Washington, October 9 (ANI): Actor/director Robert Redford has leapt in defence of 'Mission Impossible' star Tom Cruise, claiming that the latter is absolutely normal on the set of their new flick 'Lions for Lambs'.

He insists that Cruise is a talented actor, and his behaviour in reality is unlike his public image created by the media.

Redford's statement came as a reaction to press reports that ridiculed Cruise's infamous couch-jumping stunt on US TV show Oprah, when he ecstatically proclaimed his love for his then-fiancee Katie Holmes, and to the criticisms that the actor has had to face because of his devotion to Scientology.

"Tom's a talented actor and I think people will respond positively to him (in Lions For Lambs)," Contactmusic quoted him as telling Playboy magazine.

"I didn't concern myself with the gossip - I never do - and I knew enough from what I've been through to judge the man based on what I experience firsthand. And I didn't see any behaviour on the film that troubled me. Really," he added. (ANI)