What Took Him So Long?

By Rebecca Winters

His Oprah acrobatics. Her Scientology dabbling. Their dueling summer films. After a two-month courtship with all the requisite A-lister ups and downs, TOM CRUISE, 42, proposed to Batman Begins starlet KATIE HOLMES, 26. To make it official, they held a joint press conference, which fortified romantics and skeptics alike. "It was early this morning at the Eiffel Tower, so I haven't slept at all," said Cruise, who has deflected speculation that the relationship is a publicity stunt. The future Mrs. Cruise the Third, who had posters of her fiance on her wall as a girl, simply blushed and smiled. Clearly, both actors have committed to their new roles.