Tom Cruise once collaborated with Rosamund Pike in the 2012 feature Jack Reacher. But the actor worried she’d cost herself a big role in the film after speaking up against her Reacher co-star.
Rosamund Pike once joked it was hard to act with Tom Cruise when he had his shirt off
Rosamund Pike and Tom Cruise | Ivan da Silva/Getty Images
Pike had a pleasant time working on the 2012 action thriller Jack Reacher. The movie saw Cruise playing the titular character, and Pike filling in the role of Cruise’s love interest. Like many, Pike always considered herself a fan of Cruise. So she was more than excited at the opportunity to work with him.
“It’s a thrill, obviously! It’s kind of every teenage girl’s dream — certainly mine, and then suddenly 20 years later here I am working with the man in such a close way that I actually got to know the man. Really, that was such a privilege, because I now count him as a friend,” she once told MTV News.
What also surprised Pike was the actor’s generosity and ability to relax his co-star while working together. Still, acting alongside Cruise wasn’t always an easy process. The former Bond girl quipped that she found herself getting distracted whenever Cruise went shirtless.
“I told [Director Christopher McQuarrie], ‘I can’t believe you’re asking me to try to act while Tom is standing three feet away shirtless,’” she said. “’What are you trying to do to me here?’”
Rosamund Pike thought she lost her ‘Jack Reacher’ role after telling Tom Cruise to be quiet
Pike once thought she might have jeopardized her chances of working with Cruise before she was even officially hired. The former Bond girl first caught McQuarrie’s and Cruise’s eyes when she sent in an audition tape for her Jack Reacher role. But when it came time to audition for the film in person, Pike found herself being distracted by Cruise’s and McQuarrie’s constant chatter.
“In my audition there was a moment where I was doing a scene with a guy who was standing in for Richard Jenkins, who plays my father,” Pike once explained to Blogstalk Radio (via Hollywood). “I could see Tom Cruise and McQuarrie out of the corner of my eye kind of talking during my scene and it was distracting. So I said, ‘I’m sorry guys, do you think you could not talk during my scene?’”
But it was a decision she instantly regretted.
“I thought, ‘Oh my goodness, what have I done?’ I’m probably the only actress in 30 years who’s ever told Tom Cruise to stop talking,” she said.
Pike’s response, however, ended up being exactly what clinched her the part.
“Chris sent me an e-mail saying, ‘Now that’s how you book [the job],’” she recalled.
Rosamund Pike wanted to work with Tom Cruise again after ‘Jack Reacher’
Pike had such a good time with Cruise that she wanted to collaborate with the megastar soon after. But the Doom actor felt this had a better chance of happening in the older days of Hollywood. Back then, Pike noticed celebrities were often paired together in different films if they conveyed good chemistry. It was a practice she sometimes wished was more prevalent in the film industry today.
“It’s funny enough because in the old days when the studio saw that the chemistry between a couple was electric, they’d say, ‘OK, we want these two together on-screen again and again!’ And now it’s funny how rarely that happens. The studios don’t really set people up for another film together just because they were great together,” she said.
Rosamund Pike Thought She Lost a Major Film Role After Telling Tom Cruise to Be Quiet
- Advertisment - 
Recent Comments
on Saipan, placid island setting for Assange’s last battle, is briefly mobbed – and bemused by the fuss
on CONCEPT ART: New Details Revealed for Disney Cruise Line Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point Destination
on David and Victoria Beckham so ‘Charmed’ by Tom Cruise They Have His Photos on Display at Their Home
on Iowa State starting RB Jirehl Brock among latest college football players charged in gambling probe
on Biden to tout bill’s prescription drug prices, energy provisions in pitch to Americans, aide says
on Iowa State starting RB Jirehl Brock among latest college football players charged in gambling probe
on The Rev. Al Sharpton to lead protest after Florida governor’s ban of African American studies course
on Sports World Hails ‘Superwoman’ Lindsey Vonn for Her Grand Comeback Despite Career-Changing Injury
on San Mateo County Community College District sues five companies over role in ‘pay to play’ scandal
on Saipan, placid island setting for Assange’s last battle, is briefly mobbed – and bemused by the fuss
on ‘Pokémon Scarlet’ and ‘Violet’ Fan Theories Suggest Legendary Time Travel, Alternate Dimension Plot
on Joe Manchin and Tommy Tuberville introduce bill on name, image and likeness rules for college sports
on Inside the Michael Jordan ‘Air’ movie, plus why NFL, others are buying into the sports film industry
on If you’re a frequent traveler, these wrap tops from Aday will revolutionize your on-the-go wardrobe
on How Does Jack Nicklaus Travel? Exploring the Private Jets Owned by the ‘Golden Bear’ Over the Years
on Hollywood Reporter: Tom Cruise negotiated with movie studios over AI before the actors strike began
on Ford Blue Cruise: US regulators investigate fatal crashes involving hands-free driving technology
on Dozens of boats cruise the Seine in a rehearsal for the Paris Olympics’ opening ceremony on July 26
on Devout athletes find strength in their faith. But practicing it and elite sports can pose hurdles
on Despite strong Lunar New Year holiday data, consumer spending in China isn’t roaring back just yet
on David and Victoria Beckham so ‘Charmed’ by Tom Cruise They Have His Photos on Display at Their Home
on CONCEPT ART: New Details Revealed for Disney Cruise Line Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point Destination
on CBS Sports announces Matt Ryan will join NFL studio show. Longtime analysts Simms and Esiason depart
on Boston College vs. Army live stream, how to watch online, CBS Sports Network channel finder, odds
on Boise State vs. Air Force live stream, odds, channel, prediction, how to watch on CBS Sports Network
on Biden to tout bill’s prescription drug prices, energy provisions in pitch to Americans, aide says
on After UFC Fallout, Conor McGregor Offers a Valuable Piece of Advice to Free Agent Francis Ngannou
on 2024 Super Bowl: CBS Sports Network and CBS Sports HQ to combine for 115 hours of weeklong coverage
on ‘Best Intention’: Chris Kirk Has Absolute Trust in Jay Monahan and PGA Tour’s Widely Debated Model
on 2023 NFL All-Rookie Team: CBS Sports draft expert, former GM unveil league’s best first-year players
on “Completely Knocked Me Out”: Rob Lowe Recalls Boxing Match With Tom Cruise On 1983 Brat Pack Classic
on CONCEPT ART: New Details Revealed for Disney Cruise Line Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point Destination
on “Completely Knocked Me Out”: Rob Lowe Recalls Boxing Match With Tom Cruise On 1983 Brat Pack Classic
on CBS Sports announces Matt Ryan will join NFL studio show. Longtime analysts Simms and Esiason depart
on Carlos Sainz’s Soccer Fanboy Emerges as Spaniard Shares Defining Moment With This Real Madrid Legend
on Biden: ‘At this point I’m not’ planning to visit East Palestine, Ohio, after toxic train derailment
on ‘Best Intention’: Chris Kirk Has Absolute Trust in Jay Monahan and PGA Tour’s Widely Debated Model
on Ahead of big sports weekend, dispute with Disney leaves millions of cable subscribers in the dark
on A heavy wave of Russian missile attacks pounds areas across Ukraine, killing at least 4 civilians
on 2024 Super Bowl: CBS Sports Network and CBS Sports HQ to combine for 115 hours of weeklong coverage
on 2023 NFL All-Rookie Team: CBS Sports draft expert, former GM unveil league’s best first-year players
on Army vs. Coastal Carolina live stream, how to watch online, CBS Sports Network channel finder, odds
on AL Rookie of the Year Julio Rodriguez Spreads Joy and Sportsmanship to the Youth of Loma de Cabrera
on After UFC Fallout, Conor McGregor Offers a Valuable Piece of Advice to Free Agent Francis Ngannou
on Dubai International Airport sees 41.6 million passengers in first half of year, more than in 2019
on Devout athletes find strength in their faith. But practicing it and elite sports can pose hurdles
on Despite strong Lunar New Year holiday data, consumer spending in China isn’t roaring back just yet
on Dave Portnoy: Taylor Swift’s security should ‘drag Kim Kardashian to jail’ if she attends Eras Tour
on CONCEPT ART: New Details Revealed for Disney Cruise Line Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point Destination
on “Completely Knocked Me Out”: Rob Lowe Recalls Boxing Match With Tom Cruise On 1983 Brat Pack Classic
on CBS Sports, Serie A announce new TV rights deal; Paramount+ to air over 400 Italian soccer matches
on Cam Newton’s Violent Public Incident Draws Hilarious Reaction From 3x All-Star: “Where Do I Sign Up
on Boston College vs. Army live stream, how to watch online, CBS Sports Network channel finder, odds
on Angel Reese Launches Foundation Dedicated To Empowering Women Through Sports & Financial Literacy
on A weaker dollar, skyrocketing prices and ‘record’ visitor numbers: Good luck in Europe this summer