Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One star Hayley Atwell explains Tom Cruise’s surprising approach to his intense stuntwork. The Top Gun: Maverick star first assumed the role of IMF Agent Ethan Hunt in the 1996 film remake of the 1960s television series of the same name. Renowned for performing his own high-risk stunts, each successive Mission: Impossible film has seen Cruise attempt a range of bigger and more spectacular displays of daredevilry. The franchise’s latest entry is no exception to this trend, featuring what is currently being touted as the biggest stunt in cinema history.
During a recent interview with RadioTimes.com, Atwell spoke about what it was like to work with Cruise on the latest Mission: Impossible film and provided some insight into his behind-the-scenes approach to his stuntwork. Suggesting that Cruise speaks about his intense training regimen like someone who had a “lovely day at the beach,” she revealed the action star has perfected a relaxed and fearless approach to the demands which would make most people tremble. Check out her comments below:
“The thing that surprised me more than anything else is how easy he wears it all. I remember we went over for dinner at his and he comes out and he’s like, ‘Hey, guys, how you doing?’ Sits down, we’re chatting about the film, chatting about our day, what we’ve been up to. And we were like, well you know, how was your day? And he’s like ‘yeah, it was good, it was really nice actually, I had a lovely time. I did like 29 skydives I think today.’
“And the ease with which he said that! And also I’m sat there going, you look like a man that’s had a lovely day at the beach, you are so relaxed and comfortable in your own skin. And you’ve just done that! And I think it’s because he’s so disciplined in what he knows that he has to do in order to accomplish these stunts. And [he] has also that real understanding of how to relax and be fearless in it. And that’s the thing that I find most inspiring is the lightness with which he wears this all.”
How Tom Cruise Has Become Hollywood’s Most Dedicated Action Star
For over 40 years Cruise has consistently wowed audiences and cultivated the kind of box office appeal that most actors could only dream of. Throughout his decades-long career, Cruise has lent his trademark charm and enthusiasm to nearly every role imaginable, from a well-meaning sports agent to a savvy Airforce lawyer and even an acrobatic cocktail mixologist. Yet it is his continued dedication to perfecting and delivering an array of complex stunts that really sets him apart from many of his peers.
In a world where computer-generated special effects and motion capture can turn almost anyone into a big-screen action hero, Cruise insists on defying emerging Hollywood trends by delivering practical, real-world action sequences with the kind of realism that VFX artists could never emulate. Moreover, while most other stars rely heavily on stunt doubles and stand-ins for their riskier scenes, Cruise insists on performing his own death-defying stunts with the ease and confidence of a seasoned professional.
Whether it be piloting a helicopter during a high-speed chase sequence, clinging to the side of a plane during takeoff, or riding a motorcycle off a cliff, Cruise’s reputation as a Hollywood daredevil without equal is well-earned. With early responses to his latest action-packed adventure in Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One already proclaiming it as one of the best films in the Mission: Impossible franchise to date, it seems likely his adventurous nature and fearless reputation will continue to pay box office dividends for many more years to come.
Source: RadioTimes.com
