Dakota Fanning's connection with the gifted shoes goes beyond fashion; they carry deep sentimental meaning for her. On the Today show, Fanning revealed that Tom Cruise has sent her shoes every birthday for over twenty years. This special tradition began when she was just 12 years old, marking the start of a lasting friendship.
The tradition started during the filming of the sci-fi movie War of the Worlds in 2005, directed by Steven Spielberg. Fanning, who portrayed Cruise's daughter in the film, had already shown a strong passion for shoes as a child.
"I loved shoes, and I just had started fitting into adult-sized shoes, and so I was really excited about it," Fanning explained.
This enthusiasm caught Cruise's attention, leading him to surprise her with a pair of shoes for her 12th birthday. This marked the beginning of an annual ritual full of warmth and thoughtfulness.
Fanning has cherished each gift over the years, highlighting the genuine care behind the gesture. Their friendship, symbolized through these shoe gifts, has endured well beyond their film collaboration.
On her recent Today show appearance, Fanning confirmed that Cruise still sends her beautiful shoes every year, maintaining this unique and heartfelt bond.
"Tom Cruise continues to send me shoes each year," she shared.
Author's summary: The long-standing tradition of Tom Cruise gifting shoes to Dakota Fanning each birthday reveals a touching and enduring friendship that began on a film set in 2005.