Tom Cruise Helped Hayley Atwell Overcome Social Anxiety by Telling Her: ‘If You’re Scared of Something Just Keep Looking at It’

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In a recent episode of “Reign With Josh Smith” podcast, I (Hayley Atwell) shared that my co-star on “Mission: Impossible,” Tom Cruise, has been instrumental in helping me confront social anxiety within the Hollywood scene. You might recognize me as Grace from the action series, having made my entrance in “Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One” in 2023, and I’m thrilled to continue playing this role this summer in “Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning.

Currently, social anxiety is a topic that’s frequently discussed, isn’t it? And many individuals experience social anxiety at some point,” Atwell explained to Josh Smith. “It presents itself in various forms, but the encouragement [Tom] provided me with is beneficial, as he suggested: ‘If you find yourself entering a room and feeling anxious, instead of wanting to withdraw, start overthinking, and asking yourself questions like “Do I look strange?” or “Am I awkward?”, try doing the opposite.’

Cruise said to Atwell: “Take a moment, scan the room, and see… can you spot the item that connects to my insecurities? Is it that individual who resembles my school bully? The one who didn’t offer me a job in the past? Or perhaps the one I believe was unkind to me at some point?”

Cruise asked Atwell: “Give a quick glance, survey the room, and tell me… do you see anything that triggers my insecurities? Is it someone who reminds me of my school bully? A person who denied me a job before? Or perhaps an individual I think was unkind to me at one time?

As a movie enthusiast, I’ve found that if I gaze upon my feelings long enough, they can be given a name. This helps them become more tangible – I might say, ‘Ah, this is jealousy’ or ‘This feeling is loneliness’ or ‘I feel intimidated by the talent and confidence of this person.’ Once I identify what it truly is, the overwhelming, vague sense of anxiety dissipates. Then, instead of being paralyzed, I have a chance to address it. So in essence, he was saying: ‘If you’re scared, just keep facing it. Don’t close your eyes or turn away. Keep looking at it, and it will often provide guidance on how to conquer it.’

In contrast to its lackluster performance at the global box office, earning $571 million, the first installment of “Dead Reckoning” saw exceptional praise for Hayley Atwell and Tom Cruise’s on-screen chemistry from film critics. As a notable part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Peggy Carter, this is Atwell’s second significant Hollywood franchise following her work. Previously, she has spoken highly of Cruise in interviews, describing him as both kind and professional to The Guardian earlier this year.

When I first began working with him, I recognized the unique environment he created and understood there wasn’t anyone quite like him,” Atwell expressed. “No one will ever replace him because actors aren’t developed in the same manner anymore… He is essentially a solo production studio. This allowed me to experiment with numerous ideas, as there was no fear of failure or danger. Tom encourages a thriving atmosphere on set.

Watch Atwell’s latest interview on the “Reign With Josh Smith” podcast in the video below.

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2025-03-29 00:48