Tom Cruise 'is cult boss'

New book claims star is Scientology's No2 boss

A controversial book about Tom Cruise claims the star is second in command of the Church of Scientology.

The unauthorised biography, by Princess Di's writer Andrew Morton, claims he is consulted by leader David Miscavige on "every aspect of policy", and that he tailors his career to the cult's aims.

Morton also suggests Scientologists, fearing Nicole Kidman's influence, asked Cruise to take a course in 1999 pinpointing "those in his life who create difficulties" - leading to their divorce in 2001.

The two men are allegedly so close that Miscavige even joined Cruise on his Maldives honeymoon with Katie Holmes in 2006.

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Miscavige said Cruise, who was introduced to the group by first wife Mimi Rogers, was "second in command" - and spoke of him in mythical terms, saying, "Across 90 nations, 5,000 people hear his word of Scientology", according to Morton.

He claims Spanish star Penelope Cruz and Colombian model Sofia Vergara were "alluring figure-heads" for recruitment.

The book, Tom Cruise: An Unauthorised Biography, also suggests Katie Holmes may have felt as if she was in "the movie Rosemary's Baby" after some in the sect believed she was impregnated by frozen sperm from its founder L. Ron Hubbard.

Cruise denies the claims and is preparing a lawsuit. His lawyer said: "It's a boring, poorly researched book by a man who never talked to anyone involved in Tom's life."