Actress Hayley Atwell has spoken out about the discomfort she experienced due to circulating rumors of a romantic relationship with her "Mission: Impossible" co-star and producer, Tom Cruise. In a recent interview with The Independent, Atwell described the rumors as "base," "dirty," and "grubby," expressing her confusion about why such assumptions were being made about her professional relationship with Cruise.

Atwell emphasized the invasive nature of the rumors, highlighting the impact on her personal life and the involvement of people close to her. She viewed Cruise and the film's director, Chris McQuarrie, as mentors during filming, referring to them as "two uncles." The actress found it upsetting that these rumors overshadowed her work and professional relationship with Cruise.

Atwell shared that Cruise offered her advice on handling the media attention, emphasizing the importance of staying true to oneself and one's values. Cruise, who is accustomed to such rumors, reportedly told Atwell, "You know exactly who you are. You know what you’re about. And that is the only thing that matters."

The first installment of "Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning" premiered on July 12th. At the time of the original article, representatives for both Cruise and Atwell had not responded to requests for comment.