The mutual affection was clear as Tom Cruise and Hayley Atwell attended the New York premiere of Mission: Impossible 8 – The Final Reckoning on Sunday evening. 

The long-term co-stars shared a moment together after joining cast and crew on the red carpet outside the city’s Lincoln Center. 

Atwell, 43, appeared to squeeze Cruise’s shoulder as they leaned in for a private exchange during the latest in a series of red carpet premieres that began on May 14 in Cannes. 

The co-stars, who have worked together on the last two Mission: Impossible films, were widely thought to have been romantically involved prior to her relationship with and subsequent engagement to music producer Ned Wolfgang Kelly.

Cruise, 62, is now dating actress Ana de Armas, who has been notably absent during his whirlwind promotional campaign on behalf of the new film. 

Atwell previously played down claims of a former romance with Cruise, admitting he was more like an ‘uncle.’   

The mutual affection was clear as Tom Cruise and Hayley Atwell attended the New York premiere of Mission: Impossible 8 – The Final Reckoning on Sunday evening

The long-term co-stars shared a moment together after joining cast and crew on the red carpet outside the city’s Lincoln Center

‘Why are things being ᴀssumed or projected onto me about my relationship with my work colleague and boss?’ she told The Independent.

‘It’s involving people in my actual life, my personal life, who have to be on the receiving end of that. It becomes invasive.’ 

According to an eyewitness, Cruise spent over 15 minutes in front of the concession stand at New York’s Lincoln Center while chatting with the astonished staff-members. 

One X user documented the surreal moment on Sunday night by sharing snapsH๏τs of Cruise deep in conversation with employees at AMC Lincoln Square.

An accompanying caption read: ‘Tom Cruise has been talking to the employees at AMC Lincoln Square for 15 minutes now,’ adding later: ‘He’s still going.’

Cruise has been quietly linked in recent weeks to Cuban-Spanish beauty Ana, 37, with romance buzz first sparked just before Valentine’s Day when the pair were spotted enjoying a private dinner.

Fuel was added to the fire in April when Ana was seen traveling with Cruise in his private helicopter, with exclusive DailyMail pH๏τos capturing the megastar grinning from ear to ear as he flew them into London.

This week, they stirred the pot even more, with Cruise publicly praised Ana’s new film Ballerina, and she teased that the two are working on ‘exciting’ projects together.

Atwell appeared to squeeze Cruise’s shoulder as they leaned in for a private exchange during the latest in a series of red carpet premieres that began on May 14 in Cannes

The co-stars were widely thought to have been romantically involved prior to her relationship with and subsequent engagement to music producer Ned Wolfgang Kelly 

Read More Ana de Armas finally breaks silence on relationship with Tom Cruise

Naturally, fans were on high alert when the Top Gun legend arrived at Lincoln Center looking suave in a sleek all-black suit — but Ana was nowhere in sight.

Still, Cruise wasn’t lacking star power at his side.

He was joined by a cavalcade of co-stars including Angela Bᴀssett, Nick Offerman, and Pom Klementieff, making for a premiere packed with A-list shine. 

Earlier that week, Cruise praised Ana’ new film, From the World of John Wick: Ballerina. 

He made the comment to reporters at the premiere of Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning in London on Thursday evening. 

‘I saw the movie, it kicks a**,’ Cruise said. ‘Oh, man, it’s right in that tone. It’s right in that big world, and you’re gonna love it.’

Cruise (centre) and Atwell (far right) in a scene from Mission: Impossible 8 – The Final Reckoning

Cruise was joined by a cavalcade of co-stars including Angela Bᴀssett, Nick Offerman, and Pom Klementieff, making for a premiere packed with A-list shine

According to an eyewitness, Cruise spent over 15 minutes in front of the concession stand at New York’s Lincoln Center while chatting with the astonished staff-members 

Cruise is now dating actress Ana de Armas , who has been notably absent during his whirlwind promotional campaign on behalf of the new film