Tom Cruise Discusses Rumors, Scientology And Katie Holmes In Playboy

It's hard to believe that Tom Cruise has been in the spotlight for some three decades now, but the actor -- who turns 50 on July 3 -- has had his fair share of mishaps along the way. In an interview with Playboy magazine , Cruise throws us all an early birthday present by addressing all of the gossipy bits readers want to know, from how he feels about wife-of-six-years Katie Holmes to his not-so-nice comments about Brooke Shields to his much publicized commitment to Scientology.

Some highlights from the monster of an interview, which runs in the June issue of Playboy , on stands Friday:

On all those rumors about him:

Do you wish they wouldnt say certain things? Yeah, you wish. Does refuting things help? Not really. There comes a point when you just have to go, You know what? Heres how Ive lived my life: Ive never been late to set. I make films I believe in. I feel privileged to be able to do what I love. You just have to keep going and remember that. The other stuff? I hear it, I read it, I get it.

On his Brooke Shields comments (you know, the Matt Lauer interview in which Cruise criticized the actress for using antidepressants after the birth of her first child):
When I go back and look at it, I find myself thinking, I dont feel that way. I get how it came across, but I dont feel that way, and I never have. Telling people how to live their lives? I saw how that came across and how pieces were edited.

On Katie Holmes, his third wife, whom he married in 2005:
She is an extraordinary person, and if you spent five minutes with her, youd see it. Everything she does, she does with this beautiful creativity. Shes funny and charming, and when she walks into the room, I just feel better. Im a romantic. I like doing things like creating romantic dinners, and she enjoys that.

On his faith in Scientology:
What I believe in my own life is that its a search for how I can do things better, whether its being a better man or a better father or finding ways for myself to improve. Individuals have to decide what is true and real for them.

As far as why Cruise just never seems to age , the "Mission Impossible" actor wasn't offering up anything -- stating that he'd never had cosmetic surgery, never would have cosmetic surgery and that he "honestly" had "no idea": "I work. I'm always with family. I train, go without sleep. I just go hard."

Cruise's new movie, "Rock of Ages," in which he plays an aging rock 'n' roll musician, is set for release June 15, 2012. For more on Cruise, click through to Playboy.com .

Check out scenes from "Rock of Ages":