Tom Cruise hit London for the premiere of the latest film in the Mission: Impossible series – and vowed there is no end in sight for his career as an action hero.

The actor, who turns 50 next year, plays secret agent Ethan Hunt in Mission: Impossible Ghost Protocol, the fourth film in the franchise which he also produces.

Speaking on the red carpet at London’s IMAX cinema, Mr Cruise claimed he had no intention of slowing down. “I’m just going to keep going, as long as I can do it. I love making action movies,” he said.

Mr Cruise also said he is hoping to mark his big birthday, in July, with a party.

“I’ll be shooting a film at that point, I don’t even know if I’ll have a day off but we’ll figure it out, we’re going to have a party. When you turn 50 you have to have a good one, isn’t that the rule?” he said.

Mr Cruise’s co-star Simon Pegg shared a few jokes with him on the red carpet, trying to convince the US star to swear on live TV, saying: “Say the F-word, it’s fine.”

He added that he enjoyed getting to know the real Tom Cruise. Mr Pegg said: “He has an aura about him which is irresistible...” Mr Cruise even bought Mr Pegg a surprise present during filming.

“Tom bought me a snowboard for my birthday, and it wasn’t just a snowboard, it was a snowboard I really wanted. And I don’t know how he knew. It was there in my trailer in the morning,” he said.

Mission: Impossible Ghost Protocol is out in British cinemas on Boxing Day.