Friday, October 2, 1998 Published at 03:33 GMT 04:33 UK
Cruise one of a Few Good Men
Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman at a recent film premiere
Tom Cruise has come to the aid of a damsel in distress and chased off muggers.
The Hollywood star had his eyes wide open when he came to the aid of his neighbour Rita Simmonds as she was attacked in the street of their London suburb.
Police said that in a prolonged attack the muggers wrenched open the door of the woman's Porsche car as she parked in Cumberland Terrace near Regent's Park where Cruise and wife Nicole Kidman rent a house.
A police spokesman said: "Two members of the public came to the assistance of the victim when they heard her shouting. One stayed with her while the second attempted to run after the suspects.
"Unfortunately he did not catch them."
She said: "As soon as he heard the commotion he rushed out. He ran down the road with his bouncers and chased them away."
The attackers made off with jewellery worth £87,000 including a ring and a 1920s platinum and diamond Cartier watch worth around £15,000.
They got away in a Red Ford Orion car and are described as in their early 20s, one white and one black, possibly mixed race.
They have also recently finished shooting for Stanley Kubrick's Eyes Wide Shut, which is provisionally due out in 1999.
Ms Kidman has just made a daring debut in a West End play.
Starring in sell-out The Blue Room, at London's Donmar Warehouse Theatre, she has received rave reviews for a piece in which she acts five roles and 10 seduction scenes - and all for the standard actors rate of £250 per week.
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