Tom Cruise rejects claim that he 'abandoned' his daughter Suri

The actor insists he has 'in no way' cut Suri out of his life

Tom Cruise with his daughter Suri (Getty Images)

Tom Cruise has denied claims that he "abandoned" his daughter Suri following his divorce from Katie Holmes.

In a court filing to support his $50m (£31m) defamation case against magazine publisher Bauer, he wrote: "I have in no way cut Suri out of my life – whether physically, emotionally, financially or otherwise."

The legal action relates to stories in Life & Style and In Touch magazines, which claimed Cruise's overseas film shoots meant he was absent from his daughter's life.

The actor admitted he was a "professional actor in motion pictures" whose work required spending "extended periods of time in various parts of the world".

But he said he remained in constant contact with Suri after his divorce from her mother.

In the document, published by Radar Online, he wrote: "Even during the times I was working overseas and was not able to see Suri in person, we were (and continue to be) extremely close. We spoke on the phone nearly every day, and I regularly asked for and received updates concerning her friends and school life, which I then discussed with her during our regular phone calls."

He insisted Suri did not feel abandoned, saying: "While I'm sure my daughter misses me when I am not with her (as I miss her), she is a very happy child."

The actor's lawyers are asking a judge to order Bauer to declare it didn't have any sources to support its claims.

Bauer argues that a judge should reject Cruise's motion, citing statements from confidential sources that allegedly support their magazines' claims.