Nicole Kidman’s Cannes snub, as Kate Middleton dazzles at the Top Gun: Maverick premiere

Kate Middleton dazzled in $19k earrings at the premiere of Top Gun: Maverick, as a career retrospective honouring Tom Cruise in Cannes excluded the star’s famous ex-wife.

The Duchess of Cambridge stunned onlookers as she walked the red carpet at the premiere of Top Gun: Maverick in London on Thursday night.

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and Tom Cruise attend the "Top Gun: Maverick" premiere. Picture: WireImage

Joined by Prince William, Kate exuded Hollywood glamour in a monochrome off-the-shoulder Roland Mouret column gown, accessorised with $19k Robinson Pelham diamond star earrings and an Alexander McQueen clutch.

Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and Tom Cruise at the attend "Top Gun: Maverick" premiere in London. Picture: WireImage

Prince William also looked the part, donning a midnight blue Alexander McQueen velvet dinner jacket, paired with tuxedo trousers.

In a nod to the much-awaited iconic film sequel, the Duke’s velvet shoes were embroidered with miniature fighter jets.

Kate Middleton and Tom Cruise walk the red carpet. Picture: WireImage

The royal couple were escorted by the film’s A-list star, Tom Cruise, and introduced to his co-stars, Jennifer Connelly, Jon Hamm and Miles Teller.

Tom Cruise takes Kate Middleton’s hand as they approach a set of stairs. Picture: Getty Images

As they reached a set of stairs, 59-year-old Cruise, offered his hand to Kate, who was all smiles as she accepted his gesture of support.

Kate and Tom appeared to be getting along well, laughing and chatting ahead of the premiere in London’s Leicester Square.

NICOLE KIDMAN'S CANNES SNUB

Nicole Kidman may have been married to Tom Cruise for a decade and appeared alongside him in three successful films, but the Australian star was left on the cutting room floor during a retrospective of the American’s career at Cannes.

In the roughly 10-minute tribute, stills from Days of Thunder where Cruise played a racing car driver and Kidman a neurosurgeon (and where the former couple met), Far and Away, where they played Irish immigrants seeking a new life in America, and Stanley Kubrick’s salacious Eyes Wide Shut were featured, but there was no sign of Kidman.

Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman on Days of Thunder, the film where they met. Picture: Supplied

Interestingly, other Cruise co-stars were on display in the retrospective, which ran both before the Cannes premiere of Top Gun: Maverick and at a special “master class” with the actor.

The montage featured Cruise co-stars Dustin Hoffman (Rain Man) Kirsten Dunst (Interview With the Vampire), Renée Zellweger (Jerry Maguire) and Penelope Cruz (Vanilla Sky).

There was also plenty of stills of Cruise saving the world as Ethan Hunt from various “Mission: Impossible” films.

Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman played a married couple in crisis in Eyes Wide Shut. Picture: Supplied.

While Kidman was not featured in the tribute, Cruise did bring her up during his “master class” session at Cannes. The star was asked a question about an intense scene in Eyes Wide Shut, in which Kidman goes into detail about an extramarital fantasy she had to an unflinching Cruise, the star said, “We worked together to find the tone: [Stanley Kubrick], Nic and I.”

The couple played Irish immigrants in the fairly awful Far and Away. Picture: Supplied

For a decade, Tom and Nicole were Hollywood’s golden couple. Picture: Supplied

CRUISE STORMS CANNES WITH TOP GUN SEQUEL

Cruise was awarded a surprise Palme d’Or on Wednesday local time at the Top Gun: Maverick premiere capping off a big day for the superstar at the Cannes Film Festival.

Prior to receiving the unexpected award, Cruise was lauded via a tribute reel before the film played.

“An incredible evening and an incredible time,” Cruise said to the rapturous crowd.

“Just to see everyone’s faces. It’s been 36 years since Top Gun and we had to hold this for two years because of the pandemic.”

Cruise also gushed about his passion for cinema as he made his first visit in 30 years to the festival for the launch of Top Gun: Maverick.

Tom Cruise receives a Palme d'Or from Cannes Film Festival director Thierry Fremaux ahead of the screening of the film Top Gun: Maverick. Picture: AFP

The sequel to Cruise’s superstar-making 1986 blockbuster was supposed to premiere at the French Riviera film festival back in 2020 before it was cancelled by the Covid pandemic and the film’s release saw multiple delays.

But speaking to an audience in Cannes ahead of the screening, Cruise was adamant it was worth waiting for cinemas to be back in full swing for the film’s release.

Asked if he had considered releasing it via a streaming platform during the pandemic, he said: “That was not going to happen, ever.

Tom Cruise with Jennifer Connelly who plays his love interest in Top Gun: Maverick. Picture: Getty Images

“I make movies for the big screen. Cinema is my love, my passion. I always go to movies when they come out. I’ll put my cap on and sit in the audience with everyone.”

He then turned his attention back to the festival and his love for cinema. “Thank you for this time,” he said. “I make these movies for all of you.”

In a huge surprise, Cruise was ten awarded the prestigious Palme d’Or by festival director Thierry Fremaux. Cruise, looking speechless, accepted with a “Wow,”

As crowds packed the Croisette begging for a ticket to the Top Gun screening, the high-octane premiere also featured eight fighter jets zooming above the event, expelling smoke in red and blue to match the colours of the French flag.

Tom Cruise received a rapturous reception in Cannes. Picture: Getty Images

Tom Cruise brought his megawatt smile to Cannes. Picture: Getty Images

Cruise has been by far the biggest draw of the festival, receiving a rock star reception from critics and fans alike. With traditional movie stars on the wane in recent years, Cruise brought back some old fashioned Hollywood star power.

Meanwhile, Cruise’s fight is to boost cinemas as they struggle to emerge from the pandemic.

His 39 films as a lead actor have pulled in more than $A12 billion worldwide, and Box Office Pro estimates Top Gun: Maverick could add another $A560 million in the United States alone.

Tom Cruise with his co-stars, Miles Teller, Glen Powell, Jennifer Connelly and Jon Hamm. Picture: Getty Images

Critics have been mostly giddy in their reviews, with Empire magazine praising its “slick visuals, crew camaraderie, thrilling aerial action, a surprising emotional wallop and, in Tom Cruise, a magnetic movie-star performance as comforting as an old leather jacket”.

“In the history of cinema … (Cruise) has one of the highest success rates,” festival director Thierry Fremaux said.

“This is someone that we haven’t seen on streaming platforms, TV series, or doing adverts … He is someone who is devoted to cinema.”

The film also stars Jennifer Connelly, Miles Teller, Jon Hamm and Val Kilmer reprising his role as Maverick’s arch-nemesis, Iceman.

– with AFP