Suri Cruise’s 18th Birthday: Dad’s ‘Different’ Appearance, Her Debated Outfit & Resemblance to Mom Katie Holmes

Tom Cruise and his relationship, or the lack thereof, with his youngest daughter, Suri, becomes a topic of conversation as she celebrates a milestone birthday without him. It’s a milestone not just because she turns 18, but also because she is now free to discuss anything about their relationship and Scientology.

On Wednesday, Tom Cruise was spotted in London on location filming “Mission Impossible 8” - thousands of miles away from Suri, who celebrated her 18th birthday on Thursday.

The 61-year-old actor, pictured in the pilot seat of a helicopter, one of his favorite modes of transport, flashed a big smile. Tom’s appearance, however, sparked several responses from netizens.

“OMG. My All Time Favorite Mr Tom Cruise looking kinda grandpa Already 😵,” a Facebook user noted. “Wow! I didn’t recognize him…,” remarked another. “This pic doesn't look like him…,” someone else agreed. Similarly, another wrote, “Boy, he looks different.” Some people also took note of another part of Tom’s appearance, “That color hair makes him look old.”

Suri lives with her mom, Katie Holmes, in New York, where she was seen out and about on her birthday. Despite the physical distance between Suri and her father, a social media user thinks their relationship might take a different turn from hereon.

“Suri is 18 now. All kids love their parents. I wouldn’t be surprised if Suri now will have a relationship with her father,” the Facebook user opined.

The actor’s youngest and estranged daughter was seen out with a friend in New York City on her birthday, holding a birthday present while she slayed in a denim jacket and matching bootcut jeans, clutching a pink umbrella amid a wet day in the Big Apple.

Suri’s appearance also sparked a mixed bag of reactions from social media, however, her resemblance to her mother, Katie Holmes, stood out to commenters.

“Beautiful girl, looks like her Momma❣️🫶” a social media user gushed. “Gorgeous!!! A photocopy of her mama,” an Instagrammer agreed. “Wow, she is her mom’s twin!” someone else wrote. “I thought this was her mom 😮, another added.

Other social media users took note of Suri’s umbrella for different reasons. “She need not much for a perfect birthday party. Friends, an umbrella and the rest is coming!! Our girl is a woman!! Strong as her mother!!😍” an X user commented. “Why is she using an umbrella for a four-year-old? Someone else asked.

Suri’s fashion sense didn’t go unnoticed either, as an Instagrammer wrote, “What is she wearing??? … I see she got her fashion sense from her mom ..”

While turning eighteen is a milestone for everyone, it is even more so for Suri as she now has the legal freedom to openly discuss her father, his beliefs, his Scientology religion, and their estrangement, as we recently reported.

Tony Ortega, who has researched Scientology for decades, shared, "Suri would have been too young to sign any agreement, but she will now be free to talk if she wants to, and it's going to be really interesting if she has something to say."

Tony also explained that part of why Katie left when she did when Suri was six, was because she would have witnessed what Tom's other kids, Isabella and Connor, went through because of Scientology.

At 18, Suri also has the free will to be part of Scientology and embrace fame. From birth, Suri sparked a global frenzy as the daughter of A-list celebrities.

At five months, she made her debut on the cover of Vanity Fair in the loving arms of her parents, who were still married, snapped by the then couple's photographer, Anne Leibovitz.

At 18, Suri faces a pivotal decision of whether to embrace the level of fame she experienced as a child, marked by blogs dedicated to her fashion or to continue living the private life that Katie has meticulously crafted for her since she gave Tom their divorce papers.

During the divorce, court documents revealed Tom Cruise acknowledged Katie filed for divorce to protect Suri from the religion, Scientology. Yet, Katie reportedly signed non-disclosure agreements barring her from discussing her marriage to Tom and her immersion in Scientology.

Katie has always been protective of Suri. In 2017, she stated that her child was the most important person to her, emphasizing that her upbringing was paramount to her work at the time. She shared the importance of being present for her child and giving her a stable, innocent childhood.

Katie felt blessed to do what she did in her career, but she believed that nothing in the world was better than watching her child succeed. The actress endeavored to cherish Suri's childhood while it lasted.

Katie acknowledged the bittersweet reality that children grow more independent each day. Despite the inevitable sadness of their eventual departure, she aimed to provide everything Suri needed before she ventured into her own path.

When Suri was 14, actress Leah Remini believed that Tom intended to wait until his daughter was older to introduce her to Scientology. According to Leah, Scientology viewed Katie as a suppressive person, an enemy.

This meant Tom believed Katie couldn't have a relationship with Suri. Leah also suggested that Tom's plan was to eventually draw Suri into Scientology as she grew older, potentially distancing her from her mother.

Leah expressed surprise at Katie's sudden breakup from Tom in 2012. She recalled Katie being deeply immersed in Tom's Scientology world. However, Leah commended Katie for prioritizing her daughter's well-being.

Leah suggested there might be an agreement in place to safeguard Suri. She added that she was proud of Katie Holmes for removing her daughter from what could have been a harmful situation for both Suri and their relationship.

Still, Regarding the future, former Scientology spokesperson Mike Rinder, who hasn't seen his two eldest children since leaving the organization, conveyed, "Suri is not a Scientologist and never will be…she deserves love and sympathy."

Over the years, Katie has showered her daughter with love and care, offering solace after a tumultuous childhood due to her parents' divorce. Soon, Suri will have the freedom to shape her path, empowered to make her own choices as she enters adulthood.