Even in a room full of movie stars, no one shines brighter than Tom Cruise.
The four-time nominee finally got his Oscar Nov. 16 at the annual Governors Awards—where, in front of a star-studded crowd, he accepted his golden statue while emphasizing his lifelong dedication to the art form. “Making films is not what I do,” Cruise said. “It’s who I am.”
Along with Cruise, director/choreographer/actor Debbie Allen and production designer Wynn Thomas were given Academy Honorary Awards, while Dolly Parton was honored with the Dean Hersholt Humanitarian Award at the event—an opportunity for the Academy to highlight industry titans who may or may not have received competitive Oscars.
The annual event at Hollywood’s Ray Dolby ballroom is packed with stars, many of whom are currently on the campaign trail for next year’s Oscars. It’s the sort of event where you’ll walk into a crowded elevator with Guillermo del Toro, Joseph Kosinski, and Jafar Panahi—where the Frankenstein director will tell the Top Gun Maverick filmmaker, “You clean up nice.” Dwayne Johnson makes his way through the crowded ballroom room hand-in-hand with his Smashing Machine co-star Emily Blunt; Austin Butler wanders by to talk to Joe Alwyn and Josh O’Connor; One Battle After Another stars Chase Infiniti and Teyana Taylor are huddled in a corner with Michael B. Jordan and Jacob Elordi. Adam Sandler yells “it’s the boys!” when he sees his Uncut Gems directors, Benny and Josh Safdie across the room, and rushes to give them a warm embrace. Leonardo DiCaprio’s there too, though he doesn’t wander around the room—instead spending most of his time at his table with his One Battle After Another co-star and fellow Oscar winner Benico del Toro.
But when it was time to honor Cruise, the stars quieted down, and all the focus turned to a man who had built his whole career around movies. After an introduction by director Alejandro iñárritu—Cruise is starring in his next movie—and a montage of clips from his greatest films, Cruise took the stage to accept his award. He spoke very little about himself, instead shining a spotlight on the other honorees, then all the agents, execs, actors, and directors who helped him along the way. Cruise spoke passionately about the unifying quality of watching a movie in theaters. “No matter where we come from in that theater, we laugh, we feel together, we hope together. That is why it matters to me,” he said. “Making films is not what I do – it’s who I am.”
Cruise, who was previously nominated as an actor for Born on the Fourth of July, Jerry Maguire, and Magnolia and as a producer on Top Gun: Maverick, promised that this lifetime achievement Oscar didn’t mean his moviemaking career was coming to an end.“I want you to know that I will always do everything I can to support and champion new voices, to protect what makes cinema powerful – and hopefully to do it without too many more broken bones,” said Cruise.
