tom cruise coins in shoes

Tom Cruise Explained How An Iconic ‘Mission: Impossible’ Shot Almost Never Happened

Tom Cruise’s willingness to do crazy things for stunts is well-known at this point. Stories of him trying to film Mission: Impossible alone have made it clear that the man is dedicated to getting the shot that fits the outlandish and visually-demanding scripts from Christopher McQuarrie. And according to a newly-uncovered discussion about the first Mission: Impossible , it seems an ingenious solution was necessary to make one of the most iconic scenes in the series’ history a reality.

As The Hollywood Reporter detailed , Cruise was having a terrible time filming the infamous “close call” scene in the film where he’s suspended from a wire in an all-white secure room. With a computer disc in his teeth and sweat pouring from his face, the high-wire act is a near-silent set piece that’s instantly-recognizable 25 years later.

The moment is as harrowing as it is visually stunning. The rat in the air vents might be scary, sure, but mostly the idea of slamming face-first into a floor seems pretty painful even before FBI security would haul you away if alarms went off. Actually getting the shot, however, involved some spare English coinage and a bit of fun on the part of director Brian De Palma. According to the anniversary edition of the movie’s Blu-Ray, Cruise actually did slam his face on the ground quite a bit before they got it all right.

“We were running out of time, and I kept hitting my face and the take didn’t work,” the actor said, explaining he finally asked crewmembers for British pound coins to put in his shoes as counterweights. “[Director] Brian [De Palma] said, ‘One more and then I am going to have to cut [into the moment] and do it,’” Cruise said. “I said, ‘I can do it.’ And I went down to the floor, and I didn’t touch. I remember thinking, ‘Oh, my gosh. I didn’t touch.’ And I was holding it, holding it, holding it, holding it. And I’m sweating and I’m sweating. And he just keeps rolling.” Cruise said he realized in that moment that they got the shot and De Palma was now just messing with him. Finally, De Palma began to laugh and called cut.

It’s really fascinating to know these details watching the scene again all these years later, as Cruise’s reaction to not hitting the ground seems that much more genuine. The shot De Palma uses certainly lingers on Cruise’s dangling body, his arms and legs desperately reaching away from the floor to make sure the take was useable. Imagining him holding that pose, only to have De Palma mess with him perhaps longer than we’ve seen on screen, is pretty funny. Simply put, though, that scene without that visual of Cruise bouncing just shy of the floor pretty obviously would not hold the same place in the series’ lore today.

And though there’s no sign of the English pounds used to apparently keep Cruise off the ground, they get a notable place in film history as the unsung heroes that made movie magic possible.

Dakota Fanning Reveals Unconventional Birthday Gift Tom Cruise Has Given Her Every Year Since She Was 12

Dakota fanning shared that former costar tom cruise sends her a pair of shoes for her birthday every year, something he's done for the 30-year-old since she turned 12..

Tom Cruise  takes the mission of giving a birthday gift very seriously.

In fact, the  Top Gun  star has made sure that former costar  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."

"I must have been talking about it a lot," she laughed, "because that's what he got me. It was such a great memory."

But 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." 

And host   Kelly Clarkson  was delighted by Tom's generosity, saying that it's "so nice" of the actor to continue the tradition after all the years.

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"I love it," Kelly told Dakota. "You must have a massive shoe collection brought to you by Tom Cruise."

But shoes aren't the only present the  Mission: Impossible  star gives: He's also been known to gift friends coconut bundt cakes during the holidays. In fact, the sweet treat has been  dubbed the "Tom Cruise Cake"  by many celebs, with his  Jack Reacher: Never Go Back  costar  Cobie Smulders  joking that the "most glorious time of year" is when the dessert arrives at her home.

"I leave it in my freezer and it lasts until, like, March," she quipped  during a 2019 episode of  The Tonight Show . "I just slowly chip away at this thing. It's so good. I don't know why. I'm not even a big sweets person, but it's so good."

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Tom cruise put coins in his shoes to help him nail iconic mission: impossible stunt.

Tom Cruise put pound coins in his shoes to help him find his balance for his classic aerial stunt in Mission: Impossible.

In the 1996 film, Cruise's Ethan Hunt is lowered into a vault at the CIA headquarters from the ceiling via a cable handled by Jean Reno's Franz to steal a top-secret list, and at one point, Franz loses grip of the cable and Ethan falls down to just above the touch-sensitive floor and he has to hold his balance and hover over it.

In a series of small interviews with director Christopher McQuarrie for Paramount's anniversary Blu-ray of the 1996 film, Cruise explained he was unable to balance fast enough on the cable and kept hitting the floor.

"We were running out of time, and I kept hitting my face and the take didn't work," he said, according to The Hollywood Reporter, with him admitting he asked crewmembers for British pound coins to put in his shoes as counterweights.

The film's director Brian De Palma thought they might not be able to pull off the stunt in a single take but Cruise insisted he could do it and nailed it on his final attempt.

"Brian said, 'One more and then I am going to have to cut (into the moment) and do it,'" he recalled. "I said, 'I can do it.' And I went down to the floor, and I didn't touch. I remember thinking, 'Oh, my gosh. I didn't touch.' And I was holding it, holding it, holding it, holding it. And I'm sweating and I'm sweating. And he just keeps rolling."

Cruise eventually realised that De Palma had got the single-take shot but was just joking around leaving him hanging there, until he finally laughed and called cut.

The action star recently reprised his Ethan Hunt role for Mission: Impossible 7, which is due to be released in May 2022.

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Hollywood’s Hottest Club Is Tom Cruise’s Gift List

Every year, Tom Cruise gifts hundreds of people a white-chocolate-coconut cake for the holidays. If you’re really lucky, you and your spouse have both worked with Cruise and your household is blessed with two cakes (see the Dunst-Plemmons household). But if you are particularly blessed, you’re on Cruise’s birthday-gift list. Such is the case for Dakota Fanning, who can count on Cruise to send her the exact same gift every year.

Fanning told Kelly Clarkson that she’s been receiving a birthday gift from Cruise since she was a tween. The two starred in War of the Worlds together back in 2005, and for her 11th birthday, Cruise gifted Fanning a Motorola Razr. If you were a tween in 2005, you know this would have been the greatest gift in the entire world. Fanning noted that she “didn’t have anyone to call” but she just wanted the phone “so bad.” She’s so real for that. Since then, Cruise has never missed Fanning’s birthday, but he no longer sends her phones.

“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,” Fanning explained. “And so from that birthday on, he always sends me shoes.”

Fanning recently turned 30, which means she’s received 19 pairs of (presumably designer) shoes from her co-star over the years. I love that Cruise thinks that everyone remains enamored with the things they liked when they were a child. Luckily for Fanning, she picked something chic to be obsessed with — some of us would be receiving a lizard from Cruise every year, were we in her position.

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Tom Cruise Has Been Gifting His War Of The Worlds Co-Star Dakota Fanning Shoes On Every Birthday Since 2005

"i turned 11 on war of the worlds , when we worked together and he gave me my first cell phone for that birthday," said dakota fanning.

A still from War Of The Worlds . (courtesy: TeamTwilightIND )

Actress Dakota Fanning shared that, despite Tom Cruise having given her a cell phone, when she was 11 on the set of their 2005 film War Of The Worlds , the Hollywood star has continued to send shoes as birthday presents, which she has been receiving for the past 19 years. "I turned 11 on War of the Worlds , when we worked together and he gave me my first cell phone for that birthday," Fanning said on Kelly Clarkson's daytime talk show.

"It was a Motorola Razr...I didn't have anyone to call, but I wanted a Razr so bad. I must have been talking about it a lot because that's what he got me. It's such a great memory."

She added: "He always sends me the same thing every year," reports variety.com. Fannings went on to reveal the reason.

"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 really excited about them. So from that birthday on, he always sends me shoes."

To which, Clarkson said: "That's so random too, I love it. You must have a massive shoe collection brought to you by Tom Cruise!"

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In War Of The Worlds , which was directed by Steven Spielberg, Cruise and Fanning played father and daughter. As a child star, Fanning then worked in hit films such as I Am Sam , Uptown Girls and Man on Fire .

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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The Sweet Reason Tom Cruise Gifts Dakota Fanning a Pair of Shoes for Her Birthday Every Year 

Dakota Fanning has a seemingly endless selection of footwear thanks to Tom Cruise . 

Fanning, 30, revealed during the Wednesday, June 5, episode of The Kelly Clarkson Show that Cruise, 61, has been sending her a pair of shoes for her birthday every year since they starred in the 2005 film War of the Worlds .

The gift-giving started when Fanning turned 11 and Cruise presented her with her first-ever cell phone: a Motorola Razr. “I wanted a Razr so bad. I must have been talking about it a lot,” Fanning told Clarkson, 42. 

Following her Razr obsession, Fanning turned her attention to fashion. “I loved shoes when I was little,” Fanning explained. “I started to be able to fit into really small adult shoes during the War of the Worlds press tour, so I was very excited about them. From that birthday on, he always sends me shoes.” 

Cruise has kept up the tradition, sending Fanning shoes for her 30th birthday in February. 

Aside from talking about her bond with Cruise, Fanning appeared on the show to promote her new film The Watchers , the first horror film she’s starred in as an adult. The eerie movie follows Fanning’s Mina — a young artist who gets stranded in a forest in western Ireland, per IMDb. 

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Throughout the press tour, Fanning has proved the power of a good strappy sandal. For her appearance on The Kelly Clarkson Show , she teamed a delicate floral dress by Prada with open-toe metallic heels. For a Tuesday, June 4, appearance on CBS Mornings , she rocked a mint-colored frock with a different pair of shimmering sandals. 

Related: Every Time Dakota Fanning and Elle Fanning Proved to Be Sibling Goals on the Red...

Fanning praised the film during her CBS Mornings visit, telling host Gayle King, it’s “suspenseful” and she was drawn to the project as it marks Ishana Night Shyamalan’s directorial debut. Ishana is the daughter of M. Night Shyamalan, who directed Split (2016), Unbreakable (2000), The Sixth Sense (1999) and more. 

The Watchers premieres on Friday, June 7. 

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Dakota Fanning Reveals Why She Has 19 Pairs of Shoes From Tom Cruise

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For many, it's a dream to get shoes for your birthday every year. Now imagine getting them sent to you from Tom Cruise !

During an appearance on The Kelly Clarkson Show , Dakota Fanning revealed that has been her reality since she was 12 years old. The longtime actress, who started out in Hollywood as a child star, famously co-starred with Cruise as his character's daughter in the 2005 blockbuster hit,  War of the Worlds . 

"He always sends me the same thing every year," she said. "...I loved shoes when I was little and, like, 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." 

The tradition did not start out with shoes, however. Fanning previously told ET the world-famous actor got her first cell phone for her when she turned 11 years old while working on the movie. "That was my first gift from him and he's remembered it every year since then," she said. 

But it wasn't just  any  cellphone. As she recalled to Clarkson, it was a Motorola Razr, a popular phone of the time. "I didn't have anyone to call, but... I wanted a Razr so bad and I must have been talking about it a lot because that's what he got me," she said. "It was such a great memory."

Cruise has remained committed to the tradition to this day with The Watchers  actress most recently celebrating her milestone 30th birthday in February. 

"He said a few years ago that he likes sort of that moment of checking in like once a year," Fanning told ET. "It's just like so thoughtful."

As for this chapter of her life, "It's so great so far," she told ET. "...It's been one of the, like, happiest times. I have, you know, things that I'm excited about coming out and working on things, and I just feel really good."

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Tom Cruise Used Height-Illusion Styling Tricks to Look Taller for ‘Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One’ Premiere

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Tom Cruise is taking his looks to new heights yet again . This time, the 5-foot-7 actor applied one of his favorite height-illusion styling tricks to attend the global premiere of “Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One” in Rome, on Sunday.

Wearing a blue three-piece suit with a white shirt, Cruise strapped on pair of lace-up dress shoes with stacked heels to elevate his look.

The pair is similar to the wingtip brogue oxfords he sported at the Oscar Nominees Luncheon this year. The action star’s alleged use of heeled shoes to increase his height has been a subject of speculation and discussion in popular culture. While it is difficult to pinpoint the exact origins of this narrative, it gained significant attention and became a topic of fascination among fans and critics alike.

Taylor Lautner's Wife Tay Lautner Coordinates Jeffrey Campbell Pumps with Husband's All Black Ensemble at Charity Gala in Los Angeles

Yara shahidi pops in lush chocolate brown pumps at the cameron boyce foundation's 3rd annual cam for a cause gala in los angeles, dakota fanning looks sharp in pointed-toe pumps and satin printed dress at 'the watchers' london premiere.

Heeled shoes can provide a discreet and subtle height boost, making the wearer appear taller. It is believed that Cruise used this technique to enhance his presence during red carpet events, interviews, and film shoots, specifically at the London premiere of “Top Gun: Maverick” last year,  when he stood next to 5-foot-9 Kate Middleton , as she wore Prada’s suede cutout pumps set on 3-inch stiletto heels.

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Cruise is known for his charismatic style, often favoring classic and tailored outfits that exude confidence. In terms of shoes, he has been associated with wearing sleek and stylish footwear.

In “Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One,” Ethan Hunt, played by Cruise, and his IMF team have a crucial mission: find a dangerous weapon before it’s used to harm humanity. The stakes are high, as the fate of the world hangs in the balance. They embark on a frantic global chase, facing a powerful and enigmatic foe. Ethan realizes that the mission is paramount, even if it means putting the lives of his loved ones in jeopardy. The movie will hit the theaters on July 12.

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Know why Tom Cruise gifts Dakota Fanning shoes every year

Hollywood actor Dakota Fanning recently disclosed on The Kelly Clarkson Show that her War of the Worlds co-star, Tom Cruise , has been sending her a pair of shoes yearly for her birthday since they worked together in 2005! The tradition began when Cruise gifted Fanning a cell phone for her 11th birthday while they were on set. "He always sends me the same thing every year," said Fanning, referring to the shoes.

Fanning's fond memory of the first gift from Cruise

Fanning reminisced about her 11th birthday on the sets of WOTW . "I didn't have anyone to call, but I wanted a [Motorola Razr] so bad. I must have been talking about it a lot because that's what he got me. It's such a great memory." "I started to be able to fit into really small adult shoes when I was on the press tour, so I was excited about them. So from that birthday on, he always sends me shoes."

'WOTW' was a milestone in Fanning's career

War of the Worlds , which saw Cruise and Fanning playing father and daughter, opened in June 2005 and was directed by Steven Spielberg . The film grossed nearly $604M at the worldwide box office. This blockbuster continued to cement Fanning's successful run as a child actor , following her previous hits such as I Am Sam , Uptown Girls , and Man on Fire . She is currently awaiting the release of The Watchers , directed by Ishana Night Shyamalan.

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Dakota Fanning reveals that Tom Cruise has been gifting her shoes on her birthday since 2005

Actress Dakota Fanning recently shared that, Tom Cruise with whom she shared the screen in the 2005 film War of the Worlds continues to send shoes as birthday presents, which she has been receiving for the past 19 years.

She recounted that the actor first gifted her a cell phone. “I turned 11 on War of the Worlds , when we worked together and he gave me my first cell phone for that birthday,” Fanning said on a talk show. “It was a Motorola Razr…I didn’t have anyone to call, but I wanted a Razr so bad. I must have been talking about it a lot because that’s what he got me. It’s such a great memory.”

She added, “He always sends me the same thing every year." Fannings went on to reveal the reason. “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 really excited about them. So from that birthday on, he always sends me shoes.”

To this, the host said, “That’s so random too, I love it. You must have a massive shoe collection brought to you by Tom Cruise!”

In War Of The World , which was directed by Steven Spielberg, Cruise and Fanning played father and daughter. As a child star, Fanning then worked in hit films such as I Am Sam, Uptown Girls and Man on Fire .

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Dakota Fanning has a 'massive shoe collection' courtesy of a Tom Cruise birthday tradition

The actress says her "Wars of the Worlds" costar has been sending her a pair every year since she turned 11.

Tom Cruise is still taking care of his War of the Worlds daughter, Dakota Fanning .

During her appearance on The Kelly Clarkson Show , Fanning, 30, revealed that her former costar, has remembered to get her a birthday present every year for nearly two decades.

“I turned 11 on War of the Worlds , when we worked together and he gave me my first cell phone for that birthday,” Fanning shared. “It was a Motorola Razr.”

Her birthday wish earned some skepticism from host Kelly Clarkson , who asked, "Who were you calling at 11?”

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“I didn’t have anyone to call, but I wanted a Razr so bad,” Fanning laughed. “I must have been talking about it a lot because that’s what he got me. It’s such a great memory.”

Ever since the movie debuted in 2005, Cruise has kept the tradition alive with a yearly present. But he’s pivoted away from tech and towards 11-year-old Fanning’s true passion: footwear.

"He always sends me the same thing every year,” Fanning explained. “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 really excited about them. So from that birthday on, he always sends me shoes.”

Clarkson promptly applauded Cruise’s gift choice. "That’s so nice,” she said. “That’s so random too, I love it. You must have a massive shoe collection brought to you by Tom Cruise!”

The Top Gun: Maverick star has garnered quite the reputation for his gift-giving skills. A-Listers from all corners of Hollywood have been bragging for years about Cruise’s infamous coconut cake , which he mails out yearly to celebrate the holiday season. Recipients include such stars as Glen Powell , Angela Bassett , Rosie O’Donnell , and Tom Hanks .

Another former child star who shared the screen with Cruise, Kirsten Dunst , recently told Entertainment Tonight that she is “still getting” the cake 30 years after they starred together in Interview with a Vampire . 

Unlike most, Dunst’s household gets two Cruise cakes, since her husband, Jesse Plemons , worked with actor in 2017’s American Made . "We double up on our cakes,” she shared.

You can watch Fanning open up about her Cruise-funded shoe collection in the clip above.

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Dakota Fanning says she's gotten the same birthday gift from Tom Cruise every year since they made 2005's 'War of the Worlds'

• Dakota Fanning revealed on "The Kelly Clarkson Show" that Tom Cruise has given her many gifts.
• Cruise gave Fanning her first phone when they made the 2005 film "War of the Worlds."
• Since then, Cruise has given Fanning shoes every year for her birthday.

Dakota Fanning has a massive shoe collection, and she can thank Tom Cruise for it.

Fanning turned 11 when she worked with Cruise on the 2005 Steven Spielberg movie "War of the Worlds." To celebrate, Cruise gave his costar her first cellphone.

"I didn't have anyone to call, but I wanted a Razr so bad," Fanning said on "The Kelly Clarkson Show" recently, referring to the then-popular Motorola Razr flip phone . "I must have been talking about it a lot because that's what he got me."

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But since then, Cruise has upped his game.

"He always sends me the same thing every year," Fanning, 30, 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 really excited about them. So from that birthday on, he always sends me shoes."

Cruise is known around Hollywood for his gift-giving.

A sign that you've made it in the business is being on the list of people who receive a coconut cake from Cruise . Everyone from Tom Hanks to Kirsten Dunst has received it over the years.

Jay Ellis told Business Insider in 2022 that he got more than a cake from Cruise when he got married to Serbian actor Nina Seničar that year.

"He gave us a very nice gift," said Ellis, declining to reveal what exactly his "Top Gun: Maverick" costar sent. "Neither one of us was expecting it at all. It was hand-delivered the day before the wedding. We opened it the night of the wedding after we partied and all I will say is it was a his-and-hers thing."

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Actress Dakota Fanning shared that, despite Tom Cruise having given her a cell phone, when she was 11 on the set of their 2005 film War of the World, the Hollywood star has continued to send shoes as birthday presents, which she has been receiving for the past 19 years. “I turned 11 on War of the Worlds, when we worked together and he gave me my first cell phone for that birthday,” “He always sends me the same thing every year,” reports variety.com. Fannings further 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 really excited about them. So from that birthday on, he always sends me shoes.” (IANS)

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Dakota Fanning's 'massive shoe collection' comes from Tom Cruise's annual birthday gifts since 2005's 'War of the Worlds'

A LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Dakota Fanning , renowned for her role as a child star, has shared an intriguing detail about her long-standing relationship with Tom Cruise, as reported by Entertainment Weekly.

During a recent appearance on Kelly Clarkson's daytime talk show, Fanning revealed that Cruise has been sending her a birthday gift every year since their 2005 collaboration on 'War of the Worlds.' The gift? Shoes, without fail, for nearly two decades.

Dakota Fanning reveals annual birthday gift from Tom Cruise

Fanning recalled the beginning of this unique tradition when she celebrated her 11th birthday on the set of 'War of the Worlds.' "I turned 11 on 'War of the Worlds,' when we worked together and he gave me my first cell phone for that birthday," she said.

"It was a Motorola Razr…I didn't have anyone to call, but I wanted a Razr so bad. I must have been talking about it a lot because that's what he got me. It's such a great memory."

Since that memorable birthday, Cruise has maintained a unique tradition, "He always sends me the same thing every year," Fanning continued.

Fanning explained. "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 really excited about them. So from that birthday on, he always sends me shoes."

"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 really excited about them. So from that birthday on, he always sends me shoes."

Kelly Clarkson, visibly charmed by the story, remarked, "That's so nice. That's so random too, I love it. You must have a massive shoe collection brought to you by Tom Cruise!"

Fanning and Cruise played father and daughter in 'War of the Worlds,' directed by Steven Spielberg. The film, which premiered in June 2005, grossed nearly $604 million globally, solidifying Fanning's status as a child star with hits like 'I Am Sam,' 'Uptown Girls,' and 'Man on Fire.'

Internet abuzz as Dakota Fanning reveals Tom Cruise sends her shoes every birthday

Dakota Fanning recently charmed fans and followers by revealing a unique birthday tradition with her former co-star Tom Cruise. The actress shared on Kelly Clarkson's talk show that Cruise has been sending her shoes every year since they filmed 'War of the Worlds' together in 2005. This heartwarming revelation quickly became a topic of lively discussion online.

One user reminisced about seeing a young Fanning at a screening: "I saw Dakota at a screening when she was a kid starting out and she was so well-spoken and professional even then. A charming girl and really serious about acting."

Another praised Cruise's thoughtful gesture, saying, "What a sweet adorable story about Tom Cruise, what a guy he is!!!!"

Fanning's acting talent hasn't gone unnoticed, as one fan noted, "Dakota is a pretty big star in her own right. Her acting chops were quite evident from a young age. The first role that really stuck out for me was 'Man on Fire' with Denzel Washington. It was neat to see them on screen again together in 'The Equalizer 3.'"

Comments continued to pour in, "Dakota is so beautiful and that is sweet that Tom Cruise sends her birthday gifts every year!!!!" wrote one user.

Another simply stated, "Dakota Fanning is brilliant."

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.