Tom Cruise said playing heroic loner Jack Reacher was "easy" because it reminded him of his own life.

The 'Top Gun' star spent hours meeting fans at the premiere of his new film in London's Leicester Square.

Jack Reacher is based on One Shot - one of the series of best-selling novels by Lee Child about the eponymous former soldier turned drifter who travels the United States dealing out his own brand of justice.

Stars turn out for the world premiere in London...

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• Jack Reacher - World Premiere - Red Carpet Arrivals

  LONDON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 10: Tom Cruise attends the World Premiere of 'Jack Reacher' at Odeon Leicester Square on December 10, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Tim Whitby/Getty Images)

• Jack Reacher - World Premiere - Red Carpet Arrivals

  LONDON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 10: Amal Fashanu attends the World Premiere of 'Jack Reacher' at Odeon Leicester Square on December 10, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Tim Whitby/Getty Images)

• Jack Reacher - World Premiere - Red Carpet Arrivals

  LONDON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 10: Lewis Hamilton and Nicole Scherzinger attend the World Premiere of 'Jack Reacher' at Odeon Leicester Square on December 10, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Tim Whitby/Getty Images)

• Jack Reacher - World Premiere - Red Carpet Arrivals

  LONDON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 10: Lewis Hamilton and Nicole Scherzinger attend the World Premiere of 'Jack Reacher' at Odeon Leicester Square on December 10, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Tim Whitby/Getty Images)

• Jack Reacher - World Premiere - Red Carpet Arrivals

  LONDON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 10: Lewis Hamilton and Nicole Scherzinger attend the World Premiere of 'Jack Reacher' at Odeon Leicester Square on December 10, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Tim Whitby/Getty Images)

• Jack Reacher - World Premiere - Red Carpet Arrivals

  LONDON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 10: The Stig and James May attend the World Premiere of 'Jack Reacher' at Odeon Leicester Square on December 10, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Tim Whitby/Getty Images)

• Jack Reacher - World Premiere - Red Carpet Arrivals

  LONDON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 10: Lewis Hamilton and Nicole Scherzinger attend the World Premiere of 'Jack Reacher' at Odeon Leicester Square on December 10, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Tim Whitby/Getty Images)

• Jack Reacher - World Premiere - Red Carpet Arrivals

  LONDON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 10: Andrea Riseborough attends the World Premiere of 'Jack Reacher' at Odeon Leicester Square on December 10, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Tim Whitby/Getty Images)

• Jack Reacher - World Premiere - Red Carpet Arrivals

  LONDON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 10: David Haye attends the World Premiere of 'Jack Reacher' at Odeon Leicester Square on December 10, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Tim Whitby/Getty Images)

• Jack Reacher - World Premiere - Red Carpet Arrivals

  LONDON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 10: David Oyelowo and guest attend the World Premiere of 'Jack Reacher' at Odeon Leicester Square on December 10, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Tim Whitby/Getty Images)

• Jack Reacher - World Premiere - Red Carpet Arrivals

  LONDON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 10: Lewis Hamilton and Nicole Scherzinger attend the World Premiere of 'Jack Reacher' at Odeon Leicester Square on December 10, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Tim Whitby/Getty Images)

• Jack Reacher - World Premiere - Red Carpet Arrivals

  LONDON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 10: Lewis Hamilton and Nicole Scherzinger attend the World Premiere of 'Jack Reacher' at Odeon Leicester Square on December 10, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Tim Whitby/Getty Images)

• Jack Reacher - World Premiere - Red Carpet Arrivals

  LONDON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 10: Rosamund Pike attends the World Premiere of 'Jack Reacher' at Odeon Leicester Square on December 10, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Tim Whitby/Getty Images)

• Jack Reacher - World Premiere - Red Carpet Arrivals

  LONDON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 10: Rosamund Pike attends the World Premiere of 'Jack Reacher' at Odeon Leicester Square on December 10, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Tim Whitby/Getty Images)

• Jack Reacher - World Premiere - Red Carpet Arrivals

  LONDON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 10: Rosamund Pike attends the World Premiere of 'Jack Reacher' at Odeon Leicester Square on December 10, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Tim Whitby/Getty Images)

• Jack Reacher - World Premiere - Red Carpet Arrivals

  LONDON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 10: Rosamund Pike attends the World Premiere of 'Jack Reacher' at Odeon Leicester Square on December 10, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Tim Whitby/Getty Images)

• Jack Reacher - World Premiere - Red Carpet Arrivals

  LONDON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 10: Rosamund Pike attends the World Premiere of 'Jack Reacher' at Odeon Leicester Square on December 10, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Tim Whitby/Getty Images)

• Jack Reacher - World Premiere - Red Carpet Arrivals

  LONDON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 10: Tom Cruise attends the World Premiere of 'Jack Reacher' at Odeon Leicester Square on December 10, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Tim Whitby/Getty Images)

• Jack Reacher - World Premiere - Red Carpet Arrivals

  LONDON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 10: Tom Cruise attends the World Premiere of 'Jack Reacher' at Odeon Leicester Square on December 10, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Tim Whitby/Getty Images)

• Jack Reacher - World Premiere - Red Carpet Arrivals

  LONDON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 10: Rosamund Pike attends the World Premiere of 'Jack Reacher' at Odeon Leicester Square on December 10, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Tim Whitby/Getty Images)

• Jack Reacher Premiere - London

  Tom Cruise arriving for the premiere of Jack Reacher at the Odeon Leicester Square, London.

• Jack Reacher Premiere - London

  Tom Cruise arriving for the premiere of Jack Reacher at the Odeon Leicester Square, London.

• Jack Reacher Premiere - London

  Tom Cruise arriving for the premiere of Jack Reacher at the Odeon Leicester Square, London.

• Jack Reacher Premiere - London

  Tom Cruise arriving for the premiere of Jack Reacher at the Odeon Leicester Square, London.

• Jack Reacher Premiere - London

  Tom Cruise arriving for the premiere of Jack Reacher at the Odeon Leicester Square, London.

• Jack Reacher Premiere - London

  Producer Don Granger arriving for the premiere of Jack Reacher at the Odeon Leicester Square, London.

• Jack Reacher Premiere - London

  Producer Don Granger arriving for the premiere of Jack Reacher at the Odeon Leicester Square, London.

• Jack Reacher Premiere - London

  Joanne Harris arriving for the premiere of Jack Reacher at the Odeon Leicester Square, London.

• Jack Reacher Premiere - London

  Robert Duvall arriving for the premiere of Jack Reacher at the Odeon Leicester Square, London.

• Jack Reacher Premiere - London

  Robert Duvall arriving for the premiere of Jack Reacher at the Odeon Leicester Square, London.

• Jack Reacher Premiere - London

  Camilla Rutherford arriving for the premiere of Jack Reacher at the Odeon Leicester Square, London.

• Jack Reacher Premiere - London

  James May arriving for the premiere of Jack Reacher at the Odeon Leicester Square, London.

• Jack Reacher Premiere - London

  The Stig arriving for the premiere of Jack Reacher at the Odeon Leicester Square, London.

• Jack Reacher Premiere - London

  James May and The Stig arriving for the premiere of Jack Reacher at the Odeon Leicester Square, London.

• Jack Reacher Premiere - London

  Tom Hardy arriving for the premiere of Jack Reacher at the Odeon Leicester Square, London.

• Jack Reacher Premiere - London

  Charlotte Riley and Tom Hardy arriving for the premiere of Jack Reacher at the Odeon Leicester Square, London.

• Jack Reacher Premiere - London

  Hugo Taylor arriving for the premiere of Jack Reacher at the Odeon Leicester Square, London.

• Jack Reacher Premiere - London

  Hugo Taylor arriving for the premiere of Jack Reacher at the Odeon Leicester Square, London.

• Jack Reacher Premiere - London

  David Oyelowo arriving for the premiere of Jack Reacher at the Odeon Leicester Square, London.

• Jack Reacher Premiere - London

  Bill Nighy arriving for the premiere of Jack Reacher at the Odeon Leicester Square, London.

• Jack Reacher Premiere - London

  David Haye arriving for the premiere of Jack Reacher at the Odeon Leicester Square, London.

• Jack Reacher Premiere - London

  David Haye arriving for the premiere of Jack Reacher at the Odeon Leicester Square, London.

• Jack Reacher Premiere - London

  David Oyelowo arriving for the premiere of Jack Reacher at the Odeon Leicester Square, London.

• Jack Reacher Premiere - London

  Lewis Hamilton and Nicole Scherzinger arriving for the premiere of Jack Reacher at the Odeon Leicester Square, London.

• Jack Reacher Premiere - London

  Bill Nighy arriving for the premiere of Jack Reacher at the Odeon Leicester Square, London.

• Jack Reacher Premiere - London

  Amal Fashanu arriving for the premiere of Jack Reacher at the Odeon Leicester Square, London.

• Jack Reacher Premiere - London

  Amal Fashanu arriving for the premiere of Jack Reacher at the Odeon Leicester Square, London.

• Jack Reacher Premiere - London

  Andrea Riseborough arriving for the premiere of Jack Reacher at the Odeon Leicester Square, London.

• Jack Reacher Premiere - London

  Andrea Riseborough arriving for the premiere of Jack Reacher at the Odeon Leicester Square, London.

• Jack Reacher Premiere - London

  David Oyelowo arriving for the premiere of Jack Reacher at the Odeon Leicester Square, London.

• Jack Reacher Premiere - London

  Rosumund Pike arriving for the premiere of Jack Reacher at the Odeon Leicester Square, London.

Tom said: "It was easy, it was just a great character to play.

"That's kind of my life actually you know, making movies I'm here in London for four months and I shoot in Pittsburgh, Baton Rouge and Italy. I spend that kind of life making movies."

Child - real name Jim Grant - said he knew Tom was the right man for the role when he saw him carry on with work on set despite a serious hand injury.

The author, who was born in Coventry and grew up in Birmingham, said: "He's reckless like Reacher."

Tom Cruise with co-star Rosamund Pike

Tom's co-star Rosamund Pike said she loved working with the man she described as "the greatest movie star of my lifetime".

She said: "I was on my stomach watching 'Top Gun' aged 12, 13 and it was very exciting to work with a guy who is still on top of his game, and into the room walks the man who created all those iconic parts and he doesn't disappoint on any level."

Jack Reacher is in UK cinemas on 26 December. Our exclusive trailer below...