Beth Alaw WilliamsBBC Wales
Welsh singer Katherine Jenkins has described the evening she believed Hollywood actor Tom Cruise mistook her for royalty.
The moment took place after the mezzo-soprano performed at the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Concert in 2022.
She said the action film star was “almost body-slammed” against the wall by armed forces as they passed each other in a narrow corridor.
Jenkins is the UK’s best-selling classical music star, and a frequent performer for the Royal Family.
Speaking with The Independent, Neath-born Jenkins said her brief meeting with Cruise backstage at the royal concert was one of her most memorable celebrity encounters.
She said: “Tom was walking off, being escorted on either side by military personnel.
“Because I do so much with the military, they knew me.
“They both bowed their heads and said ‘good evening ma’am’ at which point, because there wasn’t space, one of them pushed Tom out of my way and almost body-slammed him against the wall.
When they came face-to-face again, Jenkins said he gave her “a very strange handshake/nod/bow thing”, which gave her the impression of a potential case of mistaken identity.
Cruise would not be wrong to think Jenkins had a connection to the royal family, as she’s a frequent feature of Royal Variety performances.
Following her fifth performance at the event in November, the opera singer told Hello! magazine that it was a “huge honour” to perform for the Prince and Princess of Wales.
She is also a trustee of the British Forces Foundation, whose patron is King Charles, and a supporter of the King’s Trust charity.
This made her “comfortable” when she was given her OBE by the King, who was then the Prince of Wales.
“We’ve met several times, so it was really lovely to receive my OBE from him,” Jenkins said.
“We have things to talk about, which is nice.”
Jenkins was awarded a scholarship to study at the Royal Academy of Music at the age of 17.
Since being offered a six-album record deal at 22, she has gone on to be one of the most recognisable names in classical music.
As well as performing for royalty, the singer is known for belting out the Welsh national anthem at rugby games and singing for the armed forces.
She splits her time between New York and London with her husband, painter Andrew Levitas, and their two children.