Thandie Newton ‘surprised’ by support after calling out Tom Cruise

Thandie Newton won’t back down. The “Mission Impossible 2” star, who made headlines last month for her searingly honest interview with Vulture, has been buoyed by the reaction she has received. “I was surprised by the appreciation I had got,” the English-born actress, 47, told the Variety and iHeart podcast “The Big Ticket” on Wednesday. …

Thandie Newton won’t back down.

The “Mission Impossible 2” star, who made headlines last month for her searingly honest interview with Vulture, has been buoyed by the reaction she has received.

“I was surprised by the appreciation I had got,” the English-born actress, 47, told the Variety and iHeart podcast “The Big Ticket” on Wednesday. “I thought that I would be in trouble because that’s kind of what I’m used to.”

In the no-holds-barred chat, Newton let loose on former Sony Pictures honcho Amy Pascal who allegedly made remarks that Newton felt were racist and “Charlie’s Angels” director McG, who she says made inappropriate comments about her body while discussing a possible role in the movie.

But it was Newton’s observations about Tom Cruise that garnered the most buzz.

She revealed that while filming a particularly difficult scene with the actor on “Mission Impossible 2” he decided to rehearse the scene in switched roles.

“So we filmed the entire scene with me being him — because, believe me, I knew the lines by then — and him playing me,” she said. “And it was the most unhelpful … I can’t think of anything less revealing. It just pushed me further into a place of terror and insecurity.”

Newton also revealed that the ardent Scientologist gifted her with a book about the controversial religion for Christmas one year.

The “Westworld” actress says that after the interview was published she was praised for “not drinking the Kool-Aid. I just happened to be an older woman who has recognized that knowing the truth and speaking the truth has benefited me a hell of a lot more than being silenced or seeing people silenced around me.”

She declined to comment on whether she had heard back from Pascal or Cruise since the bombshell interview but noted, “I felt solid the whole time, but I know that it made people frightened. Individuals were very frightened … It’s like how far back do you go?”

Newton also acknowledged that her role in the critically acclaimed HBO series has defied the usual rules for women of a certain age and race.

“I’m a 47-year-old black woman. I shouldn’t even be able to get a role [now]. It’s very unusual,” Newton confessed. “I feel like I’ve been in three generations of film and that’s not what usually happens. There’s such a quick turnover that people aren’t famous enough to reveal things and have people listen because once someone drops out of their fame, people aren’t going to pay attention. They’re not going to listen. I feel like in a way at the point when a lot of people drop out, “Westworld” gave me another opportunity, which kept me, I guess, still relevant and current.”