Tom Cruise: I have a privileged life

The 47-year-old actor, who is married to actress Katie Holmes, insists he doesn’t regard himself as special and always feels lucky to have had fame and success.

He said: “I have been a lucky man. I have a privileged life.

“I have never let my ego grow – I’m aware that I’m just an actor. I have a ball with people and I feel thankful when they scream my name at a movie premiere.”

While Tom is grateful for fame, he admits one of the downsides of his life is seeing how “distorted” it can get.

He explained: “In the past 25 years I’ve witnessed how my life and my reality have been completely distorted, twisted and exaggerated.

“I have to continue being myself even though sometimes it takes a huge effort.”

Tom recently revealed Suri – his four-year-old daughter with Katie – is the person he turns to when he is reading new scripts and is unsure whether to take on a role.

He said: “She asks all the right questions, ‘Why does that happen?’ ‘Those are the bad guys?’ ‘You’re the good guy, right?’

“It comes down to the same thing as when I was a kid. Can I create a character that will make her happy, that will make her laugh? And you know what? She makes me get better and better, because she’s always asking me to do it again.”