Tom Cruise we want to hate you ... So why don’t we?

THE couch jumping, the Scientology stuff, the search for a wife — Hollywood A-lister Tom Cruise does himself no favours. So why, asks Siobhan Duck, is he so damn likeable?

Tom Cruise poses with fans at the Sydney premiere of The Mummy. Photo: William West/AFP

HE is the man who jumped on Oprah’s couch to declare his love. Is the global messiah of that strange, secretive Scientology. And has an entourage to audition a bevy of women to be his real-life love interest.

Many seem to hate Tom Cruise for all the wacky things we have heard about him, for me it’s mission impossible.

When I saw him on The Project this week I was struck by Cruise’s laid-back charm.

Watching him cheerfully chat about his Risky Business dance moves with Carrie Bickmore and any memories of his manic performance on Oprah’s couch faded away.

FANS MOB CRUISE AT MUMMY PREMIERE

Tom Cruise jumps on Oprah Winfrey’s couch after proclaiming his love for Katie Holmes in 2005.

When he then appeared on Sunrise and revealed he’s doing Top Gun II, my memory could blot out his much-parodied Scientology instructional video. It was nearly possible to overlook how he walked out on a decade-long marriage to our Nic, for reasons still unknown.

Unlike other famous people whose careers and reputations would be ruined by far less salacious stuff, Cruise just rises above it.

When it comes to being a movie star no one plays the role better than Cruise. He is the perfect cocktail of charisma, ego and mystery.

So, when he arrived on our shores (by private jet with security motorcade) to promote The Mummy, Cruise was at his signature best.

His 35-odd years as an A-lister have not dampened his high-octane energy. When he goes to a premiere he doesn’t slip in the side door, he greets every fan who lines the carpet.

He waves.

He smiles those orthodontically-corrected teeth.

He poses for selfies.

And he does the talk-show circuit with style.

Tom Cruise speaks at a Scientology conference. Photo: Gawker

Sunrise host Sam Armytage snaps a selfie with Tom Cruise.

Cruise explained this week that he insists on doing international movie tours because he remembers being a young fan longing to catch a glimpse of his screen idols.

He wants to give the world the gift of himself. Well, at least the carefully-cultivated side we all know and loved in Jerry Maguire.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying Cruise is a fake. Far from it.

People who’ve worked with him end up being fans. He turns up on time, is eager to work and is always the consummate professional.

I don’t think Cruise is a saint or about to save the world but his genius is that he knows how good he has it. He’s grateful and eager to protect his image.

Or maybe he just thinks we can’t handle the truth.