According to Culture Minister Rachida Dati, the American actor contributed to shining a light on France with the filming in 2017 in Paris of the sixth installment of the “Mission Impossible” saga.
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Culture Minister Rachida Dati announced Saturday on her X account that she has appointed American actor Tom Cruise as Knight of Arts and Letters.
This distinction, created in 1957, is intended to “reward individuals who have distinguished themselves through their creations in the artistic or literary fields or through their contribution to the radiance they have brought to the Arts and Letters in France and around the world”.
The Culture Minister explained in her post that the American actor “beautifully showcased” the city of Paris with the filming of Mission Impossible: Fallout in 2017. She also praised “his passionate defense of cinemas,” which is inspiring according to the minister for “all lovers of the big screen.”
Michel Gomez, cinema delegate for the city of Paris, explained in 2017 on Franceinfo that the filming of the latest installment of the Mission: Impossible saga was a boon for the capital, in terms of finances and employment.
“There were between 35 and 40 million in expenses incurred. For example, more than 7.5 million were spent on catering, so the returns are direct. And let’s not forget the main thing: employment. These are hundreds of technicians who worked for months on this film,” declared Michel Gomez.
Before receiving his prestigious distinction, Tom Cruise took the opportunity to attend the opening ceremony of the 2024 Olympic Games on Friday night. The actor is expected to actively participate in the closing ceremony on August 11 at the Stade de France, according to RMC Sport. This will not be a first for Tom Cruise, who had already carried the flame in Los Angeles in 2004 prior to the Athens Games.
