Our Bureau
Mumbai
Hollywood star Tom Cruise has revealed that a demanding 10-minute monologue filmed in a single continuous take is among his favourite scenes from Digger, during a conversation with Indian actor Avneet Kaur. Cruise described the sequence as a carefully choreographed “dance” involving the actor, camera and director Alejandro González Iñárritu.
Kaur, who attended the world premiere of Digger in London on September 23, shared a video of her interaction with Cruise on Instagram. The two discussed his unusual character and the challenges involved in bringing the film to life.
Cruise plays Digger Rockwell, a powerful and narcissistic oil baron in Iñárritu’s dark political comedy. Speaking about the film, Cruise said he had never encountered a character like Digger and praised the creative process behind the project.
Asked by Kaur about his favourite scene, Cruise pointed to the 10-minute monologue, which was filmed entirely in one shot. He explained that the performance depended on rhythm, precise timing and understanding the character’s emotional beats. He also credited Iñárritu’s staging for helping the sequence come together.
Kaur expressed surprise at the intensity of the performance, suggesting that Cruise must have developed a deep connection with the character to sustain the scene. Cruise said the sequence was performed only a few times and required him to manage both the character’s voice and comedic timing while wearing a heavy fat suit.
He described the experience as an opportunity to explore the character’s transformation and said the unusual role was particularly enjoyable to perform.
Directed by Iñárritu, Digger also stars Sandra Hüller, John Goodman, Michael Stuhlbarg, Riz Ahmed and Jesse Plemons. The film follows Digger, an oil magnate who attempts to present himself as humanity’s saviour as an environmental disaster linked to him threatens to unravel his world. The film was released in Indian theatres on October 2.