They have two adopted children, Isabella and Connor. Over the years, Cruise has fiercely defended the happiness and the legitimacy of his marriage, and with Kidman has filed two different lawsuits against tabloid publications for stories he considered libelous. In each case the couple received a published retraction and apology, along with a large monetary settlement, which they donated to charity.

On February 5, 2001, Cruise and Kidman announced through a spokesman that they are amicably separating after 11 years of marriage. The couple cited the difficulties involved with two acting careers and the amount of time spent apart while both are working. .