Actor Tom Cruise was awarded the Department of the Navy Distinguished Public Service Award for his contributions to recruitment in the Navy and Marine Corps through his film roles. The award, given in recognition of his work on films like “Top Gun” and its sequel, is the highest honor a civilian can receive outside the Navy.
Cruise’s role as Lt. Pete “Maverick” Mitchell in “Top Gun: Maverick” helped surge recruitment for Navy pilots in the late 1980s and early 1990s. The award was given to him on December 17 during an event in London, where he expressed gratitude to his peers who helped bring his characters to life.
Cruise stated that while the work wasn’t solely on his end, but rather a collaborative effort with the cast and crew, they are what really brought his performances to life. Secretary Del Toro praised Cruise’s decades of naval advocacy through film, noting that his work has inspired generations to serve in the Navy and Marine Corps.
However, fans took notice of Cruise’s appearance during the ceremony, sparking speculation about plastic surgery. Some people commented on social media that he appeared to have undergone cosmetic procedures, while others joked that he might have used a “Mission Impossible” mask as a quick fix. Cruise has not publicly addressed these rumors.
Source: https://atlantablackstar.com/2024/12/19/tom-cruise-drastic-transformation-unrecognizable