Nicole Kidman proved to be the perfect ex to Tom Cruise while cherishing everything the star brought to her life.

The entertainment world was shocked in 2001 when Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman announced their divorce. The pair looked perfect, and hardly anybody expected them to split after 10 years of marriage. While separations are not new in Tinseltown, fans were stunned when Kidman spoke highly about Cruise during an interview in 2016.

Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman in Eyes Wide Shut | Credits: Stanley Kubrick Productions

Over the years, we have witnessed certain high-profile separations that have permanently ruined bonds in the industry. But fans worldwide were impressed when Nicole Kidman broke the norm and spoke positively about her ex-husband and cherished the positive moments with him.

Nicole Kidman only has good things to say about Tom Cruise

Nicole Kidman and Tom Cruise in Days of Thunder | Credits: Jerry Bruckheimer Films

Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman first met on the set of the 1990 sports drama, Days of Thunder. The late Tony Scott’s film not only provided a major career boost to Kidman but also made her match with one of the greatest Hollywood stars.

After their marriage in December 1990, Cruise and Kidman looked inseparable. They adopted two children, Isabella Jane and Connor Antony. Although everything seemed to go alright, the couple announced their separation in February 2001. Following that, they did not speak much about their relationship publicly until 2016.

Speaking with PEOPLE‘s Jess Cagle in 2016, Nicole Kidman stated that meeting Tom Cruise was one of her most unforgettable moments in life.

I remember walking in, I remember being so nervous and seeing Tom Cruise drive up in a Porsche, I think it was. He got out of the car and walked through and I was like, ‘Ah.’ My jaw dropped. Then I had to go in and audition in front of Tony Scott. Sweet Tony. [Producers] Don Simpson, Jerry Bruckheimer, Robert Towne and Tom. I was like, ‘No way, I’m not going to get this.’ They called that afternoon and I had the job.

The Aquaman actress was delighted to land the role and the massive success that came with it. But she did not stop there and added that outside the immense fame, Days of Thunder also gave her a beautiful marriage and two “beautiful children.”

Reportedly, Cruise’s relationship with his third wife Katie Holmes did not have a fairytale ending. According to HuffPost, Holmes filed for divorce to save their daughter Suri from Scientology. But unlike the Dawson’s Creek actress, Nicole Kidman did not show any animosity for her ex-husband. She won the fans’ hearts by praising the positive impact of Cruise on her life.

What caused Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman’s marriage to end?

Nicole Kidman in DCEU’s Aquaman | Credits: Warner Bros. Pictures

Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman’s divorce is still discussed extensively among fans, given the fact that they never clarified what led to the split. The 62-year-old Mission Impossible actor cited irreconcilable differences for the divorce but a more concrete explanation was never provided.

Nevertheless, in a 2016 conversation with Red Magazine, Kidman suggested that her young age might be one of the reasons for their split. She cited the example of Taylor Swift and said that she may have rushed things a bit.

I was so young when I got married. I look back now and I’m like, ‘What?’ You look at Taylor Swift, I mean how old is she? She’s 26. I had two kids by the time I was 27 and I’d been married for four years. But that’s what I wanted.

Many also speculated that the infamous Stanley Kubrick film Eyes Wide Shut was a reason for their split. But Kidman stated to The New York Times that they were happily married at that time. Following Tom Cruise, Nicole Kidman married country singer Keith Urban in 2006. According to Today, the duo has been enjoying a strong marital relationship for more than 10 years now.