Tom Cruise was no doubt elated to hear that another member of the Hollywood elite was joining him by moving to the UK when it was revealed last year that Johnny Depp had bought a £13million property in Somerset – but it appears the feeling isn’t exactly mutual.

Insiders suggest that 61-year-old Tom, who lives in Bromley, has been trying to get in touch with Johnny, 60, but has failed to get a response so far.

A source says, “There’s never been animosity between them, they’ve worked with plenty of the same people and always been friendly with each other when they’re together but as far as Johnny’s concerned that’s where it ends, he’s not looking to pal around with Tom. 

“He’s always found Tom over the top and frankly a little weird, he doesn’t have much in common with the guy, that’s for sure. But Tom has it in his head that they should hang out since they’re both living in the UK. He wants to team up with Johnny and has tried to arrange to meet up but he’s been totally rebuffed. Johnny’s not going to be outright rude, but he’s hoping Tom will get the hint and just lose his number.”

Tom first moved to the UK in 2006 when he bought a 11,000 square feet property in East Grinstead, West Sussex. One reason for Tom’s choice of location is believed to be that the town is home to Saint Hill, the UK’s Scientology headquarters. He sold the property to none other than Peter Andre in 2016, but visited the area a number of times over the following years – even spending the first national lockdown in the town in 2020.

He has since moved to Biggin Hill in Bromley, with a friend saying last year, “He’s American, but he has spent so much time here and has English heritage. Tom has only recently moved to this new home, which feels like it’s practically in the countryside. He sees it as his rural bolt-hole, away from the hustle and bustle of London where he had been before.”

Meanwhile, Johnny initially bought his 850-acre estate in Somerset in 2014, but finally made his permanent move to the UK following his bitter divorce and subsequent defamation trial against ex-wife Amber Heard last year. The 19th century property, dubbed Somerset Mansion, boasts an impressive 12 bedrooms and eight bathrooms.

Speaking about his home in an interview after finally moving across the pond, the Pirates of the Caribbean star said, “I just love places with character.

“I have various houses in various places and they all mean something special. I don’t have them just to say I own them, I have them for use and because they are a bit special.”

He added, “British people are cool and will greet you as if you are a neighbour – without going over the top, I like going to places, seeing things and meeting people – but I’m not the great extrovert that people think.

“In truth, I’m quite a shy person. That’s one of the great things about Britain, and especially Somerset. I can just be me – and that’s nice.”

The source adds that Tom believes their upbringings in Kentucky and later moves to the UK – plus the fact they have both gone through public and difficult divorces – bonds them and is a great starting point for a friendship, but Johnny doesn’t seem too keen.

They say, “Johnny and Tom have both been through school of hard knocks, Hollywood style. And coincidentally enough they both spent time during their formative years in Kentucky, which is something Tom has seized on as a common thread. They also have a lot of mutual friends, including producer Jerry Bruckheimer, who’s been a mentor to both of them over the years. The way Tom sees it they have every reason to connect now that they’re both living in London.”

And a big reason for Johnny’s reluctance to pal up with Tom is that he doesn’t want to be swayed into following Scientology – the controversial religion that Tom is an Operating Thetan Level 8 praciter of.

“From Johnny’s perspective they couldn’t be more different,” the source continues. “For one thing, their social circles and interests are a long way apart. And, Johnny’s adamant that he’ll never join Scientology. He actually used to attend their study groups back before he got famous, because they paid a few bucks and he needed the cash, but he never bought into the ideology and has no plans to start now. 

“To him, Tom is the antithesis of the sort of star he wants to be. He has nothing against Tom personally, but Johnny prefers to keep things low key, he’d rather be at home with a few friends playing music than out schmoozing with the London social scene. Johnny looks down his nose at that sort of thing. 

Instead, Johnny likes to keep his circle close with his musician friends, such as his Hollywood Vampires bandmates Alice Cooper, Joe Perry and Tommy Henriksen. He also had an unlikely friend with The Pogues frontman Shane MacGowan, who passed away last year.

“He has a lot more respect for musicians than he does for the aristo set, or even Hollywood stars for that matter. Johnny is very selective about who he lets into his inner circle and truth be told, he thinks Tom is a bit of a cheeseball who isn’t punk rock enough to hang with his crew. 

“Poor Tom isn’t used to getting rebuffed so instead of just backing off he’s been sending gifts to try and woo Johnny. He’s like a dog with a bone, he just won’t accept that Johnny wants nothing to do with him. He’s convinced they could have a lot of fun together and the more Johnny rejects him the more intent he gets on changing his mind. It’s a little sad but Johnny doesn’t seem to care.”