Cruise's car terror

Showbiz

09:30 01 May 2006

Tom Cruise narrowly escaped serious injury after being hit by a car.

The star, who is engaged to 'Dawson's Creek' actress Katie Holmes, insisted on doing all his own stunts for 'Mission: Impossible III' - even when it involved him smashing into a car.

He said: "I literally had to run towards the camera and then this ratchet jerks me into the car. It was like playing American Football and knowing you are going to get stuffed.'

Tom, who celebrated the birth of his daughter, Suri, last week, was lucky to emerge unscathed from the accident - and even claims the car came off worse in the smash.

The actor explained to Britain's Arena magazine: "I had to be ready for the hit. I actually dented the side of the car. I wanted it to look real and to make the audience watching it to believe it happened.'

(C) BANG Media International