Cruise loses control

Film

13:30 27 June 2005

(BANG) - Tom Cruise lost his temper during a heated TV interview after he was asked about anti-depressant drugs.

The Hollywood actor lashed out at America's NBC 'Today' talk show host Matt Lauer.

Cruise's verbal onslaught came just weeks after the Hollywood heavyweight criticised women, including actress Brooke Shields, who took medication for post-natal depression.

In the heated exchange, the actor, who as a Scientologist is fervently opposed to all mind-altering substances, told Lauer to "be more responsible" when talking about drugs.

The presenter had argued he knew several people who were helped by anti-depressants and suggested the drugs, including popular medication Ritalin, could benefit sufferers.

But Cruise retorted: "Matt. Matt. Matt, you're glib. You don't even know what Ritalin is.

"If you start talking about chemical imbalance, you have to read the research papers on how they came up with these theories.

"Psychiatry is a pseudo science. She [Brooke Shields] doesn't understand the history of psychiatry. She doesn't understand in the same way that you don't understand it, Matt.

"You don't know the history of psychiatry. I do.

"Just knowing people who are on Ritalin isn't enough. You should be a little more responsible."

Earlier in the interview Cruise denied his romance to Katie Holmes was a publicity stunt.

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