Tom Cruise's Scientology silence

Dec 16, 2008, 9:40 GMT

US Actor Tom Cruise arrives. The \'Valkyrie\' star - who has been a follower of the bizarre sci-fi cult since the early 90s - has learned to keep his opinions in check and will not speak about his beliefs while promoting his films. EPA/PETER FOLEY

Tom Cruise has vowed to stop talking about Scientology.

The 'Valkyrie' star - who has been a follower of the bizarre sci-fi cult since the early 90s - has learned to keep his opinions in check and will not speak about his beliefs while promoting his films.

He told 'The Today Show' host Matt Lauer: "I'm here to entertain people. That's who I am and what I want to do.

"I've been a Scientologist for 25 years but I think there is a time and a place for it because things can get misunderstood and twisted. When people are tuning in to hear about my movie, that's what I'm here to talk about."

The actor was appearing on the US TV show for the first time since his controversial 2005 appearance in which he attracted over 10,000 complaints for an anti-psychiatry rant.

Tom, 46, admits he now looks back and regrets his comments.

He added: "I went back and looked at it and it was interesting... you know, it's not what I had intended. Looking at myself, I thought, 'Man, that came across as arrogant.'

"It was one of those things where you go, 'Ok, I could have absolutely handled that better.' I didn't communicate it the way that I wanted to communicate it. That's not who I am, that's not the person I am, coming across that way."

Also, when asked if he and wife Katie Holmes - with who he has a two-year-old daughter, Suri - planned to extend their family, Tom admitted he was unsure.

He joked: "That's a question for the women. It's really their choice, isn't it?"