Hannah Waddingham says she has a 'real problem' with anyone who hates Tom Cruise

If you’ve got an opinion on Tom Cruise, it seems you’ll have to answer to his co-star, Hannah Waddingham.

Waddingham has joined the monster franchise ‘Mission Impossible’ alongside Cruise, as they continue production on the much anticipated, ‘Mission Impossible 8.’

While the film was initially set for release in June 2024, it has now officially been pushed back until May 23 2025 due to the strike-related production delays.

While doing press for the movie, Waddingham appeared on the Christmas episode of ITV’s James Martin’s Saturday Morning, and made it clear that she wouldn’t be accepting any slander concerning Tom Cruise.

She explained that, while she can’t reveal which character she plays within the film, it led her to spend ‘five really intensive days’ with Cruise.

The actress also revealed she shares a ‘kind of big scene’ that’s yet to be filmed with Cruise, but it’s apparent they’ve bonded together during production with her telling Martin: “I have to say, I have a real problem with anybody that goes at [Tom Cruise] now.

“Having met him and having spent five days intensely… he is without doubt one of the loveliest and encouraging, positive and inspiring human beings I have ever met. Isn’t he gorgeous?

Jose Perez/Bauer-Griffin/Getty Images

I have no time for anyone saying anything about him.”

Waddington told SirusXM that one of the things she was most looking forward to during filming was her scenes with an actual flight carrier, as her father was in the River Police her entire life.

She told Cruise and film director, Christopher McQuarrie, “I know this world so much. I’ve got this down. Don’t worry. I’m used to brushing my teeth in a tiny little cabin.”

As well as the Mission Impossible release, Hannah Waddington also stars in another film due for release within the same month, as she appears alongside Ryan Gosling and Emily blunt in ‘The Fall Guy’.

AaronP/Bauer-Griffin/Getty Images

The release of the Mission Impossible is expected to be a relief for Cruise, as his last blockbuster Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning Part One was contending with the highly-anticipated Barbenheimer phenomenon that took the world by absolute storm.

Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer dominated cinemas throughout the summer, but more specifically IMAX screenings, leaving Dead Reckoning out of the running. However, according to Variety, that won't be the case with this latest instalment featuring Waddingham, as Mission Impossible 8 is set to be getting a 'three-week exclusive IMAX run.'

• People feel 'second-hand embarrassment' after watching wild 'insult' Tom Cruise gave fan at Mission Impossible premiere
• Tom Cruise and Will Smith posing on top of Burj Khalifa has people pointing out key difference
• Tom Cruise 'denied' major offer from Trump after dodging questions about the president
• Tom Cruise makes rare comment about ex Nicole Kidman 24 years after their divorce