Tom Cruise breaks down gruelling transformation process for upcoming film role
Tom Cruise might have one of the most recognisable faces in the world but many might not realise that he's the star in his upcoming movie.
The 64-year-old is something of a vampire when it comes to still looking young, which is even more impressive when you consider the stress he will have to deal with when performing his own stunts.
One thing the legendary actor isn't capable of though is doing his own makeup, and he had to sit through six hours of it for each day of filming for his newest film, Digger.
In case you haven't spotted the trailer, it sees Cruise star in a satirical comedy film as the world's most powerful man who is desperate to save humanity, having no doubt contributed to its demise.
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And the transformation was certainly a gruelling one for the Mission Impossible star, who certainly doesn't normally complain when it comes to what is asked of him on set.
Speaking with Jason and Travis Kelce on their New Heights podcast, Cruise spoke about what it took for him to get into his role as Digger Rockwell.
He said: “The first time we did the makeup, it took six hours. One day they came in, I had a guy there with a stopwatch and I’m like, ‘By the time we’re done, we’re going to get it under an hour.’
"They were like, ‘No, we’re not doing that, it’s never happened.’ I’m like, ‘First of all, if you say no, you can’t do it, you will never get there. So can we agree that we’ll maybe make it a little less?’ So with each piece that was going on, it was timed, and then we’d drill and practice.”
Cruise revealed that he was constantly 'sweating' while in costume due to the layers of makeup that had been applied but thanks to his 'coaching' of the makeup department, they were eventually able to sort the process in less than an hour.
“I like going into a system, studying it and trying to figure out how I can do it better, more efficient,” Cruise explained. “The films that I make, I’m constantly going, how can I do it better?”
Since his characters are often in intense situations and his roles are serious, it's no surprise that Cruise recognises that he's a little intense in real life as well.
In an interview with GQ which went live a few days before his chat with the Kelce brothers, the actor said: “I expect a lot, and I’m up-front about it. I’m like, ‘Trust me, the rumors are true.’ I’ll be here before you. What experience do you want?’ And I’m very open. It’s not like we don’t have a plan. We have scripts, we have plans, we’re going through it. But I also feel that level of responsibility for—I guess, for everyone.”
He continued, “Even when I was a kid, they were like, ‘Oh, come on, Tom. You’re so intense.’ I’m like, “I don’t know what to say. I am intense. I got a very good sense of humour about it, but it was like: When I’m interested in something, I want to learn it. I want to understand it. And you want to blast through the confusion and kind of build up that ability.”
Digger will release in UK cinemas on 2 October.
Topics: Tom Cruise
James Moorhouse