is Revived Amid His British Grand Prix Absence

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