Bacall's war of the words

Showbiz

09:30 02 August 2005

Tom Cruise has been branded "vulgar" by legendary actress Lauren Bacall for apparently using his romance with Katie Holmes to promote his latest movie.

The 81-year-old screen icon has slammed the 'War of the Worlds' star for gushing about his new relationship in all his promotional interviews, as well as flaunting his new love at premieres.

She fumed to America's prestigious Time magazine: "His whole behaviour is so shocking. It's inappropriate and vulgar and absolutely unacceptable to use your private life to sell anything commercially. I think it's kind of a sickness."

Bacall has also lashed out at the Hollywood heartthrob's acting talents.

She sniped: "The word 'great' stands for something. When you talk about a great actor, you're not talking about Tom Cruise."

Last year, Tom's ex-wife, Nicole Kidman, found herself at the sharp end of Bacall's acid tongue.

The actress snapped when her 'Birth' co-star, Nicole, was described by a journalist as a "screen legend".

Bacall, who has acted in over 50 movies in her 60-year career, dismissed the Oscar-winner, saying: "She's not a legend. She's a beginner. What is this 'legend'? She can't be a legend at whatever age she is. You have to be older."

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