Nicole Kidman Finally Opened Up About Her Marriage To Tom Cruise
In Tinseltown, romance is often complicated by ulterior motives. Nicole Kidman's first Hollywood marriage coincided with her rapid rise to fame. But it wasn't easy. With all the heartbreak, doubt, and controversy that followed her years with Tom Cruise, she's since wondered if the whole experience was even worth it at all.
Nicole's Star Debut
"We were happily married," said Nicole years after her emotional divorce. "Maybe I don’t have the ability to look back and dissect it. Or I’m not willing to." But before those mixed feelings set in, the little-known actress took the world by storm in the 1989 thriller Dead Calm. Subsequently, countless directors and producers went crazy trying to cast her, but one filmgoer had a far different idea in mind.
Tom's Admiration
Nicole's performance enthralled Tom Cruise, who was riding high on his own string of blockbusters, including Top Gun and Rain Man. The rising star saw a similar talent in the young Australian actress and started dropping her name in meetings.
Days of Thunder
Late in the pre-production for Days of Thunder, Tom personally lobbied for Nicole to be his love interest. The studio agreed. While the racing drama failed to wow critics, it did set in motion a real-life storyline that captivated millions.
Offscreen Chemistry
The two co-stars fell for each other during filming, and both soon realized this was no on-set fling. Tom and Nicole were an official couple, becoming one of Hollywood's hottest romances overnight. It seemed almost like a fairytale.
