Tom Cruise Got His 'Digger' Makeup Time Down From Six Hours to Under One
Tom Cruise has revealed the intense process behind the prosthetic makeup for his new film 'Digger'. On an episode of the 'New Heights' podcast, the actor said the initial application took a staggering six hours, per The Hollywood Reporter.
Cruise explained that with his need for sleep and a packed filming schedule, that timeline was unsustainable. "I gotta sleep at least six [hours]," he said. "Now, we have 12-hour days filming. So now that's six hours on, two hours off with the makeup."
To solve the problem, the actor brought in a chalkboard and had a team member use a stopwatch to time each prosthetic application. He challenged the crew to get the process under an hour, a goal they initially doubted was possible.
Cruise said they drilled and practiced with each piece being timed. He recalled the team's surprise when they eventually achieved the speed-up without rushing. The actor described this as reflective of his general approach to filmmaking, constantly looking for ways to be more efficient.
'Digger', a dark comedy from director Alejandro G. Iñárritu, opens in theaters on October 2. Cruise plays an eccentric oil tycoon named Digger Rockwell, a role requiring extensive prosthetics to give him gray hair, wrinkles, and a larger frame.
