Dakota Fanning reveals the birthday present she receives from Tom Cruise every year since she turned 12

Dakota Fanning receives a gift from Tom Cruise for her birthday every year—and it’s been the same each time since she turned 12.

In a new interview on The Kelly Clarkson Show, the actress revealed that the annual tradition began decades ago, when they became co-stars in a film.

“I turned 11 on War of the Worlds when we worked together, and he gave me my first cellphone for that birthday,” she recalled, saying it was a Motorola Razr, which she wanted “so bad” then.

“I must have been talking about it a lot because that’s what he got me,” she added. “It was such a great memory.”

Dakota said she again received a birthday present from Tom when she turned 12, and it has not changed since. “He always sends me the same thing every year, after the cellphone,” she shared.

“I loved shoes when I was little and I started to be able to fit into really small adult shoes when I was on the War of the Worlds press tour, so I was very excited about them,” the international star, now 30, said. “From that birthday on, he always sends me shoes.” 

Dakota and Tom met during the filming of action-thriller offering War of the Worlds, which was released in 2005. Tom played the role of Ray Ferrier, the father of Dakota’s character, Rachel, in the movie.

According to Page Six, Tom has been known for surprising his friends and co-stars with lavish gifts. The entertainment portal reported that he "famously sends more than 300 people a special coconut cake at Christmas time and paid for Top Gun: Maverick co-star Glen Powell to get his pilot's license."