Hayley Atwell Credits Tom Cruise for Helping Her Overcome Social Anxiety

LOS ANGELES, CA — Actress Hayley Atwell recently opened up about her battle with social anxiety and credited her “Mission: Impossible” co-star Tom Cruise for providing crucial support during her journey. Appearing on the “Reign With Josh Smith” podcast, Atwell discussed how Cruise’s advice has helped her navigate the pressures of Hollywood.

Atwell made her franchise debut as Grace in 2023’s “Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning” and is set to reprise her role in the upcoming film, “Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning,” scheduled for release in May 2025. During the podcast, she acknowledged the prevalent conversation surrounding social anxiety, stating, “Social anxiety tends to be something that people talk about a lot at the moment, right? And how a lot of people do have social anxiety at some point.” Atwell continued, “It manifests in different ways, but the pep talk [Tom] gave me helps that.”

Atwell recounted her experiences entering new environments where anxiety can overwhelm her. “If you walk into a room and you feel the anxieties coming, it makes me want to retreat into myself, and I start to overthink, and go: ‘Do I look weird? Do I seem awkward?’” she explained.

To help her manage these feelings, Cruise offered several pieces of practical advice. “He said: ‘Try doing the opposite. Try to look out, look around the room, and go… Where is it? Where is the thing that I have attached to my insecurity? Is it that person over there that reminds me of my school bully? That person over there didn’t give me a job once? That person over there that I think was mean to me once?'” Atwell found this approach helped to clarify her anxiety.

She elaborated, saying, “If I look at it for long enough, the anxiety then can have a name. It can have a label… As soon as I can name what it actually is, the general sense of free-floating anxiety goes and then I actually have an opportunity to do something about it. So he was just like: ‘If you are scared of something just keep looking at it.'”

Despite “Dead Reckoning” pulling in $571 million globally but underperforming from expectations, Atwell’s performance alongside Cruise received praise from critics, particularly for their on-screen chemistry. In previous interviews, Atwell has expressed admiration for Cruise, calling him “very kind, very professional.” She remarked, “When I started, I was very aware of the rarefied air around him and how there is no one like him… He is a one-man studio. And because of that, I felt I was able to try lots of different things.”

This supportive environment allowed Atwell to explore her character without fear of failure, enhancing her performance. As the release of “Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning” approaches, fans are eager to see how her character will evolve, though Atwell humorously noted, “On the other hand, ‘Tom Cruise’ and ‘final’ are oxymorons, so I wouldn’t be surprised if he goes, ‘Wait, maybe…’”

The candid conversation about anxiety underscores the importance of mental health awareness in Hollywood. Atwell’s experience serves as a reminder that even successful figures face personal challenges. Her story emphasizes the significance of support from peers like Cruise in overcoming hurdles.

As she prepares for her anticipated return in the “Mission: Impossible” series, fans can look forward to Atwell’s gripping portrayal of Grace, a character who has already left a mark in the franchise. With Cruise’s mentorship and her resilience, Atwell is poised for continued success in Hollywood.