Tom Cruise’s unlikely love affair with Derbyshire: “What a fantastic place”
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(Credits: Far Out / Alamy)
Through his incredible career in the movies, Tom Cruise has travelled the world and seen all sorts of amazing places. Just the Mission: Impossible series alone has taken him to London, Prague, Vienna, Sydney, Shanghai, the Utah desert, and Abu Dhabi’s famous Burj Khalifa skyscraper. All of this without mentioning the countless other stunning locations that have been used in Cruise’s films over the years.
When it comes to his favourite places on the planet, you’d expect someone of Cruise’s calibre to pick somewhere exotic or glamorous. However, as he divulged to a British magazine in 2022, one of Ethan Hunt’s destinations of choice is wholly unexpected – the English county of Derbyshire.
“I spend a lot of time in Britain and that’s not just for work reasons, I just love being here,” he told Derbyshire Life. “It’s definitely true to say that I have not only filmed in Derbyshire but spent some really fun time there as well. It’s just a really great place to be.” Cruise was brought to the county, which is located in the centre of England and borders the likes of Greater Manchester and Nottinghamshire, for Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part 1 in 2021
The scene that was filmed there was the movie’s famous train crash, in which a full-sized steam locomotive was plunged into a huge quarry. The filming took place in Stoney Middleton, a tiny village of around 500 people, and it gathered huge media interest at the time. “We found everyone to be so brilliantly helpful – from the local authorities to the people living in the area,” Cruise said of his time filming the scene. “There is no doubt that when a film crew arrives on location the whole place can be disrupted and I could not blame anyone for complaining. However, that didn’t happen when we were filming at Stoney Middleton.”
Cruise, known for his real-life action heroics, flew his own personal helicopter to the site of the train crash, which gave him time to take in the beautiful Derbyshire countryside from the air. “It is breath-taking and I found myself wanting to explore more and more,” he said. “That’s the reason I have made a few other visits in my own time that have nothing to do with work.”
The star has lived in various locations around the UK over the years, including in London, where he bought a home with Nicole Kidman in 1999. “I love being in Britain because everyone is pleasant and will give you a nod or say ‘hello’ without crowding you too much,” he revealed. “I was brought up to be well-mannered and you really get that in Britain.”
The location of the train crash has a rich history outside of film, including being the site of a Luftwaffe bombing raid during the Second World War. The Dead Reckoning team built a short section of track leading up to the edge of the cliffs and excavated a pool at the bottom, which is where the train landed at the end of its swift descent.
“I know that Derbyshire has fantastic heritage and a great blend of beautiful countryside, great shopping and some fascinating old buildings to explore,” Cruise continued, sounding more and more like he worked for the county’s tourist board. As corny as the endorsement sounds, it seems evident that this megastar had indeed a nice time in the UK trying to make common ground with his fans, showing his appreciation of the surrounding area.
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