Context:

Tom Cruise, in a candid conversation at the BFI in London, revealed that his role in 'Rain Man' was largely due to his sister Cass's insistence during a chance encounter with Dustin Hoffman. After completing the film 'Legend', Cruise was visiting Cass in New York when she spotted Hoffman in a restaurant and urged Tom to introduce himself. Despite his reluctance, Cass's persistence paid off as Hoffman recognized Tom and later offered him a chance to watch 'Death of a Salesman', followed by an invitation backstage. This meeting eventually led to Hoffman expressing his desire to make a movie with Cruise, resulting in Cruise receiving the script for 'Rain Man' about a year later. Tom also touched upon receiving the prestigious BFI Fellowship and made rare comments about his ex-wife, Nicole Kidman, during the event.

Dive Deeper:

• Tom Cruise recounted how his sister Cass played an instrumental role in him being cast in 'Rain Man' after a chance meeting with Dustin Hoffman in a New York restaurant. Hoffman was spotted by Cass, who encouraged Cruise to approach him, despite Cruise's initial hesitation.

• Cass's insistence led Cruise to introduce himself to Hoffman, who surprisingly recognized him and offered the siblings tickets to his play, 'Death of a Salesman', and invited them backstage afterwards.

• The interaction with Hoffman left a lasting impression, as Hoffman expressed his interest in making a movie with Cruise, which eventually materialized into the iconic film 'Rain Man' when the script was sent to Cruise a year later.

• Cruise shared this story during an event at the BFI in London, where he is being honored with the BFI Fellowship, an esteemed recognition of his contribution to the film industry.

• In addition to discussing his 'Rain Man' role, Cruise briefly mentioned his past relationship with Nicole Kidman, providing rare insights into their time together.

• Tom Cruise is explaining one of his famous roles!

• The 62-year-old actor got candid in a conversation at the BFI on Sunday (May 11) in London, England.

• During the chat, he spoke out about landing his role in Rain Man, and how it all has to do with his sister Cass.

• Tom said it all happened because of a chance meeting with Dustin Hoffman at a New York City restaurant. After filming Legend, he was back in the States visiting his sister Cass, who spotted the actor from across the restaurant.

• “She goes, ‘There’s Dustin Hoffman.’ I looked up and there he was, in a hat, and he was ordering takeout,” he recalled, via Variety.

• “She goes, ‘You go over there and say hello to him.’ I was like, ‘I’m not going to say hello.’ She goes, ‘You know him, you know his movies.’ And she doesn’t do stuff like that. And I don’t walk up to people, but she was so pushy.”

• “If you don’t do it, I’m just going to go over there and tell him who you are,” she urged, to which he said back to her: “He’s not going to know who I am, that’s going to be really humiliating!”

• Cass eventually “pestered me so much” that he gave in.

• “I said, ‘Excuse me, Mr. Hoffman, I’m sorry…’ And he went, ‘Cruise!’”

• Dustin ended up offering the siblings tickets to Death of a Salesman and invited them backstage after the show.

• “As I was leaving he said, ‘I want to make a movie with you.’ And I said, ‘That would be nice, sir.’ And that’s what happened, and basically a year later he sent Rain Man.”

• Tom is receiving the BFI Fellowship, the organization’s highest honor, which he’ll be presented with at the BFI Chair’s Dinner on Monday (May 12).

• He also just shared rare comments about ex-wife Nicole Kidman.