Does Tom Cruise Have a Relationship With Daughter Suri?

Over a decade has passed since beloved movie star Tom Cruise was last photographed publicly with his daughter Suri. Their apparent estrangement, especially unusual given Cruise‘s devotion to his older children, continues to raise questions among fans and media alike.

So does Tom Cruise actually have any kind of relationship with his youngest daughter Suri today? Let‘s take a deeper look at this complex family situation.

Tom and Suri Were Once Inseparable

Suri Cruise was born in April 2006 during the height of her parents Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes‘ high-profile relationship. Cruise was present in the delivery room for Suri‘s birth.

In Suri‘s early years, Tom appeared to dote on his daughter endlessly. He was captured by paparazzi embracing her lovingly, playing with her frequently, and taking her to interactive father-daughter dates.

Tom openly expressed his love for his little girl in interviews too. "I‘m gonna eat this baby!" Cruise famously exclaimed about infant Suri on a 2006 Access Hollywood appearance.

The Divorce Created Distance Between Tom and Suri

However, Tom‘s bond with Suri changed drastically following his divorce from Katie Holmes in 2012.

Holmes filed for divorce seemingly out of the blue and quickly secured primary custody of 6-year-old Suri. Per their divorce settlement, Cruise was granted visitation rights to see Suri up to 10 days per month.

But shortly after the divorce, Tom‘s visits with Suri ceased suddenly and indefinitely. By 2013, Suri was reportedly living full-time with her mother Holmes in New York City without contact from her father.

Why Has Tom Been Estranged From Suri for Years?

There are a few prevailing theories for why Tom Cruise has been absent from his youngest child‘s life for so long:

• Katie Holmes divorced Tom partly to distance Suri from Scientology. Holmes is believed to have feared Cruise planned to send Suri away to a hardcore Scientology school, though Cruise denies this claim. Holmes‘ divorce filing blindsided Cruise, who did not want the divorce. Their different stances on Scientology is said to be the root cause.

• Tom‘s Scientology beliefs may prevent him from contact. Some ex-Scientologist parents have claimed the Church pressured them to "disconnect" from non-Scientologist children after a divorce. There are rumors the Church may discourage Cruise‘s relationship with Suri for this reason.

• Tom threw himself into work after the emotional divorce. In the years immediately following, Cruise filmed multiple back-to-back movies that required overseas shoots. Being engrossed in projects may have caused him to miss out on opportunities to visit Suri.

Suri Grew Up Without Her Father‘s Influence

Suri is now 16 years old and has grown up nearly exclusively with her mother since she was 6.

While Holmes raised Suri in relative privacy in NYC, paparazzi often captured sweet mother-daughter moments like Holmes walking Suri to school or Suri‘s ballet practices.

But Suri was never seen out with her global superstar father after 2013. She has now gone over a decade without contact from Tom.

According to sources close to the family:

• Suri has a "strained relationship" with Tom and does not see his films.
• Tom has been absent for father-daughter milestones like her first day of school.
• Tom is not involved in Suri‘s college planning as she nears adulthood.

Tom Remains Close with Older Children

While estranged from Suri, Tom Cruise does still appear to have close relationships with his two older children from his marriage to actress Nicole Kidman.

Isabella Jane Cruise, 28, and Connor Cruise, 26, were both adopted by Tom and Nicole during their 11-year marriage. After their divorce in 2001, Tom retained custody of the kids and raised them in his religion of Scientology.

Both Isabella and Connor are active Scientologists living private lives today. Though equally private about his older kids, Tom makes rare public statements expressing his pride and love for them.

There Are Still Hopes for Reconciliation

Given Tom Cruise‘s long absence from Suri‘s life in her most formative years, their relationship will likely remain complicated going forward.

However, I do hold out hope that the devoted father seen in Suri‘s early childhood will one day reconnect with his now teenage daughter.

With Suri nearing adulthood, this period could be an opportune time for Cruise to rebuild his relationship with her if both parties are willing to put in the effort. There may still be a chance for Cruise to walk Suri down the aisle someday.

Suri deserves to have her loving dad by her side again. And Tom deserves an opportunity to watch his baby girl grow into an independent woman. It‘s not too late for this famous father and daughter to find their way back to each other.