Why wasn't Tom Cruise at the Oscars this year? Nicole Kidman drama or staying in an freezing cold igloo

The 95th Academy Awards took place in Hollywood on Sunday night and legendary actor Tom Cruise was notably absent despite the film being nominated for six awards. Was the reason that he wanted to avoid a frosty reception by bumping into his ex-wife Nicole Kidman or was being in a cold igloo a better option? 

The actor, 60, attended the prestigious Oscars luncheon back in February which is usually a key indicator of who will attend the ceremony. Tom and Director Steven Spielberg were seen together at the luncheon embracing each other and prompting the director to say: “you saved Hollywood's a**”

Top Gun: Maverick was nominated for six awards including Best Picture Writing (Adapted Screenplay), Film Editing, Sound, Music (Original Song) and Visual Effects. The sequel to the 80s classic film came home with just one accolade for Best Sound.  

It was a huge night for the film that the actor starred as lead and co-produced so why wasn’t he there? 

Tom wanted to ‘avoid an awkward run-in’ with ex-wife Nicole Kidman, Daily Mail reported. The couple were together for 11 years and went through a bitter divorce in 2001 after the actress allegedly refused to join the Church of Scientology. Nicole attended the Oscars with her husband country singer Keith Urban. 

The exes have managed to keep well away from each other over the past 20 years despite sharing two adopted children Isabella Jane and Conner. Both actors were due to appear on The Late Late Show hosted by James Corden on the same evening but will now appear one day apart. 

Or did the Hollywood icon decide that being in a cold igloo would be a less frosty option than bumping into his ex-wife?

Tom is currently filming the eighth instalment of Mission: Impossible Dead Reckoning part one in the Arctic Circle. The actor and director Chris McQuarrie flew to the North Pole to film scenes for the upcoming blockbuster. 

Tom was also overlooked in the Best Actor category and may have known that he wasn’t going to go home with all six awards so could've been the reason why he avoided the night completely. 

An insider told the Sun: “Tom just knows how these things play out – he’d rather get on with doing what he does best and making amazing movies that millions want to go and see that sit in an audience clapping and smiling for the cameras. He’s seen it all before.”