The 'Mission: Impossible' actor has a heartwarming tradition of sending his former co-star Dakota shoes every year for her birthday, a tradition that began when they worked together on 'War of the Worlds' in 2005.
- June 6, 2024
AceShowbiz - What started as a thoughtful gesture on the set of "War of the Worlds" blossomed into a sweet tradition that continues to bind Hollywood stars Tom Cruise and Dakota Fanning. Discover how a Motorola Razr led to an annual ritual of birthday shoe gifts, making a unique bond between the two actors.
Tom Cruise takes the mission of giving a birthday gift very seriously. In fact, the "Top Gun" star has made sure that former co-star Dakota Fanning gets an extra special present from him every year, a tradition that started when he played her dad in 2005's "War of the Worlds".
"I turned 11 on 'War of the Worlds' when we worked together," she explained on "The Kelly Clarkson Show" June 5, "and he gave me my first cellphone for that birthday. It was a Motorola Razr." The 30-year-old joked that while she "didn't have anyone to call" at the time, she had wanted a Razr "so bad." She added with a laught, "I must have been talking about it a lot because that's what he got me. It was such a great memory."
Tom's presents didn't stop there, as the 61-year-old has continued sending her birthday gifts. "He always sends me the same thing every year, after the cellphone," she said. "I loved shoes when I was little and I started to be able to fit into really small adult shoes when I was on the 'War of the Worlds' press tour, so I was very excited about them. And so, from that birthday on, he always sends me shoes."
Kelly Clarkson marveled at the collection Dakota must have amassed over the years. "You must have a massive shoe collection brought to you by Tom Cruise," she guessed.
Dakota's confession about the sweet tradition came shortly after her milestone birthday. She turned 30 on February 23 and celebrated the milestone in style, glamming up in a crimson satin Dolce & Gabbana corset dress, a look that screamed "30, flirty, and thriving."
Cruise is known for his lavishly generous gestures, famously sending more than 300 people a special coconut cake at Christmas time and paying for "Top Gun: Maverick" co-star Glen Powell to get his pilot's license. His ongoing tradition with Dakota Fanning, however, stands out for its personal touch, reflecting a unique bond forged on a film set years ago and cherished through annually gifted shoes years later.
