Tom Cruise, the legendary Hollywood actor renowned for pushing the limits of action cinema, has finally opened up about how he prepares for his death-defying stunts—especially the high-flying aerial sequences that have become his trademark.
At 62, Tom Cruise shows no signs of slowing down, proving he’s still the king of adrenaline-pumping action.
In a recent interview with PEOPLE magazine, Cruise revealed that the key to his incredible stunt performances lies in one surprising factor: a massive breakfast. “I actually eat a massive breakfast,” he said with a laugh, discussing how he gears up for dangerous sky-high scenes. “The amount of energy it takes—I train so hard for that wing-walking.”
Tom Cruise went on to detail his go-to pre-stunt meal: “I’ll eat, like, sausage, almost a dozen eggs, bacon, toast, coffee, and fluids. Oh, I’m eating!” he joked. Given the extreme conditions he often films in—such as high altitudes and freezing temperatures—it makes sense. “Picture it: it’s cold up there. We’re at high altitude. My body is burning a lot,” he added.
The actor, who famously clung to the side of a flying military plane in the jaw-dropping opening sequence of Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation (2015), called that stunt one of the most dangerous of his career. It was so risky, in fact, that his mother, Mary Pfeiffer, only found out about it after the movie was released. “She saw the footage later—I think that was for the best,” Cruise said.
Tom Cruise has built his career on pushing physical and cinematic boundaries, and fans have come to expect nothing less than real, high-stakes action. Whether it’s scaling skyscrapers, diving underwater without oxygen tanks, or clinging to aircraft mid-air, Tom Cruise always brings authenticity and intensity to the screen.
With more daring stunts expected in the upcoming Mission: Impossible films, Tom Cruise’s breakfast routine may just be the most important “mission” of all.