In a charming display of enduring Hollywood friendship, actress Dakota Fanning revealed that her former co-star, Tom Cruise, has upheld a unique birthday tradition for two decades: sending her a pair of “really nice shoes” every single year.1
Fanning, who recently turned 31, shared this surprising fact during her appearance on the Bravo talk show Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen on Thursday, November 6, 2025, while promoting her new Peacock series, All Her Fault. When host Andy Cohen asked if the tradition was still active 20 years after their blockbuster collaboration, Fanning confirmed: “Yes, he does.2 Really nice shoes, yes.”
The Genesis of the Shoe Tradition
The heartwarming annual gift-giving dates back to when Fanning was just a child actor, having starred alongside Cruise in the 2005 science-fiction film, War of the Worlds.3 Directed by the legendary Steven Spielberg and adapted from H.G. Wells’ classic novel, the film saw Cruise play Ray Ferrier, a divorced father attempting to protect his daughter, Rachel Ferrier (Fanning), from a devastating alien invasion.4
The tradition officially began during the production of the film. For Fanning’s 11th birthday, Cruise gave her a gift that was a hallmark of the mid-2000s: her very first cell phone, a Motorola Razr.5 Fanning later noted that the gift-giving started that year and has continued annually ever since, evolving into the shoe tradition.6 She explained that Cruise has even “adapted” to her changing shoe size over the years.7
Notable Data on War of the Worlds
The collaboration that sparked this two-decade friendship was a massive commercial success for both stars and Director Steven Spielberg.8
| Metric | Data | Contextual Note |
| Worldwide Box Office | $603.9 million | The film was the fourth highest-grossing movie globally in 2005. |
| Domestic Box Office | $234.3 million | It remained Tom Cruise’s highest-grossing domestic film until Top Gun: Maverick (2022). |
| Production Budget | $132 million | The film was a significant financial success with a strong return on investment (ROI). |
The film, which also featured performances by Miranda Otto and Tim Robbins, cemented Fanning’s status as one of Hollywood’s most critically acclaimed young stars, following her breakthrough in 2001’s I Am Sam and her role in 2004’s Man on Fire.
As Dakota Fanning continues her transition into mature roles—including her recent Emmy-nominated work in the 2024 miniseries Ripley—the actor’s continued gesture from Tom Cruise remains a powerful testament to the genuine bonds forged in Hollywood that last well beyond the movie set.9