Tom Cruise makes rare public statement on Scientology

Cruise was asked about a documentary, My Scientology Movie, which does not paint the church in the most positive light

Hollywood actor Tom Cruise has finally broken his silence and said he is "incredibly proud" to be a Scientologist.

Speaking to ITV News in London, at the UK premiere of his latest film Jack Reacher 2: Never Go Back, the actor said, “It's something that has helped me incredibly in my life.”



“I've been a Scientologist for over 30 years. It's something, you know, without it, I wouldn't be where I am,” he continued. “So it's a beautiful religion. I'm incredibly proud,” the 54-year-old said.

The movie star, who is the most high-profile member of the church, spoke about the impact that Scientology has had on his life when he was asked about his thoughts on Louis Theroux's documentary My Scientology Movie, due in 2017, which does not paint the church in the most positive light.

The actor who first encountered Scientology in 1986, responded by talking about his personal experience with the philosophy and organisation founded by L Ron Hubbard. Cruise has previously credited the methods developed by Hubbard, who before founding Scientology was a prolific science fiction writer, with helping him overcome his dyslexia.

In leaked video footage from an internal church film, Cruise previously said of Scientology in 2008, “'I think it's a privilege to call yourself a Scientologist and it's something you have to earn. And because a Scientologist does, he or she has the ability to create new and better realities, and improve conditions.”



Mimi Rogers, who was married to Cruise from 1987 to 1990, introduced the Top Gun star to The Church Of Scientology when he was a budding actor in 1986. Cruise went on to marry Nicole Kidman in 1990 after meeting earlier that year on set of Days Of Thunder. Before the actor filed for divorced in 2001 the couple adopted two children, Isabella and Conor.

Former Scientologists such as actress Leah Remini and writer Paul Haggis have claimed church leaders encourage members to shun apostates; and allegedly label those who leave as “suppressive persons.”

A representative for the Church of Scientology previously stated, “We never comment on individual parishioners” lives... Scientologists respect the faith of others, associate with and befriend members of every religion. Scientologists do not cut ties with non-Scientologist friends or family members because they have chosen another religion."



The representative added, “Given that Scientology is a new religion, Scientologists often have family members and friends who are not Scientologists and who may practice another faith or no faith at all. This causes no conflict for Scientologists.”

This article originally appeared on Mail Online.