EXCLUSIVE: Cruise on Suri's Birth: It Was 'Powerful and Spiritual'

April 21, 2006 — -- Days after fianceé Katie Holmes gave birth to their first child, Suri, superstar actor Tom Cruise tells ABC News their baby girl is "beautiful," and that the birth was all the couple had hoped.

"It was everything that we wanted it to be. ... It was spiritual. It was powerful. It was indescribable. What words can you use? It's still something that I'm processing and keep reliving," Cruise told "20/20's" Deborah Roberts.

The 43-year-old actor also tells "20/20" he's had a great time listening to stories from friends about their children in the days since his daughter was born.

"It was so much fun everyone was telling me their experiences about their children," he said.

Cruise spoke as he was joined by the rest of the all-star cast of "Mission: Impossible III." And it was clear the cast is a tightknit bunch. When Cruise met up with his fellow castmembers following his daughter's birth, his costars gave him a warm reception. "We were hugging each other like we always do," Laurence Fishburne told "20/20."

The cast noted that the film's budget -- more than $100 million -- was the highest Paramount Pictures had ever approved for a first-time director, signaling their confidence in the project.

Who Is Ethan Hunt?

Director J.J. Abrams says this latest installment in the blockbuster series is a bit of a departure for the franchise. For one, it will explore the human side of Cruise's character, Ethan Hunt.

"I really wanted to answer the question of what happens when this guy goes home," said Abrams. "Does he lie to his wife?"

Actor Philip Seymour Hoffman, who just won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance in "Capote," credited Abrams for a smooth and enjoyable experience on the film.

"These things happen from the top down and from the top there was a sense of humor and a confidence and competence that you don't question," Hoffman said.

Although best known for his work on hit TV shows like ABC's "Lost" and "Alias," Abrams made an impression on the cast as a true leader and inspiration on the set, despite this being his first major motion picture.

"It's inaccurate to talk about J.J. being a first-time anything," said co-star Laurence Fishburne. "Just because he's telling stories on the little screen doesn't mean he shouldn't be telling stories on the big screen."

And Cruise tells "20/20" he's very pleased with the way the action film came out. "You know what? If there are couches and chandeliers, I'd be jumping up and down."

See more on a special "20/20" - "Primetime" tonight from 9 to 11 p.m. ET