Steven Spielberg Reveals What It’s “Really” Like Working with Tom Cruise — and the Unusual Thing the Actor Does on Set

Steven Spielberg revealed what it was like working with actor Tom Cruise on multiple movie projects

NEED TO KNOW

• Spielberg described Cruise as highly collaborative and deeply committed to the filmmaking process

• Spielberg, 79, directed Cruise, 63, in 2002's Minority Report and 2005's War of the Worlds

Steven Spielbergrevealed what it's like working with actorTom Cruise.

Spielberg, 79, who directed Cruise in 2002'sMinority Reportand 2005'sWar of the Worlds, recalled the experiences while speaking at a keynote event at the SXSW Festival in Austin, Texas.

During his conversation with panel host Sean Fennessey, the director shared that Cruise, 63, showed up to set every morning before the crew.

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"Tom Cruise showed up every morning when I showed up," Spielberg said. "I show up before the crew. So I get to the set sometimes at 6:30 in the morning."

"OnMinority Reportand onWar of the Worlds, Tom would insist on getting there when I got there so we would map out the whole day … which was really helpful for me," he continued, adding that it was a verycollaborative process.

Cruise has long been known for going above and beyond for his work. In an exclusive interview with PEOPLE in May 2025, the actor said that he is constantly expanding his abilities and knowledge base, because he knows it will ultimately make him better at his craft.

"I will learn a skill, and I know eventually I'm going to use it in a movie," he said.

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He added that he is "constantly training" in a variety of skills, "whether it's the piano or having more time to dance, or parachuting orflying airplanes or helicopters. The wonderful thing is you're never there. It can always be better."

"Anytime you see Tom in the plane, he's at the controls,"Christopher McQuarrie, the director of multipleMission: Impossiblefilms, told PEOPLE at the time. "He's basically a one-man film crew: operating the camera, acting and flying."

Cruise, who co-produced 2022'sTop Gun: Maverick, even personally designed a training program for his younger costars in the film.

"We put them through a training course that Tom actually designed himself. He's a licensed aerobatic pilot, and he was thrown into the deep end when he did the firstTop Gunwithout any training. So he knew that they would need to kind of work up to that level," the film's director, Joseph Kosinski, toldEntertainment Weeklyin a 2020 interview.

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Glen Powell, who appeared in the movie as one of the franchise's new young fighter pilots, echoed the sentiments,telling PEOPLE at the timethat, "Tom's as great as people think he is."

"He's as nice, he's as hardworking, he's as generous, he's as available. He's the man," Powell, 37, added.

Read the original article onPeople

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March 23, 2026

Steven Spielberg Reveals What It’s “Really” Like Working with Tom Cruise — and the Unusual Thing the Actor Does on Set

Steven Spielberg revealed what it was like working with actor Tom Cruise on multiple movie projects NEED TO KNO...

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Trial opens over Greek train crash that killed 57, many of them students

LARISSA, Greece (AP) — A criminal trial opened in Greece Monday over a train collision that killed 57 people, many of them students, in a disaster that horrified the country and revealed long-neglected safety failures.

Greece Rail Disaster Trial

The February 2023 crash triggered a fireball on impact and left passengers trapped in mangled rail cars.

Most of the 36 defendants — all rail and transport officials — face serious charges linked to endangering public transport.

The crash occurred at Tempe in northern Greece after a passenger train was placed on the wrong track, into the path of an oncoming freight train — an astonishing lapse on a rudimentary rail network.

Investigators say the error was compounded by non-functioning signal systems along with failures in staffing, oversight and maintenance during years of delays in safety upgrades.

A converted campus is being used to house the trial to accommodate the scale of the proceedings that involve hundreds of witnesses. It is expected to last two years.

Riot police formed a cordon around the court as several hundred demonstrators gathered outside and victims' relatives, many dressed in black, arrived to attend the hearings.

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"Real justice would be to get our kids back. But what we are asking for now is the exemplary punishment of those responsible," said Pavlos Aslanidis, whose 27-year-old son Dimitris was killed in the crash. "It is very sad that three years later, no one has gone to jail.

The defendants include station masters on duty that night, their supervisor, former rail officials, senior transport ministry staff and former executives from the Italian-owned operator Hellenic Train.

Victims' families, many of whom have campaigned for accountability, are expected to attend throughout.

The disaster has remained a deeply emotive and politically charged issue, sparking multiple public protests and strikes, with critics accusing the conservative government of shifting all responsibility onto rail officials.

At a makeshift memorial outside parliament in Athens, the victims' names are written in red paint and surrounded by candles and flowers.

Several separate legal cases linked to the disaster are in progress, including a parliament-sanctioned probe into political accountability.

Kantouris reported from Tempe, Greece

byCosmopolite

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March 23, 2026

Trial opens over Greek train crash that killed 57, many of them students

LARISSA, Greece (AP) — A criminal trial opened in Greece Monday over a train collision that killed 57 people, many of the...

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Illinois, the youngest team in Women's NCAA tournament, proving age is just a number

NASHVILLE, TN — No team in theWomen's NCAA Tournamentis younger thanNo. 7 seed Illinois. Twelve of the 15 players on their roster are underclassmen. And the average age of the team is under 20.

TheFighting Illini roster, with only two players –Gretchen DolanandGisela Segura– over the age of 21, faced concerns about inexperience at the start of the season. For a program still working to establish itself, that youth only added more uncertainty. Now, the Illini are fully embracing that identity as a key part of their success. It may even be their biggest strength.

"We're the youngest team in the NCAA tournament … at first I was like, we're not going to talk about youth," coach Shauna Green said. "Then I'm like, we are what we are … let's use it as more fuel."

WHO'S IN WOMEN's SWEET 16:Updated NCAA Tournament bracket, schedule

Players to watch in 2026 women's NCAA basketball tournament

After coming off back-to-back losing seasons just a few years ago, the program has seen a quick turnaround under head coach Shauna Green. Illinois posted a 22-10 record in her first full season and won the 2024 WBIT championship. Now, they're in the second round of the NCAA Tournament, preparing to challengeNo. 2 seed Vanderbilton the Commodores' home court.

Pulling off the upset in a tough atmosphere will require the young team to show composure. Fortunately for them, tight games earlier in the season have translated into experience.

"We've had a lot of close games this season," freshman guardCearah Parchmentsaid. "That experience helped us now … we didn't make the mistakes we were making a month ago."

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With few traditional seasoned vets on this team, leadership has looked a little different this season.

JuniorJasmine Brown-Hagger, one of the few upperclassmen on the roster and someone players in the locker room refer to as a team captain, shares the same outlook that has defined this team all season: Age is just a number.

"I feel like a lot of people underestimate us just because of [our youth]. But we know what we're capable of," Brown-Hagger said. "At the end of the day, it's basketball. And there's no age to basketball."

What once looked like inexperience for a rebuilding program has turned into confidence. For Illinois, that growth is already paying off. The Illini have successfully solidified their place in the NCAA Tournament as a young, talented group that isn't just building for the future, but beginning to arrive now.

Another opportunity for this young team to prove it belongs arrives Monday, March 23. It's a chance to take another step in the program's rise while pursuing their first Sweet 16 appearance since 1998 … four years before their oldest player was born.

Katielee Smith is a student in the University of Georgia's Carmical Sports Media Institute.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Illinois women's basketball proving it belongs in NCAA Tournament

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March 23, 2026

Illinois, the youngest team in Women's NCAA tournament, proving age is just a number

NASHVILLE, TN — No team in theWomen's NCAA Tournamentis younger thanNo. 7 seed Illinois. Twelve of the 15 players on ...

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Carlos Alcaraz loses to Sebastian Korda in the third round of the Miami Open

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Carlos Alcaraz was eliminated in the third round of the Miami Open on Sunday, losing to Sebastian Korda in three sets.

The 22-year-old Alcaraz, who completed the career Grand Slam when he won theAustralian Openin January, dropped to 17-2 this season. The No. 1 player in the men's rankings also lost to Daniil Medvedev in the semifinals atIndian Wellslast weekend.

Korda served for the match at 5-4 in the second, but Alcaraz rallied by winning five consecutive games. The 25-year-old Korda then regrouped and closed out a 6-3, 5-7, 6-4 victory in two hours, 19 minutes.

"It was a tough match, obviously," Alcaraz said. "I think (Korda) was incredible today. Played such a great game. A lot of tied moments that I just didn't make the most of it, and I think he was better on (those) points and (those) moments."

At No. 36, Korda became the lowest-ranked man to beat Alcaraz since No. 55 David Goffin accomplished the feat in the second round in Miami last year, according to the ATP Tour.

"A lot of tense moments, for sure," Korda said. "But you know I think today, the ultimate thing was belief. Going back to just believing, committing into every shot, and luckily I got it done at the end."

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Next up for Korda is qualifier Martin Landaluce, who advanced with a 6-3, 7-6 (2) win against 14th-seeded Karen Khachanov.

Americans Taylor Fritz and Tommy Paul joined Korda in the fourth round. The sixth-seeded Fritz beat Reilly Opelka 6-3, 6-4, and No. 22 seed Paul eliminated Raphael Collignon with a 6-2, 3-6, 7-6 (5) victory.

No. 21 Jiri Lehecka, No. 24 Valentin Vacherot and No. 29 Tomas Martin Etcheverry also were among the winners.

On the women's side, top-seeded Aryna Sabalenka cruised to a 6-4, 6-2 win against Catherine McNally. No. 3 Elena Rybakina beat No. 27 Marta Kostyuk 6-3, 6-4, and No. 5 Jessica Pegula posted a 6-2, 6-2 win over No. 26 Leylah Fernandez.

No. 7 Jasmine Paolini, No. 9 Elina Svitolina, No. 11 Ekaterina Alexandrova, No. 15 Madison Keys and No. 18 Iva Jovic were eliminated. Paolini lost to No. 25 Jelena Ostapenko in three sets, and Svitolina was knocked out by Hailey Baptiste in straight sets.

AP tennis:https://apnews.com/hub/tennis

byCosmopolite

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March 23, 2026

Carlos Alcaraz loses to Sebastian Korda in the third round of the Miami Open

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Carlos Alcaraz was eliminated in the third round of the Miami Open on Sunday, losing to Sebast...

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Tyler Reddick joins elite group with Goodyear 400 victory in Darlington

The Lady in Black is one of the toughest tracks to tame on the Cup Series calendar.

Looks like someone forgot to tell Tyler Reddick.

The 23XI Racing driver overcame multiple issues during the middle of the Goodyear 400 to earn his fourth win in the first six races of the 2026NASCAR Cup Seriesseason, this one by five seconds.

"Ever since I made my first lap here in an O'Reilly Auto Parts car, there's just something about this racetrack that's so special, just so challenging," Reddick said. "It's been really fun for my evolution as a driver over the years."

NASCAR TRUCKS:Driver Daniel Dye suspended for David Malukas comments

Reddick started from pole position but struggled with alternator issues during the first half of the race. The No. 45 crew had to change his battery during Stage 2 to keep him going.

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If that wasn't enough, Reddick had issues with his cool suit shortly after due to the battery change. He had to get the water out of his suit during a caution period as it was too hot to serve its original purpose. He had to improvise with a bag of ice.

"All day long not running fans, sweating my tail off inside the race car and we knew it was going to be physical," Reddick said. "Really wore out but I guess I don't need as much of that cooling stuff as I normally have."

Reddick becomes just the third driver in Cup Series history to win four of the first six races of a season, joining NASCAR Hall of Fame drivers Dale Earnhardt and Bill Elliott.

"I know never to give up," he said. "I think it's very fitting that when we finally get our first win in Darlington that the Lady in Black would test us like that."

Here's an extended look at how Reddick won – and the final results from the Goodyear 400:

See victory lane celebrations with 2026 NASCAR race winners

NASCAR Cup Series race at Darlington highlights

NASCAR Cup race at Darlington: Full results

Here's how the field finished the Goodyear 400:

1. (45) Tyler Reddick, 23XI Racing Toyota

2. (6) Brad Keselowski, RFK Racing Ford

3. (12) Ryan Blaney, Team Penske Ford

4. (77) Carson Hocevar, Spire Motorsports Chevrolet

5. (2) Austin Cindric, Team Penske Ford

6. (54) Ty Gibbs, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

7. (7) Daniel Suarez, Spire Motorsports Chevrolet

8. (24) William Byron, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

9. (17) Chris Buescher, RFK Racing Ford

10. (43) Erik Jones, Legacy Motor Club Toyota

11. (11) Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

12. (19) Chase Briscoe, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

13. (60) Ryan Preece, RFK Racing Ford

14. (97) Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

15. (9) Chase Elliott, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

16. (1) Ross Chastain, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

17. (21) Josh Berry, Wood Brothers Racing Ford

18. (88) Connor Zilisch, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

19. (20) Christopher Bell, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

20. (71) Michael McDowell, Spire Motorsports Chevrolet

21. (8) Kyle Busch, Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet

22. (38) Zane Smith, Front Row Motorsports Ford

23. (34) Todd Gilliland, Front Row Motorsports Ford

24. (48) Justin Allgaier, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

25. (3) Austin Dillon, Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet

26. (4) Noah Gragson, Front Row Motorsports Ford

27. (42) John Hunter Nemechek, Legacy Motor Club Toyota

28. (41) Cole Custer, Haas Factory Team Chevrolet

29. (47) Ricky Stenhouse Jr., HYAK Motorsports Chevrolet

30. (16) AJ Allmendinger, Kaulig Racing Chevrolet

31. (10) Ty Dillon, Kaulig Racing Chevrolet

32. (5) Kyle Larson, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

33. (22) Joey Logano, Team Penske Ford

34. (23) Bubba Wallace, 23XI Racing Toyota

35. (35) Riley Herbst, 23XI Racing Toyota

36. (51) Cody Ware, Rick Ware Racing Chevrolet

37. (66) Timmy Hill, Garage 66 Ford

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Tyler Reddick conquers Darlington in Goodyear 400: 'So special'

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March 23, 2026

Tyler Reddick joins elite group with Goodyear 400 victory in Darlington

The Lady in Black is one of the toughest tracks to tame on the Cup Series calendar. Looks like someone forgot t...

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Hailey Bieber’s Rogue Season Bikini Look Brings the Summer Heat

Hailey Bieberis a proper fashion icon who loves to go above and beyond to serve fashion perfection with whatever she chooses to wear. Not surprisingly, her fashion game once again went the extra mile to remind everyone why she owns off-duty glam. In her latest photo, she slipped into a striking blue bikini from Rogue Season, and the simplicity of the look is exactly what makes it hit. It legit helped her flaunt her enviable curves to pure perfection.

Hailey Bieber poses in Rogue Season's Academy bikini in new photo

For this look, Hailey Bieber opted for the blue-colored Academy top worth AU$ 64.99, which looked incomparable on her. With sleek and bright yellow straps and a contrasting blue interior, this went extremely well with her complexion. It hugged her curves, helping the diva flaunt them. Even the deep neckline worked beautifully for her.

Furthermore, this was paired with the matching blue-colored Academy bikini bottoms worth AU$ 64.99. They undoubtedly tied the look together seamlessly. Shot in warm, natural lighting, the photo leaned into a soft, almost candid aesthetic, which made quite a spectacle for her ardent fans and followers.

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In fact. With minimal styling, glowing skin, and just enough attitude, Bieber managed to make these photos unforgettable. Frankly, this is the kind of look that doesn't try too hard, and still, it manages to dominate your feed and leave quite a mark. For this look, Bieber managed to show off her flawless complexion and natural beauty. She also managed to accentuate her lips and cheeks with some pink blush and a touch of pink lip shade with a bit of gloss.

Originally written by Mahek Walia onthefashionSpot.

The postHailey Bieber's Rogue Season Bikini Look Brings the Summer Heatappeared first onReality Tea.

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March 23, 2026

Hailey Bieber’s Rogue Season Bikini Look Brings the Summer Heat

Hailey Bieberis a proper fashion icon who loves to go above and beyond to serve fashion perfection with whatever she chooses to wear. Not s...

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Amanda Peet Reveals She Was Diagnosed with Breast Cancer While Both of Her Parents Were in Hospice

Amanda Peet revealed in an open essay on Saturday, March 21, that she was diagnosed with stage 1 breast cancer in the fall of 2025

NEED TO KNOW

• Her diagnosis came during a difficult time, as both her parents were in separate hospices battling illnesses

• Peet underwent a lumpectomy and radiation and shared she had her first clear scan in January

Amanda Peethas revealed she was diagnosed with stage 1 breast cancer.

In an essay published byThe New Yorkeron Saturday, March 21, the actress, 54, said that she was diagnosed with breast cancer in the fall of 2025, around the same tragic time her parents were dying in separate hospices.

Peet explained that she'd been told "for many years" that her breasts "require extra monitoring" and she "had been seeing a breast surgeon every six months for checkups," before finding out her diagnosis six months ago.

"The Friday before Labor Day, I went for what I thought would be a routine scan. Dr. K. … told me that she didn't like the way something looked on the ultrasound and wanted to perform a biopsy," she said. "After the procedure, she said that she would walk the sample over to Cedars-Sinai and hand-deliver it to Pathology. That's when I knew."

Peet said that a "small" tumor was found in her breast and she had to have an MRI to "determine the extent of the disease."

TheYour Friends & Neighborsstar explained that during this time, both her parents were ill in hospices "on opposite coasts." After her first round of tests, Peet's father took a turn and she flew to New York to be with him. Unfortunately, she did not arrive before he died.

When she returned to Los Angeles, Peet said that she received a phone call from her doctor, telling her that her breast cancer was "HER2-negative."

HER2-negative breast cancer is when cancerous cells in the breast don't contain high levels of the protein human epidermal growth factor 2 (HER2), which fuels cancer growth, according toMayo Clinic.

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"You'd think that I had just taken Ecstasy. I was happier than I'd been pre-diagnosis…," recalled Peet. "But after about 10 minutes, I remembered that I still needed the MRI and regressed to baseline terror. Dr. K. said that the radiologist would check my lymph nodes, as well as 'the left side for any surprise findings' .... It was dawning on me that cancer diagnoses come in a slow drip."

Peet said that the radiologist "didn't see evidence of lymph-node involvement," however, a "second mass" was found in the same breast and more tests were carried out to examine the cells.

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE's free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Peet said that the results showed that the second mass was "benign" and that she had stage I breast cancer, which required "a lumpectomy and radiation, not a double mastectomy or chemotherapy."

Once she found out her second tumor was benign, Peter and her husband, David Benioff, decided to tell their older daughters Frances and Molly June.

"My therapist said that I didn't have to appear strong or unfazed or have definitive answers," Peet said of telling her eldest children. "She said that I'd be surprised by how much children can step up and that calling for all hands on deck can make them feel useful. Molly cried, and Frankie — FaceTiming from her college quad — clapped her hand over her mouth and kept it there until she was able to process the excellent portion of the news: that it appeared I was stage I and wasn't going to need chemo."

Peet and Benioff are also parents to son Henry.

After lots of nerves and fear, Peet shared that she had her "first clear scan" in mid-January. Days later, her mother, who suffered from Parkinson's disease, died in the hospice.

Read the original article onPeople

byCosmopolite

in

March 23, 2026

Amanda Peet Reveals She Was Diagnosed with Breast Cancer While Both of Her Parents Were in Hospice

Amanda Peet revealed in an open essay on Saturday, March 21, that she was diagnosed with stage 1 breast cancer in the fal...

Read More