Esteemed and highly-acclaimed Hollywood talent Tom Cruise is known for his charismatic and ferociously adventurous disposition. Having starred in more than 50 films, the actor has proved to the audiences his multitalented capabilities of character embodiment across various genres and classifications. Constantly pushing the boundaries of undertaking physically strenuous tasks for on-screen projects, the actor truly is one of a kind.
Cruise’s daring, thrill-seeking attitude often transcends beyond the film set. The 60-year-old is particularly known for engaging in a variety of action-packed pursuits in his spare time. He’s especially fond of aviation, motorcycling, and driving race cars. Such amusements, however, have often brought about tricky situations for the star.
In an interview, Cruise recalled the instances where he was pulled over by the traffic cops for speeding. He also highlighted the sole reason behind his disappointment when encountering such incidents.
Tom Cruise Was Stopped For Going Over The Speed Limit
Top Gun, the 1986 Tony Scott-directed action drama, which also saw the release of its uber-celebrated sequel in 2022, was an endeavor that gave audiences several memorable sequences to hold on to. One scene that gained traction amongst the masses and is often referenced regularly across the various corners of the internet features the following catchphrase—“I feel the need, the need for speed.”
To say that this quote has immense significance would be an understatement. It’s iconic and simply unforgettable.
In an interview for PEOPLE’s Top Gun special edition, Tom Cruise was asked whether or not he has ever had traffic cops iterate his iconic “Need for Speed” catchphrase to him. To this, the Hollywood star’s humorous reply was, “No. I wish they would!” Does this imply that the actor simply has never been pulled over for driving over the speed limit? That is not the case.
To address the matter, Cruise stated:
“Sometimes I get speed. Sometimes, I get stopped. But also, I spend a lot of time on racetracks, on motorcycles, in helicopters, so I get a lot of that stuff out.”
Therefore, while the Mission Impossible star has been stopped quite a few times for his notorious need for speed, he has not yet had the opportunity of having traffic cops quote his popular phrase to him. We’re left to speculate and wonder whether the traffic police simply missed their chances of saying the line or if they managed to resist the temptation of doing so.
Nevertheless, we can only hope that the actor’s ridiculously hilarious wish does get fulfilled someday or the other.
Tom Cruise Expressed His Love For Aviation
Cruise’s need for speed goes beyond the desire of driving cars. He has also expressed, on several occasions, his passion for flying. With the Top Gun film series, the talent intended for the cinematic endeavors to be a “love letter to aviation.” To him, soaring through the sky is not only about the trials and tribulations that come with it. In both films, the aim was to encapsulate the charm and beauty of aviation.
“I’ve flown where I have birds fly right up next to me. We’re flying together. I mean, it’s just, it’s beautiful. There’s a power and a majesty to it. I look at nature, at sunsets, at sunrises, and the stars up there. I was the kid who would sneak out my window when I was very young and climb up on the roof and look at the stars, so to be in a plane and be there and look at the stars… it’s just amazing. It’s amazing to me.”
