Hollywood star Tom Cruise was impressed by Korean actor Im Siwan's English skills after learning that the actor only began studying the language around the age of 30.
In a recent video shared by the media outlet Fast Paper, Im Siwan interviewed Tom Cruise in English during the Hollywood actor's visit to South Korea to promote his film Digger.
Throughout their conversation, Im Siwan spoke confidently in English while discussing his acting career, personal ambitions, and interest in filmmaking.
One of the most memorable moments came when Im Siwan revealed that he had spent approximately eight years learning English.
Despite communicating comfortably with the Hollywood star, Im Siwan modestly described his language skills as a work in progress.
“I started learning English when I was around 30 years old. I've been studying for about eight years, so my English isn't that good yet,” he explained.
He continued, “Please understand if I'm still lacking. I still have a lot more to learn.”
However, Tom Cruise appeared impressed by his English and immediately offered encouragement.
“That's amazing. You're really good. Really good,” Cruise responded.
The Hollywood actor also shared his own wish to improve his Korean.
“I want to get better at Korean, too,” he said.
The friendly exchange highlighted Im Siwan's dedication to learning new skills, something he explained was inspired partly by his admiration for Tom Cruise.
During the interview, Im Siwan also opened up about his long-term dream of becoming involved in filmmaking beyond acting.
“I'm really excited to talk about my dream with Tom. My dream is not just to be an actor but to create something myself one day,” he shared.
He explained that he enjoys developing creative ideas and hopes to eventually write or produce his own projects.
“Just thinking about creating something makes me excited. When an idea suddenly comes to mind, I write it down right away,” he said.
Im Siwan also mentioned that watching Tom Cruise's 2017 film American Made inspired him to imagine a similar story set in South Korea.
He wondered what it would be like if the events of the film happened to someone like him in Korea and decided to write down the idea.
The actor also expressed interest in performing action scenes himself, following Cruise's well-known approach to stunt work.
He revealed that he hopes to learn skydiving, possibly in 2027, as part of his preparations for more physically demanding roles.
Im Siwan said he could imagine performing scenes involving skydiving or fighting inside an aircraft in a future project.
His interest in developing these skills reflects his desire to explore new opportunities as both an actor and a potential filmmaker.
The conversation also showed a relaxed and supportive interaction between the two actors, particularly when Cruise praised Im Siwan's efforts to communicate in English.
Although Im Siwan repeatedly emphasized that he still had more to learn, Cruise's enthusiastic response suggested that his language skills had already made a positive impression.
The exchange gained attention for highlighting a different side of Im Siwan, who has built his career as both a singer and an actor.
By revealing that he began learning English in his 30s and continued studying for years, Im Siwan shared an example of his commitment to personal and professional growth.
The interview ended up offering more than a conversation between two actors, drawing attention to Im Siwan's English abilities, his filmmaking ambitions, and Tom Cruise's encouraging reaction.
