Tom Cruise, the Hollywood action hero known for his roles in blockbuster films like Top Gun, Rain Man, and Jerry Maguire, often portrays larger-than-life characters. But when it comes to the Mission Impossible actor’s actual height, things get a bit, shall we say, tricky. Despite standing at about 5 foot 7 inches tall, making him one of the shorter leading men in Tinseltown, he always seems to level up, quite literally, with his taller co-stars.
Pictures of Cruise rubbing shoulders with towering beauties like his ex-wife Nicole Kidman (5 foot 10 inches) and Kate Middleton (5 foot 9 inches) have left fans scratching their heads. With a pair of high heels, these ladies could easily look down upon someone who is 5 foot 7, but Cruise seems to defy this logic. These puzzling lack of height differences has led to a rather amusing conclusion: Tom Cruise might be employing some footwear practical effects, namely shoe lifts.
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Actor Tom Cruise and actress Nicole Kidman attend the 1992 NATO/ShoWest Convention on February 19, 1992 at Bally’s Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images)
Shoe lifts, the unsung heroes of the footwear world, are discreet inserts designed to elevate one’s height by a few extra inches. They’re practically invisible, perfect for those seeking a subtle boost in stature. Cruise also seems to have a soft spot for Cuban heels, another clever trick adding an extra 2-3 inches.
While this tactic may raise eyebrows, it’s actually par for the course in Hollywood, where height illusions are as common as plot twists. Interestingly, it seems that the women seen with Cruise, including Kidman, tend to opt for kitten heels or shoes with a lower lift, perhaps to keep the height mystery (and Cruise’s ego) alive.
However, when Cruise was photographed with ex-wife Katie Holmes, (5 foot 9 inches), eagle-eyed fans couldn’t help but notice Holmes rocked higher heels, but the two still looked relatively close in height. According to Footwear News, the ex-couple was often photographed with their bodies slightly apart, making the height difference less noticeable.
Katie Holmes and Tom Cruise at the 2012 Vanity Fair Oscar Party hosted by Graydon Carter at Sunset Tower on February 26, 2012 in West Hollywood, California.
Just as Cruise is known for daringly performing his own stunts, he seems to tackle the height challenge head-on, using practical effects like shoe lifts and Cuban heels. So, whether Cruise is 5’7″ or a few inches taller thanks to his trusty shoe lifts, one thing’s for sure: his charisma and talent are as towering as his on-screen personas.
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Rene Bennett is a graduate of New Jersey, where he played volleyball and annoyed a lot of professors. Now as Zobuz’s Editor, he enjoys writing about delicious BBQ, outrageous style trends and all things Buzz worthy.
