Cruise and Kidman Decide To Separate

LOS ANGELES (AP) â€” After 11 years of marriage, Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman said Monday that they are separating because their work is keeping them apart. <br><br>Pat Kingsley, a spokeswoman for the

Tuesday, February 6th 2001, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

LOS ANGELES (AP) â€” After 11 years of marriage, Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman said Monday that they are separating because their work is keeping them apart.

Pat Kingsley, a spokeswoman for the actors, said the decision was made regretfully.

``Citing the difficulties inherent in divergent careers, which constantly keep them apart, they concluded that an amicable separation seems best for both of them at this time,'' Kingsley said.

The couple have two adopted children, Connor and Isabella. It wasn't known whether custody would be shared. Kingsley denied further comment.

Cruise, 38, has starred in ``Born on the Fourth of July,'' ``A Few Good Men,'' ``Jerry Maguire,'' ``Mission: Impossible,'' ``Rain Man,'' ``Top Gun'' and ``Magnolia.''

Kidman, 33, spent three months in Spain last fall to film ``The Others,'' with Cruise as one of the executive producers. Her movie credits include ``Batman Forever,'' ``Malice'' and ``To Die For.''

The couple starred together in the films ``Far and Away'' and ``Days of Thunder.''

Kidman discussed her marriage in a 1998 interview: ``It's been nine years and I'm past the seven-year itch. When you're loved for your flaws, that's when you really feel safe.''

The following year, the couple starred together in Stanley Kubrick's final film, ``Eyes Wide Shut,'' which included an erotic sex scene between the couple. A tabloid report that claimed they had to hire a sex therapist to help them with ``Eyes Wide Shut'' scenes led to a lawsuit.

The Star supermarket tabloid later agreed to donate money to a charity and ran a retraction as part of a settlement.