Glen Powell, known for his role in Twisters, recently opened up about the life-changing advice he received from legendary actor Tom Cruise. Their collaboration began in 2022 with Top Gun: Maverick, which marked a crucial turning point in Powell’s career. The ongoing partnership will continue as both stars reunite for the upcoming Top Gun: 3, although the release date remains undisclosed. This close connection led Powell to gain valuable insight into Cruise’s professional mindset, which has significantly shaped his own path in the film industry.
Powell’s visibility also soared after starring alongside Sydney Sweeney in the 2023 romantic comedy Anyone But You. Despite the buzz around his role in that film, it was the mentorship from Cruise that truly impacted how Powell views his work and physicality as an actor. In a recent GQ interview, Powell revealed how Cruise’s example encouraged him to adopt a new, athlete-like mentality when performing stunts.
The Shift to Seeing Acting as a High-Performance Endeavor
Known for doing his own stunts, Tom Cruise shared crucial advice with Powell about undertaking challenging and risky action sequences safely. Powell acknowledged that Cruise’s dedication inspired him to transition from simply acting to embracing the rigorous physical demands of stunt work. Powell related how he felt fortunate to be able to ask Cruise practical survival tips in dangerous scenes, describing their exchanges as a form of mentorship.
Before landing his breakout role as Hangman in Top Gun: Maverick, Powell nearly turned down the opportunity. Initially overlooked for the Bradley Bradshaw role in favor of Miles Teller, Powell considered leaving the project. However, Cruise persuaded him to reconsider and remain part of the film, stressing the importance of understanding the production process and the caliber of talent involved.
Cruise explained,
“He was passing on the film without really looking at it and evaluating it from every angle—without gathering all the information on the process of how I approach making movies, my career, all the talented artists that were involved, and how the film is actually going to be made.”
—Tom Cruise
Managing Fame: Tom Cruise’s Advice on Controlling Public Attention
As Powell’s fame grew, particularly following the success of Anyone But You, he experienced firsthand the pressures of Hollywood scrutiny and rumors. Speculation about his relationship with Sydney Sweeney emerged, despite Powell being in a relationship with model and actress Gigi Paris at the time. This intense public attention created challenges, yet Cruise’s experience offered Powell a guiding principle for handling such situations.
Powell shared in the interview how Cruise advised him to maintain control over how much influence external noise has on his life, emphasizing personal agency. The elder actor reminded him,
“Just remember you have your hand on that switch,”
referring to the ability to ‘turn down the volume’ on gossip and distractions.
Cruise himself has long navigated relentless media scrutiny following his high-profile separations from Nicole Kidman and Katie Holmes. Despite the turbulence caused by these tabloid stories, he remained steadfast by immersing himself in his work. Powell echoed this mindset, saying that
“turning down the noise and trusting your own gut,”
as Cruise suggested, has been a godsend in his own career journey.
The Lasting Impact of Tom Cruise’s Mentorship on Glen Powell
Tom Cruise’s practical and philosophical advice to Glen Powell has not only helped him take on more physically demanding roles but also strengthened his ability to handle the pressures of celebrity life. With their upcoming collaboration in Top Gun: 3, Powell is set to further cement his status in Hollywood, guided by lessons from one of the industry’s most enduring stars. This relationship exemplifies the profound influence an experienced actor can have on shaping the career and resilience of the next generation in entertainment.
