He’s the world’s most famous Scientologist, while she is a bad-girl actress-turned-devoted mum and humanitarian. But although you might not immediately put them together, Tom Cruise, 61, is said to be adamant that Angelina Jolie, 48, may just be his “perfect match” – and heat hears he’s determined to turn their friendship into more.
“Over the past few years, they’ve had conversations about working together, it’s just about finding the right project. And lately, Ange has seemed more open to getting to know him socially, too,” says an insider close to the Top Gun actor, who split from Russian socialite Elsina Khayrova earlier this year, after less than 12 months together.
“Tom raves about Ange’s intellect and what a strong, impressive woman she is. He loves that she’s never really conformed in Hollywood. Plus, they’re both such superstars, only a handful of people can truly understand the life they live. That in itself creates a bond.”
Tom has had three previous marriages – to actresses Mimi Rogers, Nicole Kidman and Katie Holmes – and has been on a mission to find the final Mrs Cruise ever since. Meanwhile, mum-of-six Angelina – who was previously married to Jonny Lee Miller and Billy Bob Thornton – has been totally off dating ever since her ten-year relationship with Brad Pitt ended in 2016.
But with her children now older, insiders say she’s ready to embrace the next stage of her life – and we’re told Tom is preparing to make his move.
“His goal right now is to convince her to work with him, then he’ll romance her,” says our source.
“He’s being careful not to come on too strong, but he wants to take it out of the friend zone.”
As for their differing views on religion, our source tells us that – while Tom has been insistent on his partners’ involvement with Scientology in the past – he’s not being quite so evangelical this time around.
“He has no intention of pushing Scientology on her, as he quite astutely knows that it would send an anti-religious Angelina running in the other direction,” we’re told.
“Their mutual friends could really see this happening.”