April 30, 2005
Tom Cruise 'n' Katie Holmes go public
By LOUIS B. HOBSON - Calgary Sun

In spring a young man's fancy turns to love. It's the season when even a not-so-young man's fancy can be rekindled after a love gone sour. Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt have much in common.

They're both in their early 40s, wealthy, powerful, famous and unattached.

Cruise, 42, ended his 10-year marriage to Nicole Kidman in 2001.

Last month, Jennifer Aniston served Pitt, 41, divorce papers to officially end their four-year marriage.

If a photo is worth a 1,000 words, then both superstars are mending their broken hearts.

Cruise, who is being honoured with a life achievement award in Italy, turned up for the ceremonies with Katie Holmes.

They were photographed walking hand-in-hand taking in some of Rome's most famous landmarks.

Meanwhile, Pitt and Angelina Jolie were snapped together on an African beach.

The burning question -- or at least the question that will ignite headlines for months to come -- which affair has a better chance of a happy ending?

CRUISE AND HOLMES:

IF AGE MATTERS: He's 42. She's 26. Tom's been casting his eye younger for the past 15 years. His first wife Mimi Rogers was seven years older. Nicole Kidman was five years his junior. When Tom took up with Spanish beauty Penelope Cruz, she was 12 years younger and now Katie is a whopping 16 years younger. Is Tom waiting for his War of the Worlds co-star Dakota Fanning to turn 18?

KISS AND TELL: At least Tom and Katie are not denying their relationship. Within hours after photos of the love birds appeared in papers, Tom had his sister-turned-personal-publicist Lee Anne DeVette confirm the two had been dating for the past few weeks.

HIS AVAILABILITY: Tom's been divorced for almost four years. He officially and amicably ended his two-year-relationship with Cruz last year. He reportedly had a brief fling with model Sofia Vergara though both claim they were nothing more than friends.

HER AVAILABILITY: Katie ended her near four-year relationship with Chris Klein in March and rebounded to Pearl Harbor hunk Josh Hartnett.

WAS IT FATED? Holmes once said: "I think every little girl dreams about her wedding. I used to think I was going to marry Tom Cruise."

CHANCES IT'S THE REAL THING: Provided she doesn't want to bear any children and will consider embracing Scientologoy, Katie could become the third Mrs. Thomas Cruise Mapother IV.

PITT AND JOLIE:

IF AGE MATTERS: He was 10 years older than his first fiancee Juliette Lewis. Gwyneth Paltrow was nine years his junior when he proposed to her and Jennifer Aniston was a mere six years younger when they married. Jolie, 29, is 12 years his junior.

KISS AND TELL: Rumours of a dalliance between Brad and Angelina began circulating shortly after they began filming Mr. and Mrs. Smith. Both deny an affair.

HIS AVAILABILITY: Pitt and Aniston officially announced their separation in January. Eleven weeks later divorce papers were filed.

HER AVAILABILITY: Angelina divorced second hubby Billy Bob Thornton in the fall of 2002 after a stormy two-year marriage. Since then she has denied any flings, claiming the only man in her life is her adopted son Maddox.

WAS IT FATED? Angelina recently told reporters her priorities are changing and that she is contemplating "quitting movies to be a great mum and to join the Parents and Teachers Association." Something Brad suggested Jennifer do.

CHANCES IT'S THE REAL THING: Angelina will have to agree to have Brad's children. When his divorce is finalized, it is widely speculated Brad will admit Jennifer's refusal to put her career on hold to have their children was the main reason for their breakup, as it was with Paltrow.