"I don’t just look for what’s safe" — Tom Cruise weighs in on his death-defying stunts, admits he does get "scared"

Hollywood icon Tom Cruise is back in action for the upcoming Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, which premieres later this month. Cruise and his castmates–Simon Pegg, Pom Klementieff, Hayley Atwell, and Greg Tarzan Davis–touched down in Seoul, South Korea, for a promotional tour alongside director Christopher McQuarrie.

In Seoul, the Tropic Thunder actor spoke to the Korean media during a promotional press conference for the eighth Mission: Impossible film. Cruise reflected upon his work ethic and the pressure involved in the business of movie-making. Speaking to the Korean media outlet, The Korea Times, Tom Cruise shared a mantra that guides him:

“We have a saying, which is ‘pressure is a privilege.’ The thing I also have realized about myself is how much I enjoy the pressure, how much I enjoy the responsibility of making movies.”

Apart from talking about the pressure, Cruise also remarked on the daredevil-esque stunts he has frequently delivered in the Mission: Impossible films as well as his other projects over the years. The iconic actor admitted he gets “scared,” while revealing,

“People ask if I'm not scared when facing various difficulties. Honestly, I am. It's okay to feel those emotions and I'm not afraid of them. I don't just look for what's safe."

Tom Cruise acknowledged the privilege his profession provides him with and showcased his gratitude for being a part of the entertainment industry. The Top Gun star told the press,

“It’s not what I do, it’s who I am. There hasn't been a day that I have not felt privileged, a day that I have not felt very grateful to be able to do what I do. Thank you for allowing me to entertain, it is an honor.”

Tom Cruise spoke about “dedicating” himself to “learn a skill” for his craft

The Collateral antagonist has unparalleled credentials when it comes to challenging himself with death-defying stunts and bringing realism to the action set piece in which he is involved. At 62, Cruise is still challenging himself, as the actor teased a new “submarine sequence” in The Final Reckoning, which is slated to release on May 17, 2025.

During a recent press conference in Seoul, the actor talked about being dedicated and learning new skills to use in the movies (via The Korean Times). Cruise stated:

“I really dedicate myself to becoming competent at everything that I do. I'll learn a skill and then I'll apply that skill to storytelling. From underwater sequences to flying various aircraft and performing complex stunts.”

The Rogue Nation star continued:

“If you follow my career, you can see the different abilities I've gained. You can see how this has led to 'The Final Reckoning,' for instance, with the submarine sequence. We constantly try to improve our storytelling ability.”

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Tom Cruise received the flight training for his role as a test pilot and flight instructor in Top Gun: Maverick (2022). He also scaled Burj Khalifa in Ghost Protocol (2011), hung from the side of an Airbus 400 in Rogue Nation, did an underwater stunt, and achieved many such feats for each of his roles in his other films.

As mentioned earlier, Tom Cruise will next be seen as a part of Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning’s ensemble cast. The Christopher McQuarrie-directed movie is set to release on May 23, 2025 in the US.

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