The 62-year-old Hollywood icon, known for his unforgettable stunt work—including clinging to the side of a military plane in the opening of Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation—has performed countless breathtaking aerial scenes in his role as IMF agent Ethan Hunt. Cruise recently shared that he needs a substantial energy boost before taking on such feats. His pre-stunt meal often includes nearly a dozen eggs, sausages, bacon, toast, and several cups of coffee to get him ready before filming begins.

Speaking to People magazine for their Mission: Impossible issue, he said, “I actually eat a massive breakfast. The energy required is intense—I train hard for wing-walking. I’ll eat sausage, almost a dozen eggs, bacon, toast, coffee, and fluids. I’m definitely eating! Imagine: it’s freezing, we’re at a high altitude, and my body is burning through energy fast.”

Although Cruise once called the Rogue Nation opening scene one of the riskiest stunts he’s done, his late mother Mary Pfeiffer was relieved she didn’t know about it beforehand. "Oh, honey, I'm so glad you didn't fill me in on that one beforehand," she reportedly told him after seeing it. In the upcoming eighth installment of the acclaimed series, Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, which hits theaters in May, Cruise endured an intense experience inside a tank designed to mimic a spinning submarine. Wearing a scuba mask, he ended up inhaling some of his own carbon dioxide. However, thanks to flight training he underwent in 1994, he was well-prepared to handle such situations.

The Oscar-nominated actor explained, “You lose that sense of connection to the character if I’m just using a standard breathing mask with a tube. Fortunately, flying jets teaches you to handle hypoxia and CO₂ buildup. You learn to monitor how your body reacts, so I knew when to stop.” Inspired as a child by wing-walking footage, Cruise says performing stunts is more than just part of his job—it’s part of who he is. “I love making movies. It’s not just what I do. It’s who I am.”