Scientology reportedly auditioned actresses to become Tom Cruise’s girlfriend before he married Katie Holmes

The Church of Scientology reportedly auditioned actresses to find the perfect girlfriend for Tom Cruise, following his divorce from Nicole Kidman and his breakup from Penelope Cruz. An actress did win the ‘role,’ but it didn’t last and Cruise eventually married Katie Holmes.

According to a report in the October issue of Vanity Fair, Scientology chief David Miscavige’s wife, Shelly Miscavige, began a top-secret operation in 2004 to find Cruise a girlfriend. Sources told the magazine that the Church contacted actresses who were Scientologists about auditions for a training film about the religion.

However, when they arrived, they were asked bizarre questions, like “What do you think of Tom Cruise?” Marc Headley told the magazine that he actually saw the audition tapes. “It’s not like you only have to please your husband—you have to toe the line for Scientology,” he said. “You can’t do anything to displease Scientology, because Tom Cruise will freak out.”

After the vetting process was completed, the Church picked Iranian-British actress Nazanin Boniadi, who recently starred on How I Met Your Mother. She had to change her hair color, leave her current boyfriend and swear to secrecy, the magazine reports, notes the New York Daily News. She dated Cruise from November 2004 to January 2005. During the brief relationship, everything she did against the Church’s wishes was reported and after the relationship broke up, she was forced to do manual labor.

Just months after the relationship ended, Cruise began dating Holmes and they married in 2006.

Reps for Scientology told Vanity Fair that a search for Cruise’s next girlfriend never happened and calls the magazine’s sources disgruntled former followers. They also denied punishing Boniadi.

Cruise would also not comment on the report and declined to be interviewed.

image: Vanity Fair