Tom Cruise’s reputation as a committed, detail-obsessed performer appears to be well earned. According to filmmaker Cameron Crowe, the Hollywood star doesn’t just show up knowing his own dialogue; he knows everyone else’s too.

Cruise, who collaborated with Crowe on Jerry Maguire and Vanilla Sky, left a lasting impression on the director with his preparation, curiosity and collaborative spirit. Speaking to Uncut magazine, Crowe described working with the Top Gun actor as not just easy but energising.

“Tom Cruise is not a director, and he’ll be the first to say that,” Crowe explained. “That’s exactly why he places so much trust in the people who are directing him.”

That trust, the filmmaker said, makes Cruise a joy on set. “He’s inspiring to work with. He’ll try anything, and he doesn’t shut ideas down. He understands everyone’s role, knows every character’s lines, and he’s there for the whole team. There’s a reason filmmakers stay committed to him. He makes the process fun.”

Crowe also pointed to Cruise’s deep love for music as a key part of his creative energy on set. During Vanilla Sky, music often played a role in shaping performances.

“He acts to music,” Crowe said. “He’ll put on Radiohead’s 'OK Computer' and perform a scene. He’s a huge music fan. The soundtrack of Vanilla Sky was filled with music we all loved, and the actors responded to it. You can feel the difference—it genuinely elevates the scenes.”

That approach, however, didn’t work for everyone. Crowe recalled an early experience with the late Philip Seymour Hoffman that quickly changed his use of music during takes. “On the first day, I put on 'I Wanna Be Your Dog' in the middle of his take, assuming everyone liked working that way,” he said.

Hoffman immediately shut it down. “‘Cut!’ he said. ‘What makes you think the music you’re playing is better than the music in my head?’” Crowe remembered with a laugh. “I told him, ‘Nothing, you’ll never hear music again.’”

While actors may differ in how they work, Crowe’s memories underline one thing clearly: for Tom Cruise, cinema isn’t just a job; it’s an all-consuming passion.