Katie Holmes files for divorce from Tom Cruise after 5 yrs of marriage

London, June 30 (ANI): Katie Holmes has decided to end her five-year marriage to Tom Cruise in a surprise split reportedly centered on Scientology.

According to sources, the 'Top Gun' was "blindsided" by the move and that Holmes' uncompromising bid for sole custody of six-year-old daughter Suri shows the "nastiness" behind the split.

"This is a personal and private matter for Katie and her family," the Sun quoted Katie's lawyer Jonathan Wolfe as saying.

"Katie's primary concern remains, as it always has been, her daughter's best interest," Wolfe said.

A source close to Cruise, also dad to two adopted children, said he "did not see this coming".

The 33-year-old actress was missing from the 'Rock of Ages' premieres in London and Los Angeles this month.

The actor walked the red carpet alone and told reporters his wife had business to attend to in China and couldn't change her schedule.

The couple were not seen together since April.

Tom, who was previously married to actresses Mimi Rogers and Nicole Kidman, has been in Iceland filming upcoming movie Oblivion while Katie, still wearing her wedding ring, and Suri have been in New York.

The 49-year-old's dedication to the Scientology religion is reported to have put a strain on the couple's relationship.

The actor is worth an estimated 160 million pounds and the split is likely to spark one of the biggest divorce battles in Hollywood history.

The Hollywood hunk was Katie's teen pin-up and she later admitted having had his poster on her bedroom wall.

A whirlwind romance followed and they were engaged by the summer. In November of 2005 Tom famously bounced on the couch on Oprah Winfrey's chat show as he declared his love.

Suri was born in April 2006 and her parents - dubbed TomKat - wed seven months later at a medieval castle outside Rome. Jennifer Lopez and pals David and Victoria Beckham were among celebrity guests.

In 2008, Tom said that the couple were happier than ever - and were planning 10 children together. (ANI)