Scientology's list of celebrity support

Apr 3 2008 By Ed Chadwick

TOM Cruise and John Travolta head up Scientology's all-star list of celebrity disciples.

Others include former Cheers actress Kirstie Alley and Grammy-winning musician Beck but, perhaps tellingly, a string of big names including Brad Pitt, Sharon Stone and Nicole Kidman turned their backs on the lifestyle.

Top Gun star Cruise has been the most vocal in his support of the cult, but never was it made more clear than when a leaked video hit the internet earlier this year showing him eulogising Scientology to the theme of Mission Impossible.

In the clip, Cruise says: "Being a Scientologist, when you drive past an accident it's not like anyone else.

"As you drive past, you know you have to do something about it because you know you're the only one that can really help."

Cruise's wife, US actress Katie Holmes, has made sacrifices for the couple's beliefs since they wed in 2006.

When she gave birth to their first child the same year, she kept silent through the labour and was administered no drugs in line with strict beliefs.

Travolta's backing of Scientology has been more veiled although his 2000 film Battlefield Earth was based on movement founder L Ron Hubbard's book of the same name.

He denied the film, which flopped, was a vehicle to promote the religion.