Tom Cruise, at 62 years old, is known as Hollywood’s most sought-after and famous actor. On the other hand, Ana de Armas, a Cuban actress 25 years younger, is making her mark in the industry, albeit on a smaller scale.

Their relationship may have seemed unlikely at first, but as it progressed, Tom Cruise and Ana de Armas found themselves immersed in a romance that took them around the world. However, challenges have surfaced for the couple, even though their love story is still in its early stages.

The major roadblock? Their opposing beliefs.

In the glitzy world of Hollywood, it is widely known that Tom Cruise, renowned for his roles in major film series like Top Gun and Mission: Impossible, holds a prominent position within the Church of Scientology. Despite its controversial nature, Cruise remains a devoted member of this organization, a fact that is no secret among industry insiders.

De Armas, on the other hand, was raised in a devout Catholic family back home in Cuba, learning Christian values that she keeps to this day.

That said, from an intimate dinner date on Valentine’s Day this year, to jet setting between London and Madrid, and even narrowly escaping swarms of paparazzi outside David Beckham’s 50th birthday bash on Saturday, the couple are clearly willing to give their budding romance a chance.

Cuban-Spanish actress Ana de Armas, 37, was recently spotted arriving at a London heliport with rumored boyfriend Tom Cruise

Tom, 62, reportedly whisked Ana away to Madrid for her birthday, before touching down in London ahead of David Beckham’s 50th birthday bash

The outing marked the latest in a string of public appearances for the rumored couple, who have been linked since February 2025

But, if they continue to sweep the religion issue under the rug, it will only be a matter of time before her friends and family decide to intervene, sources say.

‘Ana is enamored by Tom but her friends are torn, and her family have concerns too,’ an insider exclusively told the Daily Mail, before stressing: ‘His Scientologist beliefs are not a deal breaker for Ana. She knows her family wouldn’t approve, but she is her own woman.’

Before she made it big as a Bond girl, the 37-year-old actress was desperate to leave her family’s tatty breeze-block apartment building on a rubble-strewn street in Cuba.

Her mother, also named Ana, worked in human resources while her father, Ramon, had various jobs as a bank manager, teacher, school principal, and deputy mayor of a town.

As a teenager, Ana fled the humble flat in the distillery town of Santa Cruz del Norte – an hour’s drive east of the capital, Havana – to follow her seemingly impossible dream of escaping Cuba’s suffering economy through acting.

Ana enrolled at the Escuela Nacional de Teatro, the national theatre school, in 2002 when she was 14. But she quit before completing the course after landing her first acting role in a Spanish television series, El Internado.

Even Ana herself has acknowledged that her success only came because she made the decision to leave her home country and live with her Spanish grandparents in Madrid. 

However, sources exclusively tell the Daily Mail that Ana’s family and friends ‘have concerns’ about their relationship – particularly Tom’s connection to the Church of Scientology

‘My grandparents were Spanish, so I had a dual passport – it was the only way I had to get out,’ she recalled to Vanity Fair in 2016. 

‘My childhood memories are amazing, I had freedom in every way, but I see everything from a different perspective now that I live outside.’

She eventually made her acting debut in 2006’s Spanish film, Una rosa de Francia, before making the successful crossover to Hollywood with a turn of films like 2015’s Knock Knock and 2017’s Blade Runner 2049.

The 2019 whodunnit film Knives Out marked her breakthrough Hollywood role, ultimately opening the door for a slew of box office hits including No Time to Die and Blonde – the latter of which earned her an Academy Award nomination for best actress for her portrayal of Marilyn Monroe.

Such an impressive resume has surely sparked a sense of pride for her otherwise humble family back home in Cuba. 

Although she fled her native country at the fresh age of 18, she remains close to her loved ones today; her mother still lives in Cuba while her father died in early 2020. 

Ana also has an artist brother, Javier, who lives in New York.

Despite her laundry list of controversial exes (she received massive backlash for her recent relationship with Manuel Anido Cuesta, the stepson of Cuba’s president), Tom and his unconventional beliefs has left Ana concerned that her family won’t accept him.

‘Ana was raised in a devout Catholic Church in Cuba and her family are religious,’ the source continued. 

‘She knows that her family would not accept Tom because of his beliefs. Ana and Tom have discussed this.’

In April, her new beau whisked her away to Madrid. Then last weekend, they were spotted disembarking from Tom’s helicopter at an airport in London in exclusive photos obtained by the Daily Mail.

The pair later danced the night away at David’s star-studded 50th birthday bash at Notting Hill’s Core restaurant on Saturday night.

Though the couple made an effort to hide their relationship, as Tom arrived solo, they were seen leaving the venue together in the early hours shielded by umbrellas before ducking behind the car seats as they sat together in the back of the vehicle.

‘They are spending so much of their time together and Tom has feelings for her. She is Tom’s type,’ the source added.

They look set to spend even more time together later this month, with Daily Mail previously revealing Tom’s plans to take the starlet as his date to the 78th Cannes Film Festival.

His new movie Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning is slated for a star-studded premiere on May 14 at the Grand Théâtre Lumière, but it is not yet clear if they will walk the red carpet together.

The couple were back again in April, touching down after a brief getaway to Ana’s former home of Madrid, Spain

Ana and Tom tried their best to hide as they were spotted leaving David Beckham’s 50th birthday party at Notting Hill’s Core restaurant on Saturday night

As for the couple’s plans for the distant future, their 26-year age gap may prove to pose an even bigger roadblock for the pair than just their religious beliefs.

When the actress called it quits with ex-boyfriend Ben Affleck back in January 2021, a source told Page Six that Ana dumped the father-of-three because ‘he would not commit to having more kids’ – something that she considers to be a deal breaker.

Yet if Ana is looking to start a family, she might not find what she’s after with 62-year-old father-of-three Tom. 

After all, he’s known for his complicated relationship with his estranged daughter Suri, whom he shares with ex-wife Katie Holmes.

Suri was just six years old when her parents’ marriage fell apart in 2012. The actor was previously married to actress Mimi Rogers from 1987 to 1990, before tying the knot with Nicole Kidman that same year. They split in 2001.

There was much fevered fascination over the role that Tom’s devotion to Scientology had played in the dissolution of his marriage to Katie, and soon followed questions concerning whether Suri would continue to follow Tom’s faith.

However, those questions were answered when Katie was awarded sole custody of their daughter… and made it glaringly apparent that she had no plans to allow Suri to be caught up in the world of Scientology.

Since then, the movie star has all but been exiled from his youngest child’s life for over a decade. 

Last year, the teen dropped her estranged father’s famous surname and adopted the moniker Suri Noelle, a tribute to her mother’s middle name.

Indeed, Tom’s controversial past would make any potential lover raise a red flag. 

But as the insider revealed to the Daily Mail, those closest to Ana ‘would not be surprised if she took up Scientology’ if it meant continuing a relationship with Tom.

Only time will tell if the unlikely pairing goes the distance, in turn proving to naysayers that love really does conquer all.