Tom Cruise Defended By Producer

Tom Cruise’s film-making partner has said the actor is the victim of religious prejudice.

Paula Wagner, who co-owns the United Artists studio with Cruise, says the star’s Scientologist views have "no bearing" on his professional life.

"I am not a Scientologist, nor are most of the people Tom and I work with, but that doesn't mean I can sit by silently while he is attacked for his religious beliefs," she said.

"As a film-maker and an American, I feel strongly that an individual's religion should have no bearing on their professional life.

"I have always believed that Americans celebrated these differences.

"It's easy to mock an out-of-context video. But that doesn't change the fact that Tom Cruise is one of the hardest-working and nicest human beings I have ever known."