Tom Cruise has been declared an ‘honorary Brit’ as the BFI prepares to honour him after a whopping four decades of making movies in the UK.

The American actors, 62, who is believed to own in a property in the swanky Biggin Hill area of London, first made the move across the pond in 2020 for back-to-back Mission: Impossible films.

He’s now a regular in the UK, with former co-star sir Kenneth Branagh, 64, revealing the Hollywood A-lister boasts impressive cockney rhyming skills and loves a trip to a country pub. 

Speaking about the BFI Award, Cruise gushed: ‘I’m truly honoured, I’ve been making films in the UK for over 40 years and have no plans to stop’.

Branagh, who starred alongside Cruise in 2008’s Valkyrie and have remained friends, told The Times: ‘He’s an honorary Brit now, with a handy line in Cockney rhyming slang, I’ve been to the pub with him a few times. 

‘He finds a quiet corner, enjoys the atmosphere and is always gracious when he gets spotted. He’s a natural giggler and just enjoys what he does so much and that’s infectious’.

Tom Cruise, 62,  has been declared an ‘honorary Brit’ as the BFI prepares to honour him after a whopping four decades of making movies in the UK

The American actor first made the move across the pond in 2020 for back-to-back Mission: Impossible films (pictured with Prince William, R, in 2024)

Former co-star sir Kenneth Branagh (R), revealing the Hollywood A-lister (L) boasts impressive cockney rhyming skills and loves a trip to a country pub (pictured 2008 movie Valkyrie) 

He has been spotted at Wimbledon, Victoria Beckham’s 50th, was apart of the King’s Coronation, Late Queen’s Platinum Jubilee with British friends including The Beckham’s, Gordon Ramsay and The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

Over the year Cruise has filmed some of his biggest films in in Pinewood, Leavesden and Shepperton studios, from 1985’s Legend to 1994’s Interview With A Vampire and Edge of Tomorrow in 2014. 

Speaking about his love of Blightly, he told The Mirror in 2022:’I guess I am an Anglophile. I spend a lot of time in Britain and that’s not just for work reasons. I just love being here.

‘It’s a fantastic blend of old and new. I love seeing the sights, the Tower of London, Nelson’s Column, Buckingham Palace and all those fantastic places which are just full of history.

‘Britain is trendy, too, and has a lot that other countries then copy. I also love the British countryside.

The actor’s connection to the UK is made even stronger than to make-up artist daughter Isabella, 32, who lives in Croydon with her her British husband Max Parker.

A source who worked with the actor, previously told MailOnline: ‘[Tom has] fallen in love with everything about the UK, his daughter lives here, he enjoys a good cuppa and he loves the fact he can be himself’. 

Before adding: The biggest thing is he’s developed a proper circle of friends. He’s the happiest I’ve ever seen him.’

He has been spotted at Wimbledon  (pictured) Victoria Beckham ‘s 50th, was apart of the King’s Coronation , Late Queen’s Platinum Jubilee

The actor’s connection to the UK is made even stronger than to make-up artist daughter Isabella , 32, who lives in Croydon with her her British husband Max Parker  (pictured 2022)

British friends including The Beckham’s, Gordon Ramsay and The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge  (Pictured with David Beckham in 2008)

Last year Cruise twinned with William in tuxedos at the London Air Ambulance Charity gaga and beamed in a snap posted on the Prince and Princess of Wales’s X/Twitter account, with the caption: ‘Fancy seeing you here!’ 

He has known to rub shoulders with the Prince and Princess of Wales, Her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth, and Princess Diana – and has even said King Charles can be his ‘wingman’.

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The royal even made a nod to Cruise, who has donated millions to the charity, in his speech.

‘Here in London, the current aircraft have served magnificently. But our capital city needs a new fleet.

‘And we are Up Against Time. The clue really is in the Appeal’s name. By September, we need the two new red birds – decked with the latest kit such as night vision – in our skies.

‘I should also take this opportunity to give a mention to my – our – fellow pilot, Tom Cruise. Tom, huge thanks for supporting us tonight.

‘And if you wouldn’t mind not borrowing either of the new helicopters for the next Mission : Impossible, it would be appreciated.

‘We have all seen on our screens that – how can I put it – you seem to have a different take on ‘normal wear and tear’ to the rest of us.

‘It’s not the kind that buffs out, that’s for sure.’

Cruise has continued to bond with members of the royal family with a love of flying over the years – not least, Her late Majesty the Queen.

Over the year Cruise has filmed some of his biggest films in in Pinewood, Leavesden and Shepperton studios, from 1985’s Legend and Edge of Tomorrow (pictured) in 2014

The movie star famously took the Princess of Wales’s hand as he led her up the stairs at the Top Gun: Maverick premiere back in 2022

Cruise met Princess Dian  several times during the 1990s – including in 1992 at the charity premiere of Far and Away 

In the late monarch’s final weeks at Windsor Castle before travelling to Balmoral where she died, she invited Cruise for tea at the royal residence.

She was said to have been disappointed that she had not met the star during her Platinum Jubilee celebrations, which had taken place earlier that summer.

Despite not seeing the Queen during the week of celebrations, Cruise appeared in a segment of the at the Jubilee, and said of her: ‘She’s a woman I greatly admire. She has tremendous dignity and I admire her devotion. What she has accomplished has been historic.’

Insiders said the pair ‘really hit it off’ during their meeting and the late Queen ‘loved seeing him’ – and she even allowed him to land his helicopter on the lawn of the Castle.

Cruise was even invited back for lunch – but the Queen sadly pᴀssed away before he could return. 

The Hollywood star: ‘She’s just a woman that I greatly admire. I think she is someone who has tremendous dignity and I admire her devotion.

‘What she has accomplished has been historic. I just remember always as a kid seeing pH๏τos of her.’