TOM Cruise and Katie Holmes are to divorce, it was revealed today.
The 33-year-old actress has lodged papers in New York blaming “irreconcilable
differences” for scuppering her five-year marriage to the Hollywood
heart-throb.
Sources claim Top Gun star Tom, 49, was “blindsided” by the move — and that
Katie’s uncompromising bid for sole custody of six-year-old daughter Suri
shows the “nastiness” behind the split.
Katie’s lawyer Jonathan Wolfe said of the split: “This is a personal and
private matter for Katie and her family.
“Katie’s primary concern remains, as it always has been, her daughter’s
best interest.”
A source close to screen idol Tom — also dad to two adopted children —
said he “did not see this coming”.
Katie
was missing from the Rock of Ages premieres in London and Los Angeles
this month.
Actor Tom, who stars in the film as outlandish singer Stacee Jaxx, walked the
red carpet alone and told reporters his wife had business to attend to in
China and couldn’t change her schedule.
The couple have not been seen together since April.
Tom — previously wed to actresses Mimi Rogers and Nicole Kidman — has been in
Iceland filming upcoming movie Oblivion while Katie, still wearing her
wedding ring, and Suri have been in New York.
The actor is now preparing to spend his 50th birthday on Tuesday with son
Connor.
Tom’s dedication to the Scientology religion is reported to have put a strain
on the couple’s relationship.
The actor is worth an estimated £160million and the split is likely to spark
one of the biggest divorce battles in Hollywood history.
As recently as May, Tom was hailing his “special” relationship with Katie as
he promoted Rock of Ages.
He told Playboy magazine: “She is an extraordinary person, and if you spent
five minutes with her, you’d see it. Everything she does, she does with this
beautiful creativity.
“When she becomes interested in something, she doesn’t talk about it — she
does it. I’m a romantic. I like doing things like creating romantic dinners,
and she enjoys that.
“I’m just happy, and have been since the moment I met her. What we have is
very special. She has a voice and warmth as an artist, as a mother.” The
couple met in April 2005 when Tom flew Katie from New York to Los Angeles on
his private jet.
It is said he suggested it was a business meeting, but that all along he had
designs on the pretty young actress, who was previously known for her role
as tomboy Joey Potter in hit TV series Dawson’s Creek.
Cocktail hunk Tom was Katie’s teen pin-up and she later admitted having had
his poster on her bedroom wall.
A whirlwind romance followed and they were engaged by the summer. In November
of 2005 Tom famously bounced on the couch on Oprah Winfrey’s chat show as he
declared his love.
Suri was born in April 2006 and her parents — dubbed TomKat — wed seven months
later at a medieval castle outside Rome. Jennifer Lopez and pals David and
Victoria Beckham were among celebrity guests.
Asked if they might have married too soon, Katie said: “Tom and I will always
be in our honeymoon phase.”
It was reported at the time their stringent prenuptial agreement stated Katie
would receive £2million for each year they were married. And, if they made
it to 11 years, she would receive half her husband’s estate. Katie made no
mention of a pre-nup in her divorce papers, which were filed in New York on
Thursday.
In 2008, Tom told The Sun he and Katie were happier than ever — and were
planning TEN children together.
The following year Katie moved to the Big Apple, where she was appearing in a
Broadway play.
Last year, the couple were regularly snapped together, taking Suri
ice-skating, shopping and for walks in Central Park. In November, Katie was
quoted as saying: “Our relationship is great. My husband has made incredible
movies that have impacted the world and therefore I’m a part of that now.
I’m proud of it.”
The family divided their time between a secluded mansion in Beverly Hills and
a New York apartment.
Last night it was claimed Katie now hoped to throw herself back into her
career which had stalled in the shadow of her superstar husband.
A US source said: “Katie just wants to live out of the spotlight of Tom. She
wants to focus on her acting career, which has taken a backseat since her
marriage.”
In 2006 Tom confronted rumours that Katie had been required to remain SILENT
during Suri’s birth under Scientology rules. He said: “It’s basically just
respecting the mother, you know, and helping to be quiet.
“Not the mother. The mother makes as much noise — she’s going through it. But
why have other people make noise? You know, you want that area very calm and
to make it very special.”
Him: £160m
Her: £15m
KATIE is not exactly skint — after amassing a £15million fortune in her own
right.
But it pales beside hubby Tom Cruise’s £160million contribution to their
£175million joint wealth.
The couple own lavish homes in Beverly Hills, New York and the Colorado ski
resort of Telluride.
But one divorce lawyer said: “Most of the estate is his. Katie will have to go
for a lot of child support.”
Tom’s previous marriages
Tom was previously married to actresses Mimi Rogers and Nicole Kidman with
whom he has two adopted children Connor and Isabella.
The Mission: Impossible star’s marriage to Mimi ended after less than three
years, while he split from Nicole in 2001 after ten years together.
Nicole went on to marry Keith Urban, and the couple now have two daughters
Sunday Rose and Faith Margaret.
