Tom Cruise At 50: Does The Action Man Make A Real Romantic Lead? (PICTURES)

Does Tom Cruise Make A Real Romantic Lead?

So we all know Tom Cruise is an action man without equal.

He's demonstrated this a few times already - when he's not been hanging by strings from ceilings, or jousting with ancient warriors, samurai-stylee, he's been proving his superman status once and for all, with a devil-may-care dance around the top fo the world's tallest skyscraper, for the latest Impossible caper.

Open Image Modal

Tom Cruise with Renee Zellwegger in Jerry Maguire

But we also all know that, to be a true leading man, it doesn't matter how many Harleys you ride off into the distance or cars you crash off the track, it's all about how many ladies you sweep off their feet with manly endeavours.

Obviously, off-screen, it's all been a bit of a roller-coaster ride for Mr Cruise in that regard - with his seemingly fairytale pairings with Mimi Rogers, Nicole Kidman, Penelope Cruz and now Katie Holmes - all ending in splits of varying amicability.

Nicole Kidman was photographed shrieking with joy when her divorce papers came through. Katie Holmes has been trumpeting her ringless hand on the streets of New York today. Mimi Rogers mentioned something about her "instrument needing tuning". Happily, Cruz and Cruise are still firm friends.

Open Image Modal

Tom Cruise with Kelly McGillis in Top Gun

And more happily, his romantic screen outings have met with greater success and, in some instances, proved longer-lasting. Everyone can remember where they were when Tom Cruise first seduced Kelly McGillis in Top Gun, courtesy of a motor-bike and a Berlin soundtrack.

And his tearful monologue to Renee Zellwegger in Jerry Maguire, culminating in 'You Complete Me', sealed his status as a actor of as much passion as action. His words entered the romantic reach-for dictionary ever since, and his leading lady fell back into his arms after a few misunderstandings along the way.

If only real life could be just like the movies....

Here's Tom Cruise in romantic action through the years: