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Tom Cruise is enjoying his "absolutely extraordinary" BFI fellowship honor.
The 62-year-old American actor and film producer received the British Film Institute's BFI Fellowship during the annual BFI Chair's Dinner in London on Monday, May 12.
Christopher McQuarrie, the "close collaborator," screenwriter and film director, bestowed the honor onto Cruise.
The accolade honored his work as an actor and businessman "who has chosen to shoot numerous films on location in the U.K., supporting significant growth of our film industry and infrastructure, showcasing and investing in British craft expertise and bringing a huge influx of jobs, skills and training to people across the country."
While collecting the prize, Cruise reflected on his contributions to the film business, stating that "it tests everything we are as artists, as human beings."
The Mission Impossible star, who will release the final Mission: Impossible installment, The Final Reckoning, on May 23, said, "When we finish a film, it's never goodbye; we'll see you again soon, so it's been absolutely extraordinary for me to receive this BFI Fellowship; it's been an extraordinary evening, and I'm very grateful that you're all here."
He went on to discuss his love of his job and how he doesn't need to take a vacation to invest more in what he enjoys.
"We've experienced one exciting adventure after the next. I've loved every second of it; it's an extraordinary honor to be on set - people remark, 'Why don't you take a vacation?' But why would I take a break from something I thoroughly enjoy? "This is the most fun ever," the Top Gun 2 actor said.
"Thank you Chris [McQuarrie] for always trying to kill me, somehow we figure something out, no matter how hard you try," remarked Tom Cruise with a laugh.
