Following his erratic behaviour during a 2005 appearance on The Oprah Winfrey Show, Tom Cruise earned a reputation for being somewhat unpredictable during interviews.
But comedian Andy Lee says the Hollywood actor is his favourite celebrity interviewee of all-time.
Speaking with news.com.au on Sunday, the 37-year-old funnyman said he found the Mission: Impossible star extremely friendly, courteous and down-to-earth.
Risky business! Tom Cruise has been revealed as comedian Andy Lee’s all-time favourite celebrity to interview
The pair met for the first time back in 2008, when Tom was promoting his World War II drama, Valkyrie.
Andy told news.com.au that he was nervous prior to meeting the Hollywood heavyweight, with a publicist issuing strict orders not to bring up then-wife Katie Holmes, daughter Suri or the controversial religion Scientology.
But all tensions drifted away as soon as charismatic Tom walked into the room.
Reminiscing: Andy was blown away by Tom’s friendly, courteous and down-to-earth nature
Andy recalled: ‘Door swings open, Tom walks in, he has introduced himself to the sound guy, the producer … and I said ‘I heard there’s a few rules’ and he says ‘Oh, we’ll be fine and, anyway, when are you going to marry Megan (Gale)?’
At the time, Andy was dating supermodel Megan, with Tom clearly having done his research before meeting face-to-face.
Two years later, in 2010, Tom phoned the funnyman for an interview on his Hit 105 radio program.
‘When are you going to marry Megan?’ Tom had done his research on Andy’s personal life (pictured in 2009 with then-girlfriend Megan Gale)
According to Andy, Tom dialed straight through, with the down-to-earth star not bothering to go through his publicity team.
‘I was like ‘Tom, is that you?’ and he goes ‘Andy, is that you? What are you doing taking your own calls?’. And I was like ‘what are you doing making your own calls?’ the comedian fondly reminisced.
The Australian host was also left suitably impressed that Tom remembered the name of his friend who had accompanied him to the Valkyrie interview two years earlier.
‘That was pretty good,’ Andy gushed.
The pair have since met up again for another interview in 2017.
Jumping for joy! Following his erratic behaviour during a 2005 appearance on The Oprah Winfrey Show, Tom earned a reputation for being somewhat unpredictable during interviews