“From Action Hero to Anxiety Warrior: Hayley Atwell Opens Up About Tom Cruise’s Advice That Changed Her Life” In a candid and insightful conversation, actress Hayley Atwell has shared a fascinating glimpse into her life, revealing a hidden secret that has been keeping her up at night: Tom Cruise’s words of encouragement. The 38-year-old star, perhaps best known for her iconic roles in ‘Captain America’ and ‘Mockingjay,’ has long struggled with social anxiety, and her latest interview with People.com offers a poignant and eye-opening look into the advice she received from the Hollywood A-lister. From a profound realization about her fear of vulnerability to the importance of embracing imperfection, Atwell’s candid confession will leave you questioning everything you thought you knew about yourself and the people around you.
The Impact of Social Anxiety
Hayley Atwell is detailing a “pep talk” from Tom Cruise that should help her during even the most impossible of missions. The Mission: Impossible actress spoke candidly about her experience with social anxiety — and how her costar once gave her advice to face it head-on during the March 25 episode of the Reign With Josh Smith Podcast.
Atwell, 42, revealed the tip that Cruise, 62, gave her to overcome it. “If you walk into a room and you feel the anxieties coming, and it makes me want to retreat into myself, and I start to overthink and I start to go, ‘Do I look weird? Do I seem awkward? I’m not speaking, I’m just muffling my words or I need something to do to numb me from this,’ we go into ourselves,” Atwell said. “And he said, ‘Try doing the opposite.’ “
“Try to look out, look around the room and go ‘Where is it? Where is the thing that I have attached on to my insecurity,'” Atwell recalled of Cruise’s advice. “‘Is it that person over there that reminds me of my school bully? Is it that person over there that didn’t give me a job once? That person over there that I think was mean to me once? Where does it live outside of me and where do I feel like the source of it might be coming from?'”
The Importance of Support
Atwell discussed the importance of support in overcoming social anxiety. She shared how her friends and family have helped her through tough times. “When I’m scared of something, if I keep looking at it long enough, it tends to not sort of be the monster under the bed anymore,” Atwell said.
Atwell emphasized the importance of being kind to yourself and taking things one step at a time. “If I maybe go up to that person and go, ‘Hi.’ Or I go up to that person and go, ‘I’m really jealous of how amazing you are.’ It tends to just dissipate,” Atwell said.
The Impact on Her Career
Atwell joined Cruise in the Mission Impossible franchise with 2023’s Dead Reckoning Part One, and will reprise her role as Grace in 2025’s The Final Reckoning. Even outside of the films, Cruise has apparently given her plenty of advice.
Atwell said that she ultimately wasn’t “coming into something that’s intimidating.” “They’re literally going, ‘Oh, my God, we’re so happy to have you. Come and join us,'” she recalled. “I loved it, I really did. And you could see from all the actors involved in it — some that are newer than others, some that have been there from the beginning — there’s a real affection from [writer-director Christopher McQuarrie] and Tom and the environment that they create… There’s no mistake, there’s no sense of failure, there’s no judgment.”
Atwell has sung the praises of Cruise in past interviews, telling The Guardian earlier this year that he is “very kind, very professional”. “When I started, I was very aware of the rarefied air around him and how there is no one like him,” Atwell said. “And there never will be because actors aren’t made like him any more… He is a one-man studio. And because of that, I felt I was able to try lots of different things. There was never a risk of failure or being unsafe. Tom really likes people to thrive on set.”
Facing Fears
Atwell shared practical tips on how to face your fears and overcome social anxiety. She emphasized the importance of being kind to yourself and taking things one step at a time.
She explained how naming your fears can help you overcome them. “If I’m scared of something, if I keep looking at it long enough, it tends to not sort of be the monster under the bed anymore,” Atwell said.
Atwell shared examples of how she has applied this technique in her own life. “Like, if I maybe go up to that person and go, ‘Hi.’ Or I go up to that person and go, ‘I’m really jealous of how amazing you are.’ It tends to just dissipate,” Atwell said.
Seeking Support
Atwell talked about the importance of seeking support from friends, family, and professionals. She shared resources and tips for finding help and building a support network.
Atwell emphasized the importance of being kind to yourself and taking things one step at a time. “If I’m scared of something, if I keep looking at it long enough, it tends to not sort of be the monster under the bed anymore,” Atwell said.
She shared how her friends and family have helped her through tough times. “When I’m scared of something, if I keep looking at it long enough, it tends to not sort of be the monster under the bed anymore,” Atwell said.
Atwell’s next on-screen appearance with Cruise — The Final Reckoning — is set to premiere in theaters on May 23 as Cruise’s eight installment as field agent Ethan Hunt.
Conclusion
Breaking Down the Barriers of Social Anxiety: A New Perspective from Hayley Atwell
In an exclusive interview, actress Hayley Atwell opened up about her experiences with social anxiety, sharing a valuable piece of advice given to her by none other than Hollywood superstar Tom Cruise. According to Atwell, Cruise told her to “keep looking at [her] fear” if she’s scared of something. This seemingly counterintuitive advice may seem daunting at first, but it’s precisely this kind of unconventional thinking that can help individuals overcome their social anxiety. By confronting and acknowledging our fears, we can begin to break down their hold on us.
The significance of Atwell’s story lies in its potential to challenge societal norms around mental health. For too long, social anxiety has been stigmatized, with many individuals feeling too ashamed to seek help or speak out about their struggles. Atwell’s courage in sharing her own experiences and the wisdom of Tom Cruise’s advice serves as a powerful reminder that we don’t have to face our fears alone. By normalizing the conversation around social anxiety, we can create a more supportive environment for those who need it most.
As we move forward, it’s essential to continue exploring innovative ways to address social anxiety. By sharing Atwell’s story and the wisdom of Tom Cruise’s advice, we can spark a national conversation about mental health and encourage more people to seek help. As Hayley Atwell so aptly puts it, by facing our fears head-on, we can unlock a more confident, authentic, and empowered version of ourselves. “The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.”